Wood leads Nottingham Forest trio in Premier League Team of the Week
Nottingham Forest and West Ham each have three players make the Premier League team of the week following respective wins over Newcastle and Arsenal. Liverpool, Manchester City, Brighton and Sheffield United are also represented in the best XI.
Alphonse Areola (West Ham) - 8.31
West Ham claimed an impressive scalp on Thursday night as they earned a 2-0 win at London rivals Arsenal. Alphonse Areola put in a solid showing between the sticks for the Hammers at the Emirates as he made a total of eight saves on his way to a player of the match award and a spot in the Premier League team of the week.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham) - 8.16
The second West Ham player in the side was the one who opened the scoring at Arsenal on Thursday night. Former Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos got the better of David Raya with his only effort on goal, while returns of five clearances, two tackles and two interceptions ensured the east London side kept a clean sheet at the Emirates.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.74
Featuring alongside Mavropanos at the back is Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, who earned a WhoScored rating of 7.74 at Burnley on Tuesday night. Van Dijk played his part against a Clarets outfit that failed to muster a single shot on target against the Reds as he won seven aerial duels and made six clearances at Turf Moor.
Murillo (Nottingham Forest) - 7.61
Nottingham Forest ended a seven-game winless run in style on Boxing Day as they beat Newcastle 3-1 at St. James' Park. Murillo is the first of three Newcastle players to make the XI having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.61 against the Magpies. The 21-year-old claimed his first assist of the season in the victory and made seven clearances to secure his spot in the side.
Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) - 8.68
Anthony Elanga claimed his fourth and fifth league assists of the season at Newcastle on Tuesday, doing so from three key passes. Elanga wasn't afraid to chance his luck at St. James' Park, too, as he fired off five efforts to help earn a WhoScored rating of 8.68.
Phil Foden (Manchester City) - 8.68
Also making the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 8.68 is Manchester City star Phil Foden. The 23-year-old netted his fifth league goal of the campaign as City returned to domestic duties with a 3-1 win at Everton. Foden hit the back of the net with one of seven shots and was unfortunate not to claim an assist having made three key passes.
Pascal Gross (Brighton) - 8.39
Joining Foden in the middle of the park is the first of two Brighton stars to make the Premier League team of the week. Pascal Gross returned a WhoScored rating of 8.39 as the Seagulls got the better of Tottenham in an entertaining 4-2 win at the AMEX on Thursday. The 32-year-old put in a battling display in midfield, making six tackles and four interceptions on his way to a WhoScored rating of 8.39.
Rounding off the West Ham contingent is Italy international Emerson. The 29-year-old made five tackles, five clearances and two interceptions as Arsenal struggled to get the better of Emerson in the Hammers' 2-0 win in north London. The left-back also won two aerial duels to return a WhoScored rating of 8.09.
The star player from Brighton's 4-2 win over Tottenham, Joao Pedro was directly involved in three of the Seagulls' four goals on home turf on Thursday night. The Brazilian provided the assist for Jack Hinshelwood's 11th-minute opener and netted either side of half time from respective returns of two key passes and four shots.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) - 9.60
Leading the charge in the Premier League team of the week is Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood. The experienced frontman netted more league goals against Newcastle at St. James' Park on Boxing Day (3) than he managed at the Magpies' home during his time as a Newcastle player (1). Wood got the better of Martin Dubravka with all three efforts on goal, all the while making four clearances and completing two dribbles to land a WhoScored rating of 9.60.
Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) - 8.55
Joining Pedro and Wood on the frontline is Sheffield United striker Oliver McBurnie. The Blades may have fallen to a 3-2 loss to Luton on home turf on Boxing Day but McBurnie was on hand to score his third league goal of the season in the defeat, netting with one of two shots, and won 14 aerial duels as the 27-year-old impressed despite featuring for the losing side in midweek.
