Liverpool star back to his best to make Premier League best XI
West Brom secured the shock result of the weekend, earning a 5-2 win at Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, while league leaders Manchester City maintained their unstoppable push for the Premier League title, winning 2-0 at Leicester. Liverpool and Tottenham also have two players each in the first Premier League team of the week following the international break.
Vicente Guaita (Crystal Palace) - 7.84
Michy Batshuayi rescued a late point at Everton on Monday evening, but Crystal Palace have Vicente Guaita to thank for ensuring a positive result at Goodison Park. Indeed, the Spaniard made six saves in the 1-1 draw to kick off the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 7.84.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 8.25
Liverpool boosted confidence ahead of tonight's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid with a routine 3-0 win at Arsenal on Saturday night. The victory marked one of Trent Alexander-Arnold's best rated performances of the season as the England right-back earned a WhoScored rating of 8.25. Alexander-Arnold registered his fourth Premier League assist of the season, that coming from one of four key passes, while three interceptions and two tackles capped a fine showing.
The first of two Tottenham players to feature, Spurs coach Jose Mourinho is once again under pressure after their 2-2 draw at Newcastle, but the stalemate marked another fine showing from youngster Joe Rodon. The 23-year-old won six aerial duels in the draw and yielded a pass success rate of 90.9% at St. James' Park. Rodon was at his proactive best in the clash as he made 10 clearances to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.99.
Nathaniel Phillips (Liverpool) - 7.65
Partnering Rodon at the heart of the defence is the second Liverpool representative in the team of the week. Nathaniel Phillips has forged a fine understanding with Ozan Kabak at the back and maintained his good form with a solid display at the Emirates. Five clearances, two tackles and two interceptions helped Liverpool to a clean sheet in north London and Phillips to a spot in the best XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.65.
Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City) - 7.81
Benjamin Mendy scored his fourth ever league goal of his career in Manchester City's 2-0 win at Leicester, and with his right foot too, to round off the defence. The Frenchman also won two aerial duels in an outing that saw him garner a WhoScored rating of 7.81.
Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) - 8.30
Stuart Armstrong ended an eight-league game goalless run with his fourth goal of the campaign as Southampton came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Burnley on Sunday afternoon. The Scot routinely tested Nick Pope between the Clarets sticks - his five shots in the victory was a personal best this season - while four dribbles and two key passes saw Armstrong land a WhoScored rating of 8.30.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 8.26
The second Manchester City player to make the XI, Kevin De Bruyne may have been unable to have a direct hand in a goal at Leicester on Saturday, but it wasn't for want of trying as he managed two shots and three key passes at the King Power Stadium. De Bruyne completed four dribbles and was fouled four times as he returned a WhoScored rating of 8.26.
James Rodriguez (Everton) - 8.01
Featuring alongside De Bruyne with a WhoScored rating of 8.01, James Rodriguez put in a man of the match shift in Everton's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. The Colombian scored his sixth league goal of the season in the stalemate to put the Toffees ahead, that coming from one of three shots, and he recycled possession well, too, as 92.5% of his 53 attempted passes found a teammate.
Callum Robinson (West Brom) - 9.03
Callum Robinson has scored five Premier League goals in his career and, funnily enough, all have come against Chelsea. The West Brom forward netted twice in their 5-2 win at the Blues on Saturday having replaced former Chelsea man Branislav Ivanovic shortly before the break. Each of Robinson's two shots found a way past Mendy and he was unfortunate not to add an assist having made three key passes in what was the second best rated sub performance (9.03) in a Premier League match in 2020/21.
Matheus Pereira (West Brom) - 10.0
Earning the player of the week award is West Brom attacker Matheus Pereira. The Brazilian had a direct hand in four of the Baggies' five goals at Stamford Bridge, netting a brace shortly before the break from two of six shots and providing assists for Mbaye Digane and Callum Robinson in the second half from three key passes as Pereira returned a perfect WhoScored 10 rating.
Harry Kane joins Pereira on the frontline have moved one goal clear of Mohamed Salah in the race of the Golden Boot with a brace at Newcastle. Kane netted twice from seven shots in the 2-2 draw with the Magpies, while an additional three aerial duels won saw him secure a WhoScored rating of 8.82 on Sunday.
