Liverpool dominate Premier League team of the week following demolition of Leeds
This week’s team of the week is dominated by Liverpool after they thrashed Leeds 6-1 in the final Premier League game of the weekend. Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Manchester City are also represented.
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea) – 7.66
Chelsea are now winless in five Premier League matches following their 2-1 loss to Brighton on Saturday. Despite this, Kepa Arrizabalaga obtained a WhoScored rating of 7.66 as he managed to keep the scoreline respectable. In all Kepa made nine saves, which only David Raya (11) also against Brighton can better for a single Premier League game this season. He also made one claim and registered the third most touches (81) of any player in the match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – 8.47
Starting the backline is Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is one of four Reds players in the side after their big 6-1 win away to Leeds on Monday night. Jurgen Klopp has altered Alexander-Arnold’s role in matches in recent weeks and this was clear to see against Leeds as he registered the most touches (153) at Elland Road and provided two assists for his teammates. To further complement his 8.47 WhoScored rating, he also made three tackles, one interception and two clearances, and maintained a pass success rate of 91.2%.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham) – 7.74
Fulham came into the weekend winless in five and on a four-game losing run in the Premier League. However, Saturday saw the Cottagers put in a remarkable display against an Everton side that had been hard to break down in recent weeks at Goodison Park, winning 3-1. Though he was not among the goals, Tosin Adarabioyo put in a solid display to keep the Toffees at bay making the most clearances (9) and the most interceptions (4) in the game, while he also won all eight of the aerial duels he contested, helping him to a 7.74 WhoScored rating.
John Stones (Manchester City) – 7.63
Partnering Adarabioyo at the back is Manchester City’s John Stones. Pep Guardiola’s side put further pressure on league leaders Arsenal by beating Leicester 3-1 on Saturday evening, with Stones netting with an effort from outside the box. Stones has a reputation for his range of passing, and only one of his 47 passes failing to find a teammate during his time on the pitch, which aided him in obtaining a WhoScored rating of 7.63.
Matias Vina (Bournemouth) – 8.09
Completing the back four is Bournemouth’s Matias Vina with a WhoScored rating of 8.09, after his side came away with all three points in a dramatic 3-2 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Vina was taken off at the 49-minute mark, but was still able to impact the game, scoring shortly before half time to make it 1-1. He also made the joint most dribbles (4) in the match, and made three tackles, one clearance and one interception to cap off a fine display.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 8.52
A player who has been in top form in recent weeks and has now brought themselves up to joint fourth in the top scorers list in the Premier League is Mohamed Salah. Boasting a WhoScored rating of 8.52, Salah scored a brace to bring his league total up to 15 for the season. He also registered the most touches in the opposition box (8) in the match and completed one dribble.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 9.15
In back-to-back weeks, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has recorded a WhoScored rating above 9.00 and features in the team of the week. Eze’s Palace made it three wins on the bounce with a 2-0 victory at Southampton on Saturday and he was pivotal in helping his side to all the spoils, scoring both of Palace's goals, while completing four dribbles and making the joint most tackles (4) in a strong all-round performance to fully deserve his 9.15 WhoScored rating.
Julio Enciso (Brighton) – 8.62
Brighton continued their hunt for a European place by winning 2-1 at Chelsea at the weekend. The WhoScored man of the with a rating of 8.62 was first half substitute Julio Enciso. Despite not starting, Enciso registered four shots, one of which led to the Seagulls’ winner, two key passes, the most dribbles (5) and had an effort hit the woodwork, as he played his part in a dominant win over the Blues.
With a WhoScored rating of 9.17, Liverpool’s Diogo Jota completes the midfield quartet. Though he isn't the player of the week, he did earn the WhoScored man of the match in his side’s big win at Leeds. Coming into the match, Jota hadn’t scored in over 30 games for Liverpool, but scored two and contributed to another with an assist for Salah’s first of the match. Jota’s five shots was the most of any player on the pitch, while himself and Virgil van Dijk won the joint most aerial duels (3) in the game.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – 9.71
The player of the week is Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins with a 9.71 WhoScored rating. Watkins, now the second most in-form player in Europe’s top five leagues, scored a brace and provided the assist for Jacob Ramsey’s opener, as Unai Emery’s side won 3-0 against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle. Watkins had the most shots (6) in the game, registered two key passes and his 10 touches in the opposition box was the joint most by any player across the Premier League at the weekend as Villa extended their unbeaten run to eight games.
Rounding off the team is Cody Gakpo. The Netherlands international scored his fifth Premier League goal on Monday night, while he also registered an assist from a total of three key passes. The Liverpool forward also completed both of his dribbles, won an aerial duel and made two tackles and interceptions combined, helping him to a WhoScored rating of 8.92.
