Following gameweek 16 of the 2025-26 Premier League season, we run through the Squawka Score Team of the Week.
Manchester United pair Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha both shone in Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. The duo make the cut in the best XI, as does Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Liverpool duo Ibrahima Konate and Hugo Ekitike.
Elsewhere, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Bournemouth are also represented in the team.
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: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Man City)
- Squawka score: 84%
Gianluigi Donnarumma nails down the goalkeeper spot in the Premier League team of the week. The towering Italian was vital as Manchester City claimed a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. Indeed, Donnarumma made four saves and prevented 1.76 goals in a fine showing.
Honourable mention: John Victor (79%)
The Nottingham Forest shotstopper impressed on his Premier League debut as the Tricky Trees eased to a 3-0 win over Tottenham. As well as a clean sheet, John Victor also completed nine long balls in the City Ground success.
RB: Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
- Squawka score: 79%
Kicking off the defence, Malo Gusto was directly involved in both Chelsea goals in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton. The Frenchman provided the assist for Cole Palmer’s opener before confirming the victory shortly before the break. In addition, Gusto completed four clearances as Chelsea returned to winning ways.
Honourable mention: Matheus Nunes (74%)
Matheus Nunes just misses out on a spot in the team of the week. The Portugal international was again solid as Manchester City eased to a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace as the 27-year-old made five clearances and two tackles at Selhurst Park.
CB: Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
- Squawka score: 72%
Liverpool returned to winning ways domestically with a 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday. Hugo Ekitike was the star of the show, but it was Ibrahima Konate’s excellent performance at the back that ensured the Reds claimed all the spoils. Konate managed seven clearances, two interceptions and two aerial wins to keep the Seagulls attack on lockdown.
Honourable mention: Wesley Fofana (69%)
While Chelsea eased to victory over Everton, the Blues needed centre-back Wesley Fofana to minimise the pressure on their goal. The Frenchman made 12 clearances and managed a 96.51% retention rate as the west London side got their season back on track.
CB: Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
- Squawka score: 72%
Partnering Konate at the heart of the defence, Nikola Milenkovic ensured the Nottingham Forest goal was well protected in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Tottenham. Milenkovic made six clearances and three interceptions, and won three aerial duels, to secure his spot in the side.
Honourable mention: Calvin Bassey (71%)
Fulham pulled off a notable 3-2 win at Burnley on Saturday afternoon, with Calvin Bassey catching the eye in the victory. Bassey scored his side’s second at Turf Moor, while four clearances, two tackles and two interceptions ensured Fulham returned to the capital with all the spoils.
LB: Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)
- Squawka score: 72%
Rounding off the backline is Nottingham Forest star Neco Williams. The Welshman was vital in a clean-sheet attaining display as he won possession in the defensive third three times, made three tackles and two clearances in Forest’s 3-0 home win over Tottenham.
Honourable mention: Reinildo (71%)
A key player in Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, Reinildo is unfortunate to miss out on a spot in the best XI. The Black Cats star managed two tackles and two interceptions in a commendable showing.
RW: Harry Wilson (Fulham)
- Squawka score: 81%
Harry Wilson put in a player of the match performance at Burnley on Saturday as the Welsh forward managed two assists and one goal at Turf Moor. Wilson struck with one of two shots on target, while his brace of assists came from three chances created. In addition, the Fulham star completed one take on to return a Squawka score of 81%.
Honourable mention: Mohamed Salah (74%)
On what could prove to be his final appearance for Liverpool, Mohamed Salah came off the bench to provide the assist for Ekitike’s second in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brighton. The assist means Salah overtook Wayne Rooney with the most direct goal involvements (277) for a single Premier League club in history.
CM: Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth)
- Squawka score: 79%
Marcus Tavernier shone in Bournemouth’s eventual 4-4 draw at Manchester United on Monday night having been directly involved in two of their Cherries’ four goals. Tavernier got the better of United shotstopper Senne Lammens with one of three shots on target and provided one assist from three chances created.
Honourable mention: Ibrahim Sangare (78%)
Nottingham Forest star Ibrahim Sangare just misses out on a spot in the XI having scored one and assisted another against Tottenham on Sunday. The Ivorian struck with his only shot on target on home turf, and managed two tackles.
CM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
- Squawka score: 78%
Like Tavernier, Bruno Fernandes was also directly involved in two goals in Monday’s eight-goal thriller at Old Trafford. The Manchester United skipper scored a superb second half free-kick and provided an assist with one of five chances created. In addition, Fernandes also completed 18 passes into the final third.
| STAT | FERNANDES | MAN UTD RANK |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | =1st |
| Assists | 1 | 1st |
| Chances created | 5 | 1st |
| Touches | 79 | 1st |
| Passes completed | 43 | 1st |
| Tackles | 2 | =2nd |
| Clearances | 5 | =4th |
Honourable mention: Granit Xhaka (72%)
Grant Xhaka captained Sunderland to victory in his first Tyne-Wear Derby on Sunday. Xhaka put in a shift in the middle of the park as he won three aerial duels, made two tackles and one interception as the Black Cats claimed a 1-0 win over Newcastle.
LW: Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest)
- Squawka score: 79%
Having contributed to just one league goal all season, Callum Hudson-Odoi was directly involved in all three in Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 win over Tottenham. The winger got the better of Guglielmo Vicario with both shots on target, and created two chances as the Midlands side eased past their north London counterparts.
Honourable mention: Jacob Bruun Larsen (72%)
While Jacob Bruun Larsen failed to contribute to a goal against Fulham on Saturday, it wasn’t for want of trying. Larsen created five chances and completed three take ons, and managed five ball recoveries, in a notable outing.
FW: Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
- Squawka score: 80%
Matheus Cunha excelled in Manchester United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday. The Brazil international bagged his second league goal of the season in a stalemate, while he was unfortunate not to add an assist having created three chances in the entertaining Old Trafford clash.
Honourable mention: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (79%)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for the fourth game running as Leeds played out a 1-1 draw with Brentford on Sunday evening. The Whites looked more solid defensively, while Calvert-Lewin is going some way to proving his doubters wrong having been heavily criticised earlier in the season.
FW: Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
- Squawka score: 81%
Joining Cunha on the frontline is Liverpool hitman Hugo Ekitike, who netted his sixth and seventh league goals of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brighton. Ekitike struck with both shots on target, and he proved a thorn in the side of the Seagulls backline having managed 12 touches in the opposition box at the weekend.
Honourable mention: Erling Haaland (70%)
Erling Haaland extended his lead in the race for the Golden Boot on Sunday as he bagged his 16th and 17th league goals of the season at Crystal Palace. The Norwegian hitman was his prolific best in south London over the weekend as he beat Dean Henderson with both shots.