Hat-trick hero Bale joined by Chelsea starlet in Premier League team of the week
The race for a top-four finish is heating up after Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham all secured vital wins over the weekend and the London trio all feature in the Premier League team of the week following respective victories over Fulham, Burnley and Sheffield United.
Sam Johnstone (West Brom) - 8.23
After a 1-1 draw with Wolves on Monday, West Brom now sit 10 points from safety with four games to go. However, they remain in with a chance of securing safety courtesy of Sam Johnstone after his second man of the match performance of the season at the Hawthorns. Indeed, he made nine saves in the stalemate to help land a WhoScored rating of 8.23.
Serge Aurier (Tottenham) - 8.91
Serge Aurier has registered three Premier League assists this season, two of which came in Tottenham's 4-0 win over Sheffield United on Sunday night. The Ivorian turned provider for two of Gareth Bale's three goals, those coming from four key passes, while a 95.3% pass success rate from 86 attempted passes contributed towards a WhoScored rating of 8.91.
After back-to-back defeats, West Ham got their top-four push back on track with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Burnley on Monday night. Issa Diop played a key role at the heart of the defence as he won eight aerial duels and made 11 clearances in a proactive performance that yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.73.
Jonny Evans (Leicester) - 7.69
Leicester were unable to make their numerical advantage count at St. Mary's following Jannik Vestergaard's early red card, but they managed a point at Southampton on Friday night courtesy of Jonny Evans' goal. The centre-back has now had a direct hand in a goal in each of his last three league outings, with his showing on the south coast enough to garner a WhoScored rating of 7.69.
Everton may have fallen to a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday night, but the defeat marked another stand out performance from Lucas Digne. The Frenchman registered his seventh league assist of the season, providing for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to net, with that assist coming from four key passes. Additional returns of three clearances, two tackles and one interception, while not enough to secure all three points, at least helped Digne to a spot in the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 7.91.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham) - 9.77
With a WhoScored rating of 9.77, Gareth Bale is our Premier League player of the week. The Welshman scored his third ever hat-trick for Tottenham in their 4-0 win over Sheffield United as he struck with three of six shots in the comfortable victory. One tackle and one interception capped a memorable showing from the Welshman.
Ross Barkley (Aston Villa) - 7.91
Ross Barkley may have failed to have a direct hand in a goal in Aston Villa's 2-1 win at former employers Everton on Saturday, but it wasn't for want of trying as the on-loan midfielder managed two shots and two key passes. The Toffees struggled to contain Barkley, who also completed four dribbles to land a WhoScored rating of 7.91.
Rodri (Manchester City) - 8.17
Joining Barkley in the middle of the park is Manchester City star Rodri, who came away from their 2-0 win at Crystal Palace with a WhoScored rating of 8.17. The Spaniard was dominant aerially as he won six headed battles and battled well in the midfield as he made four tackles and two interceptions to make the cut.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) - 9.49
Son Heung-Min rounds off the Tottenham trio to complete the midfield as he secured a WhoScored rating of 9.49. The South Korean notched 16th goal of the season against Sheffield United and became the third player to register double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League in 2020/21 having set up Bale's second, with his goal coming from two shots and assist from six key passes.
Michail Antonio (West Ham) - 8.76
The second West Ham player to feature is striker Michail Antonio. The 31-year-old scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season at Turf Moor in a man of the match performance over Burnley. Antonio found a way past Nick Pope with two of six shots against the Clarets and was unfortunate not to add an assist having made two key passes to make the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.76.
Joining Antonio on the frontline is Chelsea youngster Kai Havertz. The German has struggled for form on the back of his big money arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, but looks to have found his ideal position under Thomas Tuchel having struck twice against Fulham on Saturday evening to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 8.44.
