The 2025-26 Premier League returned from the international break with Gameweek 8 and a lot happened.
Manchester United condemned Liverpool to their third-straight league defeat with a 1-2 victory at Anfield. Arsenal kept their lead at the top of the table thanks to their 0-1 away win over Fulham, while Manchester City moved up to second with victory over Everton.
Man City are the most-represented team in our Team of the Week for Gameweek 8, with three players included. Both Burnley and Brentford have two with the other four players coming from different clubs.
The Squawka Score is our proprietary performance rating, combining multiple Opta stats into a single percentage. It benchmarks players against their positional peers, allowing quick comparisons. Learn more about how it works here: https://www.squawka.com/en/news/squawka-score-explained/
Read the Squawka Score 2025-26 Premier League Team of the Week for Gameweek 28 here.
GK: Martin Dubravka (Burnley)
- Squawka Score: 86%
There were six clean sheets in the Premier League this weekend, and it’s Martin Dubravka that stands on top of the pile for goalkeepers. The Slovakian kept a clean sheet in Burnley’s 2-0 win over Leeds United, just their second victory of the season. He made four saves and prevented 0.33 goals, while also completing nine long passes. Dubravka also made two punched clearances and caught one cross.
Honourable mention: Bernd Leno (86%)
Bernd Leno just misses out on the fact that he didn’t keep a clean sheet against Arsenal. But the German did prevent 0.67 goals, doing as much as he could to keep the Gunners out.
RB: Kyle Walker (Burnley)
- Squawka Score: 76%
Our second Burnley representative comes in the form of Kyle Walker, who rolled back the years with his performance against Leeds. The Englishman thrived at both ends of the pitch, making four interceptions retaining possession and seven clearances, alongside his intentional assist. Walker also won possession four times in the defensive third and completed 100% of his attempted open-play crosses.
Honourable mention: Reece James (73%)
Reece James scored and assisted in Chelsea’s win over Nottingham Forest, but he didn’t have to do too much defensively. He was part of a defence that faced just two shots on target — having as many himself at the other end of the pitch.
CB: Dan Ballard (Sunderland)
- Squawka Score: 71%
Dan Ballard was a key part of Sunderland’s defence in their win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, keeping a clean sheet. The centre-back was impressive in the air winning seven aerial duels, and making six clearances. He also blocked two shots, doing all he good to preserve the all-important clean sheet.
Key stats vs Wolves:
| Stat | Dan Ballard | Sunderland rank |
|---|---|---|
| Clearances | 6 | 3rd |
| Aerial duels won | 7 | 2nd |
| Duels won | 10 | 2nd |
| Accurate passes | 32 | 2nd |
| Touches | 73 | 3rd |
Honourable mention: Nathan Collins (69%)
Nathan Collins did his bit in helping Brentford keep their clean sheet against West Ham United. The centre-back made eight clearances and won 83.33% of his aerial duels.
CB: Ruben Dias (Man City)
- Squawka Score: 71%
Ruben Dias was as reliable as ever on the ball for Man City in their win over Everton, boasting a retention rate of 96.64%. He was also involved defensively, making five clearances and winning possession four times in the defensive third.
Honourable mention: Josh Acheampong (70%)
Josh Acheampong scored Chelsea’s opening goal against Nottingham Forest, and boasted a retention rate of 92.86%. He also made four interceptions retaining possession.
LB: Nico O’Reilly (Man City)
- Squawka Score: 73%
Nico O’Reilly was another full-back to provide an assist in Gameweek 8, setting up the first of Erling Haaland’s two goals against Everton. The Englishman got forward a lot, having four touches in the opposition box and creating one big chance, as well as completing one pass into the final third. But he also did his bit defensive, winning possession twice in the defensive third.
Honourable mention: Marc Cucurella (70%)
Marc Cucurella is our third Chelsea honourable mention, doing his bit in helping the Blues keep a clean sheet against Nottingham Forest. The Spaniard made two interceptions retaining possession, won two tackles and won possession three times in the defensive third.
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DM: Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa)
- Squawka Score: 77%
Boubacar Kamara looked tough to beat in Aston Villa’s win over Tottenham Hotspur, winning three tackles and three aerial duels. He was reliable on the ball, completing three take-ons and boasting a retention rate of 88.52% — while also completing 89.13% of his open-play passes. Overall, Kamara won 14 duels and 84.62% of his ground battles. It was a performance to remember.
Honourable mention: Yehor Yarmoliuk (74%)
Yehor Yarmoliuk is unlucky not to make the starting XI here, after his good performance against West Ham. The midfielder made six passes into the penalty area and won possession four times in the middle third.
DM: Jordan Henderson (Brentford)
- Squawka Score: 75%
Jordan Henderson continues to impress as part of the Brentford midfield. The Englishman was tough to beat in the middle of the pitch, winning possession four times in the middle third and twice in the defensive third, as well as making six ball recoveries. He also made three passes into the penalty area and completed nine passes into the final third.
Honourable mention: Noah Sadiki (69%)
Noah Sadiki made five ball recoveries in Sunderland’s win over Wolves, while also winning four duels.
RW: Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
- Squawka Score: 84%
Pedro Neto scored and assisted in Chelsea’s win over Nottingham Forest, netting his goal from a set-piece situation. The Portuguese winger had two shots on target in total and created four chances, one of which was a big chance. Neto also completed three take-ons and completed three of his attempted four crosses.
Key stats vs Nottingham Forest:
| Stat | Pedro Neto | Chelsea rank |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 3 | =1st |
| Chances created | 4 | 1st |
| Completed take-ons | 3 | =1st |
| Touches in the opposition box | 3 | =1st |
| Total crosses | 4 | 1st |
Honourable mention: Bukayo Saka (73%)
Bukayo Saka was dangerous in Arsenal’s win over Fulham, completing six take-ons, the most of any winger in the Premier League in Gameweek 8. He also boasted an incredible 13 touches in the opposition box.
No.10: Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford)
- Squawka Score: 67%
Mikkel Damsgaard continues to show his importance to Brentford’s attack, picking up the slack left by departing stars in the summer. The Dane had four touches in the opposition box and created four chances, alongside nine final third passes completed. He also completed five crosses and made four ball recoveries.
Honourable mention: Phil Foden (67%)
Phil Foden was one of a large attacking line for Man City, completing three crosses and creating three chances.
LW: Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
- Squawka Score: 71%
Cody Gakpo scored the goal that looked set to get Liverpool back into the game against Man Utd. It was his only shot on target, but the Dutchman created three chances and completed eight final third passes with 10 touches in the opposition box.
Honourable mention: Kevin Schade (69%)
Another Brentford player, Kevin Schade had six touches in the opposition box and created four chances against West Ham, with one being a big chance.
ST: Erling Haaland (Man City)
- Squawka Score: 78%
Erling Haaland scored another two goals this weekend, netting both in Man City’s 2-0 win over Everton. He had five shots in total, hitting the target four times — with 0.55 non-penalty post shot Expected Goals. Haaland also won two aerial duels and had 11 touches in the opposition box.
Honourable mention: Eli Kroupi (75%)
Eli Kroupi scored two goals in Bournemouth’s 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace, with both of his shots on target. He also posted 0.91 xG from headers alone.