It’s that time of week again, and after the International Break we finally welcome back thoroughly missed Premier League football, and here is our team of the week for the weekend just passed.
Jordan Pickford – Sunderland
The 22-year-old continued to impress in a depleted side during the Black Cats 3-0 victory over Hull City.
He was calm and composed between the sticks and this threaded through to his defence with Sunderland claiming a clean sheet. The Englishman made five fine saves to ensure he kept his clean sheet and was superb in the the much needed victory.
Victor Moses – Chelsea
The once forgotten man is now helping Chelsea top the table after becoming a crucial player in Antonio Conte’s new system.
Moses has been a revelation this season thus far and enjoyed another win with the Blues against Middlesbrough with five crosses, one take on and never ending defensive assurance whilst offensively being superb. His fine performance was granted with the MOTM award.
Virgil Van Dijk – Southampton
Throughout the 90 minutes Van Dijk was superb against an attacking trio of Firmino, Coutinho and Mane - who returned to the St Mary’s for the first time after his departure in the summer.
One immense last ditch tackle on his ex-teammate Mane was the best of the lot and probably was a point saving tackle. The stats behind his performance are very impressive with 79% passing accuracy, 100% tackles won, two interceptions, two clearances and 75% aerial duels won.
David Luiz – Chelsea
Once again, David Luiz makes our TOTW for as many weeks as I can remember.
This is getting quite easy now to be putting him in our team each week, he has been a revelation since his return to Stamford Bridge and the Brazilian enjoyed another good defensive display at the weekend with eight clearances, one take on and 78% passing completed.
His form has helped his club top the table as the season starts to take shape.
Nathan Ake – Bournemouth
Can Nathan Ake do it on a cold winters day away to Stoke City? Yes he can.
The 21-year-old was brilliant defensively and had a tough afternoon in dealing with Wilfried Bony but came out on top. He was very calm in possession and scored the games only game with a powering header. Ake finished the match with 100% tackles won whilst making 15 clearances which just shows how busy the Cherries man was all afternoon.
Harry Winks – Tottenham Hotspur
What a dream first start for this 20-year-old. Playing in a London derby is big enough, but to do it in style and grab yourself a goal is everyone’s dream, and it was almost an introduction for himself with Spurs relishing from yet another fine youngster.
Playing in the midfield he saw the ball quite a bit and manager 86% of his passes completed, whilst creating once chance and scoring one goal from two shots. Efficiency at its finest.
Jack Wilshere – Bournemouth
Maybe, just maybe we now going to see the best of a fully fit Jack Wilshere. The Arsenal loanee had an excellent match away to Stoke City in the Cherries 1-0 victory and nearly doubled the scoring after seeing his fine effort hit the outside of the post. The midfielder created three chances whilst completing 84% of his passes. One Frenchman, called Arsene Wenger will be very pleased with his performances of late as Wilshere tries to save his Arsenal career.
Yaya Toure – Manchester City
There is nothing like a beautiful come back story, is there? I mean the whole Premier League has missed Toure, and his comeback may have finally turned the head of Pep Guardiola.
Toure scored two goals in a dream return to the City starting XI, he managed two take ons whilst showboating his beautiful movement for his first goal. A quality display.
Roberto Pereyra – Watford
Watford beat the current Premier League champions 2-1 at the weekend and the game included a fine goal from their summer signing Roberto Pereyra.
He was excellent throughout and was a real problem for the Foxes, completing five take ons, scoring one goal and creating one chance he helped the Hornets take all three points.
Victor Anichebe – Sunderland
Sunderland have picked up six points from six and finally look like a team worthy of challenging in the Premier League.
There was one hero on Tyneside on Saturday afternoon and that man was Victor Anichebe, his brace saw the Black Cats see of Hull City with the forward also completing three take ons, making himself a nuisance for the Tigers defence.
Diego Costa – Chelsea
Honestly, Diego Costa is the best number 9 in Europe at this current moment.
He has been absolutely brilliant all season thus far and has become a killer in front of goal again under Conte. The Spanish International created four chances against Middlesbrough, completed six take ons and scored yet another goal which was the winner, taking his tally up to 10 for the season. At this rate, Costa is helping his club top the table whilst scoring himself to the Golden Boot.
