Bruno Fernandes once again makes the Squawka Score Premier League Team of the Week. The Manchester United captain was key in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa to boost his side’s Champions League hopes.
Newcastle, Brentford, Arsenal, West Ham, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Tottenham and Brighton are also represented in this team.
We’ve used our Squawka Score to determine the best XI, based on the statistical leaders for metrics relevant to their positions. And as ever, we’ve thrown an honourable mention XI for good measure.
The Squawka Score is our proprietary performance rating, combining multiple Opta stats into a single percentage (45 mins played minimum). 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/
GK: Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle)
- Squawka score: 81%
Away from Paul Tierney’s team huddle exploits, Aaron Ramsdale put in another commendable showing between the sticks as Newcastle claimed a 1-0 win at Chelsea. Ramsdale managed three saves and caught four crosses in a clean sheet-attaining display.
Honourable mention: Walter Benitez (77%)
Crystal Palace played out a 0-0 draw with Leeds on Sunday with Walter Benitez catching the eye in a rare league outing. The Argentine made three saves in the home stalemate, preventing 0.22 goals in the process.
RB: Michael Kayode (Brentford)
- Squawka score: 67%
Michael Kayode bagged his first Brentford goal in their 2-2 draw with Wolves on Monday night. The Bees star got the better of Jose Sa with his only effort in the stalemate, while six clearances, three aerial wins and one tackle capped a solid showing from the Italian.
Honourable mention: Matheus Nunes (67%)
Manchester City may have dropped points in the title race but Matheus Nunes put in another shift from right-back. Nunes managed three clearances in their 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened West Ham on Saturday night.
CB: William Saliba (Arsenal)
- Squawka score: 72%
Arsenal ended the weekend nine points clear at the top of the table as they earned a 2-0 win over Everton. William Saliba was imperious at the back for the Gunners as he made eight clearances, won six aerial duels and three tackles to take a huge step towards the Premier League title.
| STAT | SALIBA | ARSENAL RANK |
|---|---|---|
| Clearances | 8 | 2nd |
| Tackles | 3 | =1st |
| Aerial wins | 6 | =1st |
| Passes | 110 | 1st |
Honourable mention: Abdukodir Khusanov (71%)
While Abdukodir Khusanov was unable to keep West Ham out at the London Stadium, the Uzbek international still shone. The Manchester City centre-back won three aerial duels and completed two take ons in Saturday’s stalemate.
CB: Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham)
- Squawka score: 72%
Partnering Saliba at the heart of the defence is West Ham hero Konstantinos Mavropanos. Not only did the Greek centre-back score his first league goal of the season to boost the Hammers survival hopes, the 28-year-old also made a whopping 10 clearances, four interceptions and three tackles in a fine showing.
Honourable mention: Jaydee Canvot (71%)
Jaydee Canvot was excellent at the back in Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with Leeds. The young Frenchman won five aerial duels and managed 13 clearances in the stalemate with the Whites.
LB: Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth)
- Squawka score: 79%
Rounding off the defence is Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert. The Cherries played out a 0-0 draw with Burnley on Saturday with the Frenchman impressive at the back having made six clearances, two tackles and two interceptions at Turf Moor.
Honourable mention: Rayan Ait-Nouri (69%)
Rayan Ait-Nouri did all he could to help Manchester City to victory at West Ham. Indeed, he got forward well, completing four take ons, while four aerial wins and three clearances saw the Algerian just miss out on a spot in the XI.
CM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
- Squawka score: 77%
Bruno Fernandes registered his 15th and 16th league assists of the season as Manchester United claimed a huge 3-1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend. The Man Utd skipper’s brace of assists came from six chances created in another masterful display.
| STAT | FERNANDES | MAN UTD RANK |
|---|---|---|
| Chances created | 6 | 1st |
| Assists | 2 | 1st |
| Shots | 3 | =1st |
| Touches | 70 | 4th |
Honourable mention: Pascal Gross (76%)
The experienced Pascal Gross caught the eye in Brighton’s 1-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday. The German star was key in the narrow triumph, making five clearances and three tackles at the Stadium of Light.
CM: Alex Scott (Bournemouth)
- Squawka score: 77%
Joining Fernandes in the middle of the park, Alex Scott was superb off the ball in Bournemouth’s 0-0 draw with Burnley. The Cherries star made six tackles and three clearances in the Turf Moor stalemate on Saturday.
Honourable mention: Rodri (76%)
Rodri did all he could to haul Manchester City to victory in the capital on Saturday. The Spaniard created three chances in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, and made two tackles, though it wasn’t to be for Man City.
CM Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
- Squawka score: 76%
Dominik Szoboszlai bagged his fifth league goal of the season as Liverpool were ultimately held to a 1-1 draw with Tottenham. The Hungarian beat Tottenham shotstopper Guglielmo Vicario with one of three shots, and managed two interceptions in another notable showing.
Honourable mention: Elliot Anderson (75%)
Elliot Anderson was again Nottingham Forest’s driving force in their eventual 0-0 draw with Fulham. The Tricky Trees star created three chances and completed two take ons as Forest claimed a result in their bid to beat the drop.
RW: Dango Ouattara (Brentford)
- Squawka score: 76%
Dango Ouattara registered his third league assist of the season in Brentford’s 2-2 draw with Wolves on Monday night. The winger provided for Igor Thiago shortly before the break, that coming from one of four chances created, while the 24-year-old also managed two tackles and two interceptions.
Honourable mention: Marcus Tavernier (68%)
Marcus Tavernier was unlucky not to contribute to a goal in Bournemouth’s 0-0 draw with Burnley. The attacker managed four shots, hitting the woodwork with one, and created four chances at Turf Moor.
ST: Richarlison (Tottenham)
- Squawka score: 74%
Richarlison struck a late equaliser on Sunday as Tottenham claimed a huge point in their bid to beat the drop. The Brazilian netted in the 90th minute as Spurs played out a 1-1 draw with Liverpool. Richarlison got the better of Alisson with one of five shots and put himself about in the final third, as he made five tackles.
Honourable mention: Adam Armstrong (69%)
Adam Armstrong scored his first league goal since his move to Wolves in the winter window as the table footers played out a 2-2 draw with Brentford. The 29-year-old netted with one of three shots and completed one take on at the Gtech Community Stadium.
LW: Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)
- Squawka score: 75%
Nailing down the left flank spot, Yankuba Minteh struck his second league goal of the season in Brighton’s 1-0 win at Sunderland. Minteh got the better of Black Cats stand-in Melker Ellborg with his only shot, and worked hard of the ball, too, as he made four tackles.
Honourable mention: Jaidon Anthony (71%)
Jaidon Anthony was unfortunate not to score in Burnley’s 0-0 draw with Bournemouth. The Clarets wideman hit the woodwork with one of five shots in the stalemate. Additionally, Anthony created two chances and completed two take ons against the Cherries.
