Brilliant Bradley one of two Liverpool players in Premier League Best XI
The Premier League returned in full for the first complete gameweek since the winter break, and we’ve taken a look at the standout performers from the action in midweek. There are places in the XI for representatives of Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Luton, Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
Jordan Pickford (Everton) - 7.94
In the only goalless draw of gameweek 22, Everton kept Fulham at bay at Craven Cottage, with England international Jordan Pickford to thank for their eight clean sheet of the season. Pickford made a total of five saves on the night, while he also made two high claims and maintained a pass success rate of 70% to land a WhoScored rating of 7.94.
Conor Bradley (Liverpool) - 9.20
Conor Bradley’s remarkable start to life in the Premier League continued in just his second appearance in the competition, when Liverpool put four past Chelsea on Wednesday evening. Bradley, who is still just 20, had a hand in each of the Reds’ first three goals, providing assists for Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai, and finding the net himself with an exceptional finish shortly before half time. Along with his contributions in front of goal, Bradley also made three tackles, four key passes and one successful dribble to earn a WhoScored rating of 9.20.
James Tarkowski (Everton) - 8.19
31-year-old defender James Tarkowski registered his second highest rated performance of the Premier League season so far in the goalless draw at Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening. Tarkowski won three aerial duels, while he also made one tackle, one interception, two blocks and a whopping nine clearances to return a WhoScored rating of 8.19.
Fabian Schar (Newcastle) - 9.06
Having previously failed to score a league goal all season - from a total of 19 shots - Newcastle’s Fabian Schar finally found the net, not once but twice, against Aston Villa on Tuesday evening. The 32-year-old centre-back also won two aerial duels, made an interception, seven clearances and three blocks to register a WhoScored rating of 9.06, his highest rated performance of the season so far.
Completing the backline is Schar’s Newcastle teammate Dan Burn with a WhoScored rating of 7.83 as he made a total of five tackles, four interceptions and six clearances in a strong defensive display at Villa Park.
With a WhoScored rating of 9.38, Luton’s hat-trick hero Elijah Adebayo is the Premier League player of the week for his performance in the dominant 4-0 victory over Brighton. Adebayo opened the scoring for the hosts inside 20 seconds, before adding his second and third either side of half time to complete his first ever senior hat-trick. In a brilliant all-round display, Adebayo also provided a key pass and completed three successful dribbles.
Joining Adebayo in the midfield three is fellow Luton star Ross Barkley, who has rediscovered some of his best form in a Hatters shirt this season. Against Brighton, Barkley made two tackles, one interception, two clearances and an impressive five key passes, one of which found Elijah Adebayo to make it 3-0 in the 42nd minute. Barkley also completed three successful dribbles and maintained a pass success rate of 87.9% to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.70.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) - 8.96
Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze continues to shine for the Eagles this season, and added to his scoring tally for the season with a brace in the 3-2 win against Sheffield United on Tuesday evening. The 25-year-old found the net with two of four attempts on goal, while he also provided two key passes and completed three successful dribbles to land a WhoScored rating of 8.96.
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) - 8.64
Michael Olise has now been directly involved in eight goals in his last five Premier League appearances, and three of those came in Tuesday night’s victory over Sheffield United. The 22-year-old was on hand to provide the assist for both of Eberechi Eze’s first-half strikes, before sealing all three points himself with a stunning half-volleyed effort. In what was yet another scintillating display, Olise also completed three successful dribbles to return a WhoScored rating of 8.64.
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) - 8.63
With a goal and an assist in the 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening, Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus leads the line in the week’s best XI. Jesus put the Gunners ahead from a tight angle - one of his six attempts on goal that evening - while he also provided two key passes and completed three successful dribbles to post a WhoScored rating of 8.63.
Rounding off gameweek 22’s best XI is Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, who scored and assisted in a Premier League match for the first time this season in the 4-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday evening. The 27-year-old provided two key passes in total, while he also completed one successful dribble to pick up a WhoScored rating of 8.15, his best rated performance of the season so far.
