Salah headlines Premier League team of the week dominated by Liverpool
This week’s team of the week is dominated by Liverpool who have six players in the XI after their 7-0 thrashing of rivals Manchester United. Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Wolves and Nottingham Forest are also represented with one player each.
Having kept his seventh clean sheet of the season, in between the sticks in this team is Jose Sa with a WhoScored rating of 8.26. His Wolves side recorded a 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday to help put a healthy gap between themselves and the relegation zone. Sa was on top form, pulling off six saves and making three claims, while he also won his only aerial duel. It was a game Spurs were going to dominate, but Sa played a massive part in securing three points for Wolves and earned the man of the match award as a result.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – 8.12
The final match of the gameweek between Liverpool and Manchester United was as one sided as you could get in the Premier League, as the Reds won 7-0. There were seven players involved in the goals, and though Trent Alexander-Arnold wasn’t one of them, he still played a part in a famous win for Liverpool. His two key passes could only be bettered by Mohamed Salah and fellow full-back Andrew Robertson (both 3), while he also made four tackles, two clearances and one interception to hold off United threat. His 100% dribble success rate also aided in obtaining a WhoScored rating of 8.12.
Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) – 8.06
Brentford extended their current unbeaten record in the league to 12 matches after winning the West London derby 3-2 against Fulham on Monday night. Ethan Pinnock was the star player with a 8.06 WhoScored rating as he scored his first of the season from his only shot in the game. His solidity at the back was vital for the Bees as Fulham controlled possession. In total, Pinnock won the most aerial duels (5) and the joint-most tackles (4), additionally making five clearances and two interceptions.
Wesley Fofana (Chelsea) – 7.78
Wesley Fofana has been missing for much of the season with a knee injury, but made an instant impact on his return to the starting lineup on Saturday as Chelsea won their first league game in six, beating Leeds 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Fofana scored the only goal of the game early in the second half, but that wasn’t the only contributing factor to his 7.78 WhoScored rating. To go with his goal, Fofana registered the second most touches (96), while 81 of his 84 attempted passes found a teammate, while he won all five aerial duels contested and made one interception.
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) – 8.45
Andrew Robertson’s pass for Cody Gakpo’s opener brought him to six assists for the season, the most of any defender in the Premier League. This was from one of three key passes he registered against Erik ten Hag’s side, the joint most in the game, while he also managed to record two shots. Though his side were on the front foot for the majority of the game, his defensive capabilities were still required, and much of this contributed to his 8.45 WhoScored rating, as he made four tackles and one interception. Additionally, he also won possession in the attacking third three times, more than any other player in the match.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 10.0
With a perfect WhoScored 10 rating, Mohamed Salah became just the seventh player to record a perfect score in a Premier League game this season. The Egyptian contributed to four of the seven goals with a brace and two assists, the latter of which came from three key passes. Salah broke the Premier League goals record for Liverpool and that of course stole the headlines, but he also made one tackle and completed one dribble, and won more fouls (6) than any other player in a remarkable display.
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton) – 8.67
World cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, who has been key to Brighton’s positive season, yet again produced a top-class display, earning a WhoScored rating of 8.67 as a result. The Seagulls inflicted a 4-0 defeat on West Ham on Saturday and Mac Allister was involved in two of the goals with an assist from a total of three key passes and a goal from the penalty spot. The midfielder worked hard to maintain possession for his team, making three tackles, and completing 55 of his 62 passes.
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) – 8.44
Partnering Mac Allister is yet another Liverpool player. 19-year-old Harvey Elliott received an 8.44 WhoScored rating as he was heavily involved in the middled of the park, registering the third most touches (71) of any player at Anfield, while also making four tackles and an interception. His only key pass resulted in the assist for Darwin Nunez’s first goal, while his three shots were only bettered by the Uruguayan.
Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) – 8.56
Scoring his seventh and eighth Premier League goals of the season against Manchester United, Darwin Nunez is the penultimate Liverpool player in the side. The Uruguay international scored his brace from four shots, a feat bettered by no player on Merseyside. Additionally, he completed one dribble and recorded the most touches in the opposition box (10) of any player to earn himself a WhoScored rating of 8.56.
Completing the Liverpool set and kicking off the frontline is Dutch striker Cody Gakpo. The former PSV star has slowly started to settle into life in England and he definitely raised his status among the Anfield faithful on Sunday with his superb display. Gakpo earned an impressive 9.12 WhoScored rating, scoring a brace from three shots, while also winning three aerial duels and completing one dribble.
Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest) – 8.64
The final spot in the team is taken by Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson, who earned the man of the match award with an 8.64 WhoScored rating for his efforts. Forest twice came from behind to eventually draw 2-2 with Everton, in turn stretching their home unbeaten record in the league to nine matches. Johnson scored both goals for Steve Cooper’s side from a total of four shots he had in the game, but likewise he made more dribbles (4) than any other player on the pitch and recorded more touches in the opposition box (11) than any other player, highlighting his impact on the result.
