Newcastle defensive duo make European best XI after Fulham rout

Goalkeeper: Neil Etheridge (Cardiff) - 8.99 rating 

Cardiff ended the season on a high as they secured a 2-0 win over Manchester United to bow out from the Premier League following their relegation on the penultimate weekend of the campaign. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing bagged a brace at Old Trafford, yet the Bluebirds have Neil Etheridge to thank for the victory as he made 10 saves to land the WhoScored man of the match award with an 8.99 rating. 

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 8.20 rating 

Liverpool came so close to their first Premier League title, but were pipped to first by Manchester City by a solitary point after they secured a 2-0 win over Wolves on the final day of the campaign. Trent Alexander-Arnold registered his ninth assist in his last nine appearances in the victory, with his assist for Sadio Mane’s second coming from one of three key passes as he returned a WhoScored rating of 8.20. 

Centre-back: Fabian Schar (Newcastle) - 8.64 rating 

The first of two Newcastle players to make the cut, Fabian Schar capped a fine debut season in England with another standout display as the Magpies ended the campaign with a 4-0 win at Fulham, a match in which the Swiss centre-back was named man of the match. The 27-year-old bagged his fourth league goal of the season in the victory, while nine clearances, four interceptions and two tackles saw him land a WhoScored rating of 8.64. 

Centre-back: Lycano (Bologna) - 8.36 rating 

Partnering Schar at the heart of the defence is Bologna’s Lycano. The 22-year-old put in an influential display in a 4-1 win over Parma as Bologna all but sealed their spot in Serie A next season. Lycano scored his first league goal of the season in the victory, and impressed defensively, too, chipping in with two clearances, two tackles and one interception to return a WhoScored rating of 8.36. 

Left-back: Matt Ritchie (Newcastle) - 8.35 rating 

Completing the defence is Matt Ritchie, who notched his seventh and eighth league assists of the season in the 4-0 win at Fulham. The Scot’s brace of assists came as a result of three key passes, while additional returns of four clearances and two tackles yielded a respectable WhoScored rating of 8.35. 

Right midfield: Joaquin (Real Betis) - 9.07 rating 

Joaquin unleashed an absolute thunderbolt to secure Real Betis a late 2-1 win over Huesca on Sunday. His fine effort in injury time was his second of the game with the 37-year-old hitting the back of the net with two of his four shots on goal. On the ball, Joaquin was hugely effective as he returned four key passes and one successful to secure a WhoScored rating of 9.07. 

Central midfield: Mark Noble (West Ham) - 8.76 rating 

West Ham ended the campaign in glorious fashion as they defeated FA Cup finalists’ Watford at Vicarage Road, coming away with a 4-1 win. Captain Mark Noble was on hand to net his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign in the resounding victory as he hit scored twice from his two shots. In possession, Noble was impressive, finding a teammate with 97.1% of his 68 passes that saw him gain a WhoScored rating go 8.76. 

Central midfield: Raul Garcia (Athletic Club) - 9.19 rating 

Joining Noble in the middle of the park is Athletic Club’s Raul Garcia with a WhoScored rating of 9.19. The 32-year-old has netted nine goals this season, two of which came in a 3-1 win over Celta Vigo with Garcia scoring from two of five shots. The Spaniard was dominant in the air too as he won 12 aerial duels in the victory, while further returns of four tackles and one interception capped a man of the match display. 

Left midfield: Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin) - 9.10 rating 

The game of the weekend came from Augsburg as they fell to a 4-3 defeat to Hertha Berlin. The victory was made possible by Salomon Kalou, who scored twice in a man of the match performance as he secured a WhoScored rating of 9.10. The Ivorian hit the back of the net with two of four shots and chipped in with four key passes and three successful dribbles, all the while finding a teammate with 95.1% of 41 attempted passes. 

Striker: Anthony Ujah (Mainz 05) - 8.77 rating 

Mainz 05 brought a seven-match losing streak in some style as they dented Europa League semi-finalists’ Eintracht Frankfurt’s Champions League push in a 2-0 win. Anthony Ujah was central to the victory as he netted twice from four shots to end an 18-match run without a league goal to double his seasonal tally. Eight aerial duels won and two key passes help Ujah land a WhoScored rating of 8.77 in a man of the match display. 

Striker: Stefano Okaka (Udinese) - 9.29 rating 

Our European player of the week with a WhoScored rating of 9.29, Udinese gave their chances of survival a massive shot in the arm with a crucial 3-1 win at Frosinone. Like Ujah, Stefano Okaka doubled his seasonal tally in the victory as he netted twice from three shots, while three successful dribbles, two key passes, two tackles and six aerial duels won helped Okaka to the man of the match award.