Chelsea defence dominates Premier League team of the month alongside Arsenal pair
Chelsea were the only Premier League side to win all four matches in October, earning all the spoils against Southampton, Brentford, Norwich and Newcastle, scoring 14 and conceding just the once in the process. The title contenders dominate the Premier League team of the month with five representatives, while Liverpool and Arsenal each have two players make the best XI.
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) - 7.07
The first of two Arsenal players to make the cut, Aaron Ramsdale's match-winning performance in Saturday's 2-0 win at Leicester all but secured his spot in the Premier League team of the month. Only Tim Krul (18) made more saves than the Gunners star (17) in October, while two clean sheets from four matches saw Ramsdale return a WhoScored rating of 7.07.
The first of five Chelsea players to make the Premier League team of the month, Reece James was exceptional for the Blues in October. The 21-year-old soared to the top of the Blues scoring charts, netting three times last month, hitting the back of the net with three of five shots. James was unfortunate not to add an assist having made five key passes to contribute towards his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 8.11.
Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) - 7.66
Trevoh Chalobah is good value for his spot at the back having landed a WhoScored rating of 7.66 in October. The youngster scored his second league goal for Chelsea in their 3-1 win over Southampton to kick off the month, while a total of 11 tackles was also a solid return. The 22-year-old continues to go from strength-to-strength and is certainly worthy of his spot in this side.
Chelsea teammate Thiago Silva joins Chalobah at the heart of the defence having garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.24 last month. The experienced Brazilian returned the second best pass success rate (92.2%) of defenders to make at least three appearances in October as he churned out three solid outings to maintain the Blues dominance.
It's an all-Chelsea defence as Ben Chilwell makes the cut at left-back. Chilwell has excelled after reclaiming his place in the Chelsea side at the expense of Marcos Alonso as he hit the back of the net three times in his four league outings in October. Six key passes was a commendable return for the England international and while he was unlucky not to register an assist, the 24-year-old did enough to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.74.
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) - 7.96
Rounding off the Chelsea quintet, Mateo Kovacic missed the 3-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday owing to a thigh issue, but the Croat was superb in the games building up to his absence. A total of eight key passes ranked among the top 10 in the Premier League in October, while 11 tackles was respectable to help Kovacic secure a place in the XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.96.
Declan Rice anchors the midfield in the October team of the month having put in a series of superb displays in the West Ham midfield. The England international saved his best performance of the season for the final game of October as he earned a WhoScored rating of 9.00 in the Hammers' 4-1 win at Aston Villa. Only Jamie Shackleton (18) made more tackles than Rice (16) last month as he features with an average rating of 7.83.
Youri Tielemans (Leicester) - 7.68
Finally moving away from London, Leicester may have struggled in October, winning two of four games, but Youri Tielemans was excellent in the Foxes midfield. Two of the three goals he has scored this season were netted in wins over Manchester United and Brentford last month, while only Bruno Fernandes (16) created more goalscoring chances than Tielemans (12) as he rounds off the midfield with a WhoScored rating of 7.68.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 8.94
A deserving winner of the Premier League player of the month award, Mohamed Salah had a direct hand in nine goals in October, scoring five, including a hat-trick in Liverpool's 5-0 win at Manchester United. Salah directly contributed to a goal in every league appearance in October, as he ranked among the top 10 for shots (17), key passes (8) and successful dribbles (11) to help return a fine WhoScored rating of 8.94.
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) - 7.53
Three of Roberto Firmino's four league starts this season came in October as the Brazilian impressed on the Liverpool frontline. His best performance was in the Reds' 5-0 win over Watford, where Firmino scored a hat-trick and provided an assist. In truth, both returns could have been higher in October as he managed 10 shots and five key passes to join Liverpool teammate Salah on the frontline with a WhoScored rating of 7.53.
Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) - 7.67
The second Arsenal player in the side rounds off the XI as Emile Smith Rowe features alongside Salah and Firmino in attack. Smith Rowe has directly contributed to five league goals this season, three of which came in October, as he netted in wins over Aston Villa and Leicester, while his one assist came for Thomas Partey to net against the former. 10 successful dribbles and nine key passes sees the Arsenal youngster complete the team of the month with a WhoScored rating of 7.67.
