Manchester clubs dominate opening Premier League team of the week

With the highly anticipated opening weekend of Premier League having drawn to a close, Manchester City are back on top of the pile already, whilst rivals Manchester United secured the most significant result with a 4-0 hammering of Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.

The local rivals unsurprisingly have five representatives in the inaugural WhoScored.com team of the week of the season, with four other teams seeing players make the cut.

GK: David de Gea (Manchester United) - 8.10

After a disappointing season by his superb standards last time out everyone connected with United, not least the Spaniard himself will have been delighted to see De Gea make such a strong start to the 2019/20 campaign. He made at least three more saves (seven) than any other keeper, denying Ross Barkley in the first half with a trademark stop with his feet.

First reserve: Ederson (Manchester City) - 7.70

RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) - 8.40

Arsenal’s decision not to sign a back up right-back to the injury prone Hector Bellerin was justified by another impressive display by the versatile youngster. His inch perfect delivery teed up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fine match-winner at Newcastle having also made four tackles and three interceptions.

First reserve: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) - 8.25

CB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 8.49

It took no time whatsoever for Van Dijk to reassert his standing as the Premier League’s best centre-back, with the Dutchman opening his account for the season with the easiest header he’ll score all season. Only one player made more interceptions in gameweek one (five), while the 28-year-old won five of six aerial duels.

First reserve: Lewis Dunk (Brighton) - 8.11

CB: Shane Duffy (Brighton) - 8.18

It was a commanding defensive display from the Seagulls as they secured a shock 3-0 win at Watford and Duffy was a rock at the back. Only one player won more aerial duels on the opening weekend (eight), while the Irishman also made four tackles and six clearances.

First reserve: Willy Boly (Wolves) - 8.00

LB: Erik Pieters (Burnley) - 8.40

The highest rated debutant on show over the weekend, Pieters made a dream start to life at Burnley at both ends. His seven tackles helped the Clarets keep a clean sheet whilst two assists set Sean Dyche’s side on their way to a 3-0 victory over Southampton - making this the Dutchman’s joint most productive campaign for assists in his Premier League career.

First reserve: Luke Shaw (Manchester United) - 7.64

RW: Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) - 9.77

The top rated player in gameweek one, Mahrez may not have scored in the 5-0 hammering of West Ham but he did register two assists from four key passes, win a penalty and put in an excellent defensive shift to boot. The Algerian won four tackles as well as attempting three shots and completing two dribbles.

First reserve: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) - 8.71

CM: Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 8.23

It was a hit and miss display from Pogba at times, conceding possession all too often but the Frenchman’s quality showed in the end. His pinpoint ball for Marcus Rashford killed the game against Chelsea and a second assist completed a Red Devils rout, creating four chances in total.

First reserve: Fabinho (Liverpool) - 7.97

CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 8.70

Off the mark in terms of assists and hoping to put an injury-hit campaign behind him, De Bruyne was back to his old tricks against West Ham. The Belgian created three chances in total as well as two dribbles and was defensively sound too, winning four tackles and two interceptions.

First reserve: Davy Propper (Brighton) - 7.81

LW: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 9.64

Becoming the eighth player to score an opening weekend hat-trick in the Premier League and first since Didier Drogba in 2010, Sterling has started as he’ll mean to go on. Despite three goals from four shots he was pipped to the top rating having failed to create a chance or win a tackle and completed just one dribble.

First reserve: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - 8.33

ST: Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 8.66

It looked like being a frustrating day for Spurs and Kane in particular against promoted Aston Villa but his persistence eventually paid off. The striker should have levelled the scores just before the break but went one better after it, with two fine finishes to earn all three points having attempted eight shots in total.

First reserve: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) - 8.47

ST: Ashley Barnes (Burnley) - 9.48

Making a fine start to the campaign as Burnley romped to victory over Southampton in the second half, Barnes was on hand to score twice and took both goals very well. The 29-year-old had four shots in total, completed four dribbles and won five aerial duels in an excellent display from the front.

First reserve: Anthony Martial (Manchester United) - 8.35