Written by Samuel Brady
Sub-edited by Sonny Turner
Hello and welcome to my Premier League team of the week for the weekend just gone. I have gone through and analysed this weeks top performers for each position, in my opinion, and decided to go for a 5-2-3 formation this week. Let me know your thoughts and who would you keep and swap?
GK: Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United)
Despite the Blades 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale put in an impressive display, making seven saves. Ramsdale has been impressive in filling the No.1 spot left by Dean Henderson following the keepers two-year loan spell from Manchester United. Ramsdale’s numbers against City showed just why the Blades re-signed their former academy product, making three saves inside the box, two clearances, one punch and 1/1 duels won. Without Ramsdale’s performance the scoreline could have easily been wider between the two sides.
LWB: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)
At just 19 years and 146 days old, Rayan Ait-Nouri became Wolves youngest ever goalscorer in the Premier League, in their 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Friday night. The Frenchman opened his account just 18 minutes into the game and looked very comfortable in what is a very tough and highly intense position as a wing back. Ait-Nouri maintained a 100% record in dribbles completed and aerial duels won as well as a 91% passing accuracy. With regular starter Jonny Otto out injured and Wolves having an option to make Ait-Nouri’s current loan deal a permanent one, it looks like the club have another very exciting prospect on their hands.
CB: Nathaniel Phillips (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s injury crisis in defence would have surely left Jurgen Klopp with a headache, but after Nathaniel Phillips MOTM performance against West Ham, he might have just found his unexpected replacement. Phillips, on loan at German side Stuttgart last season, made his Premier League debut in the 2-1 win against the Hammers and just his second Liverpool appearance in total. Phillips made nine clearances, 6 ball recoveries, with 3 aerial duels won and 2 interceptions which led to high praise from Klopp, labelling him as a “monster”.
Embed from Getty ImagesCB: Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)
Naming Chelsea’s top three goalscorers? Don’t forget to leave out centre back Kurt Zouma. The Frenchman scored his third goal of the season, a bullet header from a corner, in the blues convincing 3-0 win against Burnley. It now means that no other Chelsea player has scored more in the Premier League this season despite Zouma being a defender, even more impressive considering the high influx of arrivals this summer at Stamford Bridge. It wasn’t just Zouma’s goal though, with the defender also helping his side keep their third clean sheet of the campaign.
CB: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Kyle Walker scored on his 100th Premier League appearance for Manchester City as they ran out 1-0 winners against Sheffield United. Walker has been one of City’s most consistent performers during Pep Guardiola’s reign and proved again he still has a lot to offer. Walker impressed against his boyhood club with seven accurate long balls, three clearances, two tackles and five ground duels, as well as his low driven effort which proved to be the difference between the two sides.
RWB: Ola Aina (Fulham)
Ola Aina scored his first Premier League goal in Fulham’s crucial 2-0 win over fellow strugglers West Brom. Aina scored in spectacular fashion, rocketing his shot past Sam Johnstone into the top left corner. Aina’s goal, alongside Bobby Reid’s first half strike, meant that Fulham have now picked up their first win of the season under Scott Parker.
Embed from Getty ImagesCM: Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)
Hakim Ziyech scored his first Premier League goal since joining Chelsea, as well as becoming the first player to score in both of his first two starts for the club in all competitions since Diego Costa in 2014. Ziyech also showed his creative ability, which he has been so renowned for, when he set up Timo Werner for the blues third against Burnley. Ziyech also registered 40 accurate passes and a 100% shot accuracy rate in the game.
CM: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
In my TOTW for the second week running, James Ward-Prowse once again stole the headlines in Southampton’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Aston Villa. Ward-Prowse also became the first player to score two direct free-kicks in the first half of a Premier League match, including breaking Saint’s legend Matt Le Tissiers free kick record in the process, with his tally now on eight. Ward-Prowse, known for his trademark free-kicks, now has the best conversion rate from a dead ball since 2003/04 with 12.5%. The Saints will be hoping Ward-Prowse will be able to produce more magic in the coming games with the Saints now sitting pretty in 4th.
Embed from Getty ImagesLW: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Questions were raised when Liverpool spent £40m on Diogo Jota from Wolves this summer, but it was the Portuguese man who rescued the Reds to a 2-1 win over West Ham. Jota did have the ball in the net earlier on but was ruled out for a foul against Sadio Mane in the build-up. However, Jota did finally get his goal late on in the second half, which now means the winger has scored three in his last three Premier League games, a feat last achieved by Luis Garcia in 2004. If Jota can keep up his good start for the reds, he may make it almost impossible for Klopp to leave him out.
ST: Callum Wilson (Newcastle)
Callum Wilson proved the difference in Newcastle’s 2-0 win against Everton, with the striker scoring a brace. Wilson has now scored four goals in his first four home Premier League appearances, only second behind Toon legend Les Ferdinand who managed six in four. The striker looks to be recapturing his goal scoring form from his Bournemouth days having now scored five goals in seven Premier League games for Newcastle, which was as many as he scored in his final 30 PL appearances for the Cherries.
Embed from Getty ImagesRW: Daniel Podence (Wolves)
Daniel Podence scored in Wolves’ 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. The Portuguese international has now scored two goals in 15 premier league appearances with both coming against Palace at Molineux after also netting in the same fixture back in July. Podence is proving to be a good buy for Wolves after selling Diogo Jota to Liverpool earlier this summer. Since his arrival in the Midlands, Podence has four total goal involvements after registering three assists as well this season.
