The 2025-26 Premier League season is nearing its end, and Gameweek 36 was full of action.
Manchester City and Crystal Palace both played twice, including a game against each other, to bring everyone level for matches played.
Arsenal took a step closer to the Premier League title with a controversial win over West Ham United, while Man City recorded back-to-back victories in their quest for top spot. In the top-five battle, both Liverpool and Aston Villa dropped points in draws against Chelsea and Burnley, respectively.
Man City have three players in this week’s Squawka Score Team of the Week, and they’re joined by Brighton and Hove Albion — who looked strong in their win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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/
GK: Senne Lammens (Man Utd)
- Squawka Score: 81%
Senne Lammens kept Manchester United’s first clean sheet in three games in their goalless draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Belgian stop-stopper pulled off four saves, all of which came from shots inside the box. He also prevented 1.49 goals, having to work hard for the clean sheet.
Honourable mention: David Raya (77%)
Despite VAR contentiously ruling out a West Ham equaliser, David Raya did complete another shutout for Arsenal, making four saves and earning his side an additional two points which could prove decisive in this season’s title race.
RB: Matheus Nunes (Man City)
- Squawka Score: 69%
Matheus Nunes featured twice during this gameweek, with Man City recording successive 3-0 wins over Brentford and Palace. He was far from the star man in either match, but Nunes was as reliable as ever. He won three aerial duels and made six clearances across the matches. His most notable stat, however, was the fact that both opponents managed just two shots on target between them while he was on the pitch.
Honourable mention: Timothy Castagne (69%)
Although Fulham fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth, Timothy Castagne put in a decent showing, creating one big chance for his side and winning two tackles.
CB: Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
- Squawka Score: 74%
Levi Colwill made his first start of the season for Chelsea against Liverpool after his ACL injnury in the summer. And he helped to nullify the Reds in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Anfield. Colwill made six clearances and recorded three interceptions, also winning two aerial duels and winning back possession in the defensive third once. Liverpool also managed just six shots in total.
Honourable mention: Marc Guehi (71%)
Marc Guehi managed a whopping 11 clearances and won five aerial duels across two games for Man City, which is very much aligned with the 25-year-old’s fantastic start to life in Manchester.
CB: Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
- Squawka Score: 73%
Brighton’s captain had a significant impact at both ends of the pitch last Saturday. Lewis Dunk’s goal in the fifth minute increased Brighton’s lead by two, before making an important contribution in his own third. He won five aerial duels and successfully deploying the offside trap three times, much to Wolves’ dismay.
Honourable mention: Sven Botman (69%)
Sven Botman had plenty of traffic to deal with against Nottingham Forest, managing an incredible 14 clearances alongside three interceptions and three aerial duels won.
LB: Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton)
- Squawka Score: 76%
Like his centre-back companion, Maxim De Cuyper played a significant attacking role in the 3-0 win over Wolves. The Dutchman created two big chances for his teammates, which helped him record assists for two of their three goals.
Honourable mention: Adrien Truffert (67%)
Adrien Truffert has impressed this term, and his performance in Bournemouth’s 1-0 win over Fulham was no different. He completed two tackles in the defensive third and even managed two shots on target at the other end of the pitch.
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DM: Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)
- Squawka Score: 83%
Sunderland’s talismanic midfielder put in another fine performance against Man Utd, in both his off-the-ball and in-possession work. Granit Xhaka made 17 passes into the final third, recovered the ball 11 times, won eight duels, two fouls and three tackles, while also making two interceptions in the goalless draw.
Honourable mention: Moises Caicedo (80%)
Similarly, Moises Caicedo fought hard for Chelsea, winning two tackles, recovering the ball four times and making three passes into the penalty area.
CM: Phil Foden
- Squawka Score: 74%
Phil Foden has had his critics this season, and rightly so. But few could argue with his performance against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. His creative talents were on full display during midweek, where he provided two assists alongside creating two big chances, and managed two shots on target himself. Foden was an ever-present in Palace’s final third, completing 28 passes here and recovering the ball eight times.
Honourable mention: Bruno Guimaraes (73%)
Bruno Guimaraes made three successful passes into the penalty area for Newcastle against Nottinham Forest, completing two interceptions and winning nine duels.
CM: Ross Barkley (Aston Villa)
- Squawka Score: 70%
It was a somewhat rare appearance for Ross Barkley at the weekend, as Aston Villa were held to a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor. Barkley equalised for the visitors with a lovely flicked header at the front post from a corner, one of two shots he had. The Englishman also completed two take-ons, had five touches in the opposition box and made four ball recoveries.
Honourable mention: Mateus Fernandes (70%)
Mateus Fernandes completed two take-ons, had an effort on goal saved, and won eight duels in a game West Ham could feel hard done by not to have picked up anything.
LW: Jeremy Doku
- Squawka Score: 79%
Jeremy Doku has proved the naysayers wrong with his performances and output this season. He scored in Man City’s 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, completing eight take-ons, creating two big chances and seven chances in total. He was also fouled twice in the final third and mustered an astonishing 20 touches in the opposition box.
Honourable mention: John McGinn (71%)
John McGinn recorded an assist for Aston Villa against Burnley, putting in another high-tempo, aggressive performance from the right wing.
RW: Yankuba Minteh
- Squawka Score: 74%
Yankuba Minteh scored inside the opening minute of Brighton’s game with Wolves, where he also completed two take-ons, created one big chance and had a very respectable nine touches in the opposition box.
Honourable mention: Loum Tchaouna (70%)
Loum Tchaouna proved a real nuisance for Burnely against Villa, winning a foul in the final third, taking one shot and managing eight recoveries.
ST: Beto
- Squawka Score: 76%
Beto continued his goalscoring form in Everton’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, scoring his fifth goal in as many games. The Everton striker also won three aerial duels and had six touches in the opposition box, proving to be a real handful for Palace’s defence to contend with.
Honourable mention: Erling Haaland (73%)
Also on the scoresheet last weekend was the inevitable Erling Haaland, who netted from one of his four efforts on goal.