Another pulsating weekend of Premier League has come to an end as the table starts to take shape and pressure begins to mount on a group of underperforming managers.
Brightons’ 5-0 mauling of rivals Crystal Palace leaves Pierre Sage in a difficult spot, while a 1-1 draw away at Leeds United hasn’t done much for Michael Carrick‘s situation at Manchester United.
Manchester City remain top of the table for now after their home win over Ipswich, but Arsenal are unsurprisingly hot on their tails following a 0-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Tottenham Hotspur finally got their first league win of the campaign, beating Coventry City 3-1 on Monday night to lift themselves off the foot of the table.
Brentford were unfortunate to lose out to Liverpool, as displayed by a number of their players mentioned below while Bournemouth earned a confident win over Sunderland at the Vitality Stadium.
The Squawka Score is our proprietary performance rating, combining multiple Opta stats into a single score. 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: Zion Suzuki (Aston Villa)
- Squawka Score: 7.4
Although he only made one save in Aston Villa‘s narrow win over Newcastle United, Zion Suzuki still produced a dominant performance in keeping a clean sheet at St James’ Park. The Japan international commanded his penalty area superbly, claiming no fewer than 10 high balls.
Honourable mention: Emiliano Martinez (7.3)
Emiliano Martinez kept his first clean sheet in Chelsea colours as his side ran out 0-2 winners over Everton at the Hill Dickinson. The Argentinian stopper made four saves and four claims but was eventually withdrawn through injury.
RB: Timothy Castagne (Fulham)
- Squawka Score: 7.3
Timothy Castagne produced an all-action display in Fulham‘s much-needed win over Hull City. The right-back made no fewer than 31 final-third passes and completed four take-ons as he helped the Cottagers to a first win of the Premier League campaign.
Honourable mention: Michael Kayode (7.2)
Michael Kayode won nine of his ten duels in Brentford’s narrow home loss to Liverpool. The 22 year old completed four take-ons and created one chance.
CB: Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford)
- Squawka Score: 7.6
While Kayode was unfortunate to miss out, his Brentford team-mate Kristoffer Ajer makes the team despite the Bees not picking up any points this week. The central defender made an impressive eight clearances and won all three of his attempted tackles in the defeat to Liverpool.
Honourable mention: Virgil van Dijk (7.4)
In the same game but on the opposition, Virgil van Dijk put in one of his better performances of the campaign so far. The experienced Dutchman won all five of his aerial duels against Keith Andrews‘ side.
CB: James Hill (Bournemouth)
- Squawka Score: 7.7
The top-scoring centre-back of the round was Bournemouth’s James Hill, who won nine of his 10 attempted duels in the game – seven of which were aerial duels. The 24 year old also made seven clearances as his side kept their first Premier League clean sheet under Marco Rose.
Honourable mention: Takir Muharemovic (7.4)
Leeds’ star man in their home draw with Manchester United was Takur Muharemovic. He won six of his seven duels and headed down an assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
LB: Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford)
- Squawka Score: 8.1
An emphatically taken header wasn’t the only positive of a fine display from Keane Lewis-Potter against Liverpool. The full-back also created two chances and won 100% of his attempted tackles despite his side falling to a home loss against Andoni Iraola‘s side.
Honourable mention: Olivier Boscagli (8.0)
Remarkably, no Brighton player makes our XI this week despite their thumping win over Crystal Palace. Boscagli was the star turn with one assist, three chances created at 17 final-third passes.
CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Squawka Score: 8.2
One of the most-included players in our Team of the Weeks, Declan Rice makes the cut again on Matchday Seven. One assist, a 94% passing accuracy from 90 passes and six recoveries made him the Gunners’ stand-out man once again in their win at Nottingham Forest.
Honourable mention: Lewis Cook (7.4)
Lewis Cook pulled the strings for Bournemouth in their win over Sunderland. The midfielder was withdrawn on 62 minutes but prior to that completed 85% of his passes and created three chances, included one big chance.
CM: Sander Berge
- Squawka Score: 7.5
Not only did Sander Berge assist the only goal of the game in Fulham’s win over Hull City, the Norwegian also completed 93 passes at 91% accuracy and made three recoveries as the Cottagers finally got off the mark for the campaign. He will be vital to Fulham’s survival chances this term.
Honourable mention: Alexis Mac Allister (7.3)
By no means a flawless performance from Mac Allister, but certainly a high-volume one. He made five recoveries, won six of his nine duels and completed 63 passes in Liverpool’s win at Brentford.
RW: Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
- Squawka Score: 8.7
Pedro Neto scored the first brace of his Premier League career in Chelsea’s 0-2 win away to Everton. He hit the target with all three of his shots and created five big chances, including one big chance. This was one of the better displays of the Portuguese international’s Blues spell so far.
Honourable mention: Iliman Ndiaye (8.0)
Another player missing out despite clocking up an 8.0 on the Squawka Score was Iliman Ndiaye. The Manchester City man got one assist and took four shots in his side’s win over Ipswich Town.
CAM: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Squawka Score: 8.5
Phil Foden got himself on the scoresheet in City’s win over the Tractor Boys, but he also got off a total of three shots, created three chances and won four of his seven duels in a scintillating display. Is the Englishman finally getting back to his best at the Etihad Stadium?
Honourable mention: James Maddison (8.2)
Tottenham’s James Maddison marked his long-awaited return to a starting eleven with a peach of a goal versus boyhood club Coventry City and he also won all four of his duels in his side’s 3-1 victory.
LW: Alex Iwobi
- Squawka Score: 8.8
Alex Iwobi swept home the only goal of the game in Fulham’s 1-0 win over Hull City but he was a thorn in the Tigers’ side all game. The ex-Arsenal man clocked up five shots, two of which were on target, completed two take-ons and created three chances in a fine display.
Honourable mention: Marcus Tavernier (8.0)
Marcus Tavernier arguably should’ve had more goals in Bournemouth’s win over Sunderland, but he did open the scoring and clocked up seven opposition-box touches.
ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Squawka Score: 8.9
Who else? The stand-out star of the week was Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who found the net with his two shots on target in the hard-fought 3-2 win over Ipswich. The seemingly unstoppable frontman also created three chances, two of which were classified as big chances and managed seven touches in the Tractor Boys’ box.
Honourable mention: Iliman Ndiaye (8.0)
Another player missing out despite clocking up an 8.0 on the Squawka Score was Iliman Ndiaye. The Manchester City man got one assist and took four shots in his side’s win over Ipswich Town.