Manchester City ace Rayan Cherki has enjoyed a memorable week to make the Squawka Score Premier League Team of the Week.
Cherki scored a fine opener against Arsenal and caught the eye in the win over Burnley, and is one of two City players to feature here.
Fulham, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, West Ham, Aston Villa and Everton are also represented.
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: Bernd Leno (Fulham)
- Squawka score: 83%
Brentford and Fulham played out a dull 0-0 draw at the Gtech on Saturday and it took until the dying embers for the game to spark into life. Even then, Bernd Leno was equal to Dango Ouattara’s close-range effort, making, what Ally McCoist on TNT Sports deemed: “The save of the season.” It was one of four the German made in the west London clash as Leno prevented 1.9 goals.
Honourable mention: Dean Henderson (76%)
Like Brentford’s meeting with Fulham, Crystal Palace’s welcome of West Ham hardly pulled up any trees. Dean Henderson was on hand to keep a clean sheet against the Hammers as he made three saves in a solid showing.
RB: Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
- Squawka score: 69%
Tottenham were minutes away from a first win in 2026 only to concede a late Georgino Rutter equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday. Pedro Porro struck Spurs’ first of the stalemate, beating Bart Verbruggen with one of two efforts. Five interceptions, four clearances and two tackles capped a commendable showing despite the disappointing result.
Honourable mention: Matheus Nunes (68%)
A key player in a crunch few days for Manchester City, Matheus Nunes just misses out on a spot in the side. The Portuguese star made a combined five clearances and three tackles across wins over Arsenal and Burnley.
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CB: Abdoukodir Khusanov (Manchester City)
- Squawka score: 78%
A rock at the heart of the Manchester City backline, youngster Abdoukodir Khusanov has come up trumps for the Cityzens this season. The Uzbek defender managed 10 clearances and seven interceptions against Arsenal and Burnley. Additionally, Khusanov also returned a solid 92.67% retention rate across both games.
Honourable mention: Ibrahima Konate (73%)
While Virgil van Dijk was the Liverpool hero in the Merseyside Derby, Ibrahima Konate was on hand to keep the Everton offensive at bay. The Reds star, who is close to penning a new deal at Anfield, managed seven clearances, three tackles and three interceptions in Liverpool’s late 2-1 win on Sunday.
CB: Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
- Squawka score: 75%
A vital player in Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with West Ham, Maxence Lacroix put in a clean sheet-attaining display for the Eagles. Lacroix made eight clearances and won four aerial duels as Palace held the Hammers on home turf.
Honourable mention: Jaydee Canvot (72%)
Lacroix’s Palace teammate Jaydee Canvot just misses out on a spot in the Premier League best XI. Canvot was so often in the right place at the right time to ease pressure on the Eagles goal having managed 11 clearances in Monday’s stalemate.
LB: Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth)
- Squawka score: 71%
Rounding off the defence is Bournemouth star Adrien Truffert. The left-back shone as the Cherries claimed four points from meetings with Newcastle and Leeds. Indeed, the Frenchman bagged against the former, while making a combined nine clearances, five tackles and four interceptions.
Honourable mention: Nico O’Reilly (70%)
After a strong showing against Arsenal, Nico O’Reilly put in a solid shift in the win over Burnley on Wednesday. O’Reilly worked tirelessly off the ball as Manchester City claimed a huge six points, chipping in with six clearances, four shot blocks and three interceptions.
RM: Rayan (Bournemouth)
- Squawka score: 71%
After a barren run, Rayan was directly involved in a goal in the win over Newcastle and the draw with Leeds. The Brazilian assisted for the second time in victory over the former and bagged against the latter. Those came from respective returns of one chance created and three shots.
Honourable mention: Mohamed Salah (70%)
In his final Merseyside Derby, Mohamed Salah opened the scoring on the half hour mark at the Hill Dickinson Stadum. The Egyptian got the better of Jordan Pickford with his only effort, and completed two take ons in the 2-1 win.
CM: Mateus Fernandes (West Ham)
- Squawka score: 78%
The driving force behind West Ham’s survival bid, Mateus Fernandes was again key as the Hammers were held at Crystal Palace. Fernandes made three tackles in the Selhurst Park stalemate, and set the tempo, completing six long passes.
Honourable mention: Jefferson Lerma (75%)
Remaining at Selhurst Park, Jefferson Lerma was unfortunate to not secure a spot in the team. Lerma won four aerial duels and fired off three shots against West Ham on Monday night.
CM: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
- Squawka score: 76%
Partnering Fernandes in the middle of the park is Manchester City man Rayan Cherki. The City star scored a superb opener in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal, and followed up an impressive showing against the Gunners with a fine display at Burnley, where he fired off eight shots and created eight chances.
Honourable mention: Ibrahim Sangare (75%)
While Morgan Gibbs-White hogged the limelight in Nottingham Forest’s 4-1 win over Burnley last weekend, Ibrahim Sangare put in a battling display in the middle of the park. The Ivorian made two tackles and two interceptions to dictate the play in a key area.
LM: Xavi Simons (Tottenham)
- Squawka score: 78%
Tottenham may not have earned the result they wanted on Saturday, but Xavi Simons was vital as the north London side claimed a point. The Dutchman was directly involved in both Spurs goals, following up his assist for Porro with a fine strike late on, those coming from two chances created and four shots.
| STAT | SIMONS | TOTTENAM RANK |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | =1st |
| Assists | 1 | =1st |
| Shots | 4 | 1st |
| Chances created | 2 | 1st |
| Take ons completed | 2 | =2nd |
Honourable mention: Marcus Tavernier (75%)
Marcus Tavernier struck his sixth league goal of the season in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win over Newcastle at the weekend. While the Cherries were forced to share the spoils in midweek, Tavernier still caught the eye having managed four shots, completed four take ones and created five chances.
ST: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
- Squawka score: 85%
Featuring on the frontline is a resurgent Ollie Watkins. Watkins was directly involved in three of Aston Villa’s four goals in their entertaining 4-3 win over Sunderland on Sunday. The 30-year-old struck with two of four shots, while one assist came from three chances created.
Honourable mention: Georginio Rutter (76%)
Georginio Rutter broke Tottenham hearts on Saturday, and followed up his goal at Spurs with an assist in the midweek 3-0 win over Chelsea. The Frenchman managed three shots and created two chances across the two games.
ST: Beto (Everton)
- Squawka score: 77%
Joining Watkins in attack is Everton striker Beto. The towering Toffees hitman struck for the third game running in Sunday’s Merseyside Derby. While it wasn’t enough to fire Everton to victory, Beto still caught the eye over the weekend.
Honourable mention: Kai Havertz (72%)
Kai Havertz had a couple of chances to help Arsenal to a result at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. That, though, shouldn’t take the gloss off another solid showing. The German did well to press Gianluigi Donnarumma for Arsenal’s equaliser on Sunday, and won five aerial duels.