Improved defence sees Chelsea trio make Premier League team of the month
The Harry Kane-Son Heung-Min double act showed no signs of slowing in October as the Tottenam duo again excelled to make the WhoScored.com Premier League team of the month. London rivals Chelsea also have three representatives in the best XI as we run through the side...
Karl Darlow (Newcastle) - 7.50
Making the Premier League team of the month for the second month running, Newcastle's Karl Darlow was again another solid performer between the sticks as evidenced in his WhoScored rating of 7.50. The Magpies man made 13 saves across meetings with Burnley, Manchester United and Wolves to feature in the best XI.
Nelson Semedo (Wolves) - 7.48
On the back of a 4-0 loss at West Ham to see out September, Wolves responded with an unbeaten October, picking up 10 points from 12 available. Nelson Semedo has made a solid start to life at Molineux and his WhoScored rating of 7.48 last month is enough to feature at right-back. The Portuguese full-back played his part in a defence that conceded just one goal last month as he made 13 tackles and interceptions combined.
Kurt Zouma (Chelsea) - 7.68
One of three Chelsea players in the Premier League team of the month for October, Kurt Zouma has become a mainstay in the Blues XI this term and the west London side are profitting from his fine form at the back. Zouma scored twice last month, and put in a man of the match display in a 0-0 draw at Manchester United, as the centre-back played his part for a Chelsea side that kept three clean sheets from four.
Thiago Silva (Chelsea) - 7.52
After a nightmare start to life for the Blues, Thiago Silva has been crucial in Chelsea's newfound defensive resolve. Forming a solid partnership with Zouma at the heart of the defence for the Blues, Chelsea kept a clean sheet in all three league matches the Brazilian featured in while Silva's distribution meant his 279 accurate passes and 94.6% pass success rate both ranked highly as the 36-year-old yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.52.
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) - 7.73
Rounding off the defence, Ben Chilwell has made a fine start to life in a Chelsea shirt. The England international marked his league debut for the Blues with a goal and an assist in a man of the match showing over Crystal Palace, and provided the assist for Timo Werner's opener in he 3-3 draw with Southampton. Breaking forward well, Chilwell made more accurate crosses (10) than any other Premier League player in October to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 7.73.
James Rodriguez (Everton) - 8.19
Everton ended October poorly, falling to a 2-0 loss at Southampton, but James Rodriguez was again superb for the Toffees last month as his WhoScored rating (8.19) suggests. The Colombian was exceptional in the 4-2 win over Brighton and the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, winning the WhoScored man of the match award in the two clashes, as only three players had a direct hand in more goals than Rodriguez (4) to make this XI.
Pedro Neto (Wolves) - 7.68
Pedro Neto was one of only three players to win multiple WhoScored man of the match awards in October, securing the star man award in wins over Fulham and Crystal Palace. The Wolves ace bagged his first goal of the season against the former and provided an assist in the victory over the latter. Only Chilwell (10) made more accurate crosses than Neto (8) in the Premier League in October as the Portuguese attacker yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.68.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 7.72
Bruno Fernandes may have ended October with just one assist to his name, that coming in Manchester United's 4-1 win at Newcastle, but that was through no fault of his own. Indeed, Fernandes made more key passes (11) than any other Premier League player last month as the midfielder partners compatriot Neto in midfield with a WhoScored rating of 7.72.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) - 8.37
Missing out on top spot as the best rated Premier League player of the month, Son Heung-Min was an impressive performer in the final third for Tottenham as he had a direct hand in six goals in three league outings in October. Son hit the back of with four of his six shots last month, while two of his eight key passes resulted in an assist as the South Korean star returned a WhoScored rating of 8.37.
Son keeps Jack Grealish out of the side on the left flank, with the Aston Villa star unfortunate not to make the XI. Grealish garnered a WhoScored rating of 8.21 last month, the third best in the Premier League in October, as he just misses out on a spot in the best XI.
Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 9.02
With a WhoScored rating of 9.02, Harry Kane is the Premier League player of the month. The Tottenham hitman had a direct hand in seven goals in total in October, with four of his 17 shots hitting the back of the net. Kane also moved four clear on the assist leaderboard, registering three in total from six key passes as the 27-year-old shone.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) - 7.84
The final player in the October team of the month, Ollie Watkins had a direct hand in four goals in total, all of which came in Aston Villa's 7-2 win over defending champions Liverpool at the beginning of the month. While the former Brentford man has struggled for consistency in England's top tier, Watkins still did enough to return an average WhoScored rating of 7.84 to partner Kane in this XI.
