Chelsea dominate Premier League team of the week after smashing Spurs
A dominant second half performance from Chelsea at Tottenham means the Blues have four players make the Premier League team of the week as they reinforced their title credentials at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Representatives from Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle also make the cut this week following another exciting round of top-flight action.
Karl Darlow (Newcastle) - 7.81
After a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to COVID-19, Karl Darlow returned to the Newcastle goal for their 1-1 draw with Leeds on Friday night and impressed in the stalemate. While he was unable to deny Raphinha from opening the scoring early in the first half, Darlow ensured a positive result as he made nine saves to make the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 7.81.
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) - 8.30
Aston Villa have two players make the Premier League team of the week following their solid 3-0 win over Everton on Saturday evening. Matty Cash bagged his first Villa goal of his career to opening the scoring for the Villans midway through the second half, finding a way past Asmir Begovic with one of three shots. The 24-year-old got forward well as he completed two dribbles and defended solidly, making one tackle and one interception, to land a WhoScored rating of 8.30.
Chelsea dominate the Premier League team of the week, with Thiago Silva the first of four Blues representatives following their 3-0 win at London rivals Tottenham on Sunday. Silva bagged his first league goal of the season shortly after the break in north London, scoring with one of two efforts on goal. The 36-year-old defended resolutely, too, making six clearances, three interceptions and one tackle to feature with a WhoScored rating of 8.76.
Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea) - 8.31
Partnering Silva at the heart of the defence is teammate Antonio Rudiger. Like his fellow centre-back, Rudiger also scored his first Premier League goal of the 2021/22 campaign, netting in second half injury time to cap a solid display. Two clearances and two interceptions helped Rudiger yield a WhoScored rating of 8.31 and earn Chelsea all three points with a clean sheet to boot.
Kostas Tsimikas (Liverpool) - 8.10
Rounding off the backline is Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas. Andy Robertson would normally have started for the Reds, but Jurgen Klopp is now willing to give the Greek defender further game time and he didn't disappoint in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace. While Tsimikas was unable to have a direct hand in a goal in Saturday's victory, it wasn't for want of trying as he managed four key passes and one shot. Additional returns of three clearances, three tackles and two interceptions sees the 25-year-old make the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.10.
Watford earned a huge win in their battle to beat the drop this season, defeating fellow promoted side Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon. Ismaila Sarr was crucial in the victory over the Canaries as he netted twice in the Hornets' 3-1 win. Sarr scored with two of five shots and was solid in possession as he found a teammate with 93.1% of his 29 passes. Five successful dribbles, the joint-fourth most this in gameweek five, saw the Senegal international land a WhoScored rating of 8.90 over the weekend.
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) - 8.55
The second Aston Villa player in the side, Douglas Luiz was on hand to provide his first assist of the season as he teed up Matty Cash to bag the opener against Everton on Saturday. That assist came from one of five key passes - no player made more in gameweek five - while three tackles and one interception meant the Toffees struggled to create chances. It was a solid showing from the Brazilian and enough to warrant a spot in the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 8.55.
A half time introduction at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, the decision to bring N'Golo Kante on for the second half proved decisive for Chelsea. The Frenchman scored his first Premier League goal since November 2019 in the 3-0 win, while only Mateo Kovacic (6) made more tackles than Kante (2) of all Chelsea players as the 30-year-old partners Luiz in the middle of the park with a WhoScored rating of 7.93.
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) - 8.54
Completing the Chelsea contingent is Spaniard Marcos Alonso, whose performance against Tottenham was deserving of a WhoScored rating of 8.54. Alonso provided the assist for Thiago Silva's opener in north London, that coming from one of four key passes in Chelsea's 3-0 win. Spurs struggled to get the better of the 30-year-old down their right, too, as he made four interceptions and three clearances on Sunday afternoon.
With a WhoScored rating of 9.31, Ivan Toney is the Premier League player of the week. Toney had a direct hand in both Brentford goals in their 2-0 win at Wolves on Saturday, netting the opener from the spot midway through the first half and then turning provider for Bryan Mbuemo to confirm a huge three points. Those came from respective returns of three shots and two key passes, while no player won more aerial duels than Toney in gameweek five (7) to help feature in this side.
Leandro Trossard (Brighton) - 8.52
Joining Toney on the frontline is Brighton star Leandro Trossard, who earned his second successive WhoScored man of the match award as the Seagulls secured a massive 2-1 win over Leicester. The Belgian provided the assist for Danny Welbeck's second half header, that coming from of four key passes at the AMEX Stadium. Five successful dribbles and one interception helped Trossard return a WhoScored rating of 8.52 on Sunday, that enough to partner Toney in this team.
