Man City dominate while Pogba makes Premier League team of the week again
Manchester United and Manchester City both earned midweek wins over Fulham and Aston Villa, respectively, to end the round in first and second place in the table. Liverpool were unable to match the pair as they fell to a first home league defeat since April 2017 to lose ground in the title race.
Here, we run over the Premier League team of the round from the five midweek matches...
Burnley secured a fine scalp on Thursday night, ending Liverpool's home unbeaten run in a 1-0 win at Anfield. Nick Pope put in a fine shift between the sticks, earning his sixth WhoScored man of the match award of the season on Merseyside in a clean sheet attaining display. Pope made six saves against the Reds to contribute towards his inclusion in this XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.31.
Vladimir Coufal (West Ham) - 7.38
West Ham's sole representative in the midweek team of the round is right-back Vladimir Coufal. The Czech provided the assist for Jarrod Bowen's opening goal in the Hammers' 2-1 win over West Brom, that coming from one of two key passes. Coufal got forward well, completing two dribbles, and defended solidly too, making two tackles as he garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.38.
James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 8.01
The second of three Burnley players in the team of the week, James Tarkowski was solid defensively to keep the Liverpool attack at bay at Anfield. Indeed, the 28-year-old was dominant in the air, winning six aerial duels, and proactive at the back, as he made nine clearances and five interceptions, with his showing at the heart of the Clarets backline deserving of a spot in this side.
Ruben Dias (Manchester City) - 7.94
Partnering Tarkowski at the back is Manchester City star Ruben Dias. The Portuguese centre-back did well to keep Aston Villa's attack quiet, as noted in his commendable WhoScored rating of 7.94, as he made three clearances, three interceptions and two tackles in a 2-0 win over the Villans. Dias did well to instigate attacks from the back, too, having found a teammate with 90.2% of his 61 passes to make the cut.
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 8.05
Dias' compatriot Joao Cancelo rounds off the backline and is the second of five Manchester City players in the team of the round. While Cancelo was unable to have a direct hand in a goal against Aston Villa, it wasn't for want of trying as he managed three shots and two key passes. Three dribbles, two interceptions and one tackle was enough for the full-back to feature at left-back in this side with a WhoScored rating of 8.05.
Marc Albrighton (Leicester) - 8.15
Leicester earned a fine 2-0 win over out of sorts Chelsea on Tuesday night, with Marc Albrighton impressive down the right flank. The winger provided the assist for James Maddison's first half strike that effectively sealed all three points against the Blues, that coming from one of three key passes. Off the ball, Albrighton protected his flank well as he made two tackles to help yield a WhoScored rating of 8.15.
Rodri (Manchester City) - 9.29
With a WhoScored rating of 9.29, Manchester City midfielder Rodri is the WhoScored player of the round. Rodri provided the assist for Bernardo Silva's contentious opener against Aston Villa, that coming from one of four key passes. The Spaniard dominated with the ball in the air and on the ground as he won nine aerial duels, and made four clearances and four tackles, to cap a fine showing.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 8.34
Joining Rodri in the middle of the park is Manchester United's match winner from their 2-1 win at Fulham to keep Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side top of the table. Paul Pogba notched his third league goal of the season at Craven Cottage, finding a way past Alphonse Areola from 20 yards, in a man of the match performance in west London. Additional returns of four tackles and three interceptions saw Pogba land a WhoScored rating of 8.34 at Fulham on Wednesday night.
Phil Foden (Manchester City) - 8.05
The penultimate Manchester City player in the team completes the midfield as Phil Foden impressed in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Foden will feell aggrieved not to have contributed towards a goal in the victory as he managed five shots and six key passes against Dean Smith's side, while three successful dribbles saw the youngster land a WhoScored rating of 8.05, his third best in a league game this season.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) - 8.60
Rounding off the Manchester City contingent, Bernardo Silva has started up front in two of City's last three league outings and bagged his first goal of the Premier League campaign on Wednesday evening. While there was some controversy about the goal, Silva won't mind as he found a way past Emiliano Martinez with one of his two shots. The Portuguese attacker drew four fouls in the 2-0 victory and didn't give the Villa backline a moment's rest as he made three interceptions and two tackles to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 8.60.
Ashley Barnes (Burnley) - 7.95
Joining Silva on the frontline is Burnley hitman Ashley Barnes. The Clarets forward scored the decisive goal from the spot late on to inflict Liverpool's first home league defeat since April 2017. Barnes' goal came from one of three shots and he was impressive in the air against the Reds backline, winning seven aerial duels. The 31-year-old also helped ease pressure on the Burnley goal, drawing five fouls in the 1-0 win, to round off the XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.95.
