Liverpool targets pair up in midfield in U21 team of the week

With four of the top five leagues in action following the winter break this weekend, a number of youngsters caught the eye, starting 2020 as they mean to go on.

Indeed, a number of apparent Premier League targets excelled to earn a place in our U21 team of the week, with the Bundesliga yet again proving to be a fantastic platform for some of Europe's best young players.

Markus Schubert (Schalke) - 7.82

While Schalke fans may have been angered by Alexander Nubel's decision to join Bayern on a free at the end of the season's, Schubert's performances in his compatriots absence have been cause for real optimism. The 21-year-old produced four saves to keep high-flying Gladbach at bay on Friday night to ensure S04 kept pace with the top four.

Emerson (Real Betis) - 8.20

Barcelona loanee Emerson is certainly enjoying his loan spell in Betis, so much so that Blaugrana fans may be feeling that the Brazilian may be an upgrade on those they kept at Camp Nou. The 21-year-old registered his fifth assist of the season to help his side dismantle Real Sociedad, completing three dribbles and two tackles in a 3-0 victory.

Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig) - 7.63

Heavily linked with Arsenal over the past month, many would question why the Frenchman would trade top spot in the Bundesliga for tenth in the Premier League after Upamecano helped extend Leipzig's lead to four points. The 21-year-old completed three tackles, two dribbles and 88 per cent of his passes in a 3-1 win over Union Berlin.

Igor Julio (SPAL 2013) - 7.61

Comfortably Julio's most accomplished display in a SPAL shirt this season, the Brazilian played a pivotal role in the Serie A minnows upsetting the odds against Atalanta. The 21-year-old produced six tackles and five interceptions to ensure the relegation threatened side clung onto a shock 2-1 victory having fallen behind early on.

Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.93

Becoming a mainstay in our U21 best XIs, Davies continues to go from strength-to-strength as a converted full-back with Bayern. The Canadian completed three tackles and three dribbles as the German champions eventually ran out convincing winners at Hertha Berlin to earn a fifth consectuve league rating in excess of 7.5.

Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 9.02

Such are the figures that Sancho posts week in, week out, it's easy to overlook the fact that he is still just a teenager. The England international scored one goal and assisted another in a remarkable eight-goal thriller against Augsburg, becoming the first player in Europe's top five leagues to reach double figures in both categories, creating seven chances in total.

Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.58

After a sensational second half of last season it was a difficult first half of the current campaign for Havertz, who has started as he means to go on in 2020. Constantly linked to Europe's biggest clubs for good reason, the 20-year-old scored once and registered an assist in a 4-1 win at Paderborn, while completing four dribbles.

Sandro Tonali (Brescia) - 7.79

Tonali's reputation as one of the top young midfielders in Europe suffered no harm over the weekend after another all-action display for struggling Brescia. The 19-year-old assisted each of Ernest Torregrossa'a goals in a 2-2 draw with Cagliari, creating four chances in total as well as completing five tackles.

Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.63

Having been in and out of the side prior to the winterpause following his summer switch from PSG, Diaby staked a very strong claim for a more regular berth this year at Paderborn. The 20-year-old registered two assists from three key passes in total, completed four dribbles and over 91 per cent of his passes.

Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) - 8.89

Trailing 3-1 and heading for a shock defeat at Augsburg to start 2020, Lucien Favre turned to January signing Haaland with 34 minutes remaining. Within three the teenage debutant had scored his first goal following a move from Augsburg and 20 minutes later he'd scored a hat-trick as Dortmund eventually ran out 5-3 victors. Haaland scored with all three of his shots, setting an incredibly high bar having done just that all season at Salzburg.

Rafael Leao (AC Milan) - 8.16

Favoured over the in-demand Krzysztof Piatek by Stefano Pioli of late, Leao has partnered Zlatan Ibrahimovic in recent weeks and impressed. The 20-year-old may not have been on the scoresheet in the late win over Udinese but posted encouraging numbers nonetheless, attempting four shots, creating four chances and completing three dribbles, along with 93 per cent of his passes.