Liverpool maintained their 100% start to the season as Mohamed Salah struck a late penalty at Burnley on Sunday.
However, it was two other Reds stars who make the cut in the Premier League team of the week following their 1-0 victory at Turf Moor.
Liverpool are one of three teams, along with Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur, with multiple representatives in the best XI from gameweek 4, while a new signing shone on his Newcastle debut to lead the charge.
Once again, we’ve used our Squawka Score to determine team of the week, 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. 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: Robin Roefs (Sunderland)
- Squawka Score rating: 88%
Sunderland held Crystal Palace to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, and a key player in their Selhurst Park stalemate was goalkeeper Robin Roefs. The young Dutchman managed six saves in the capital, preventing 2.71 goals in the process, as the Black Cats maintained their solid start to the season.
Honourable mention: Guglielmo Vicario (79%)
Tottenham eased to a 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday evening, but they still needed Guglielmo Vicario to pull off a number of stops to secure all the spoils. The Italian made four saves, all of which were inside the Tottenham box, which in turn prevented 0.48 goals.
RB: Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)
- Squawka Score rating: 74%
Arsenal returned to domestic duties with a comfortable 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in Ange Postecoglou’s first game at the Reds’ helm. Martin Zubimendi may have been the Gunners’ star performer, but Jurrien Timber still excelled at right-back as he made four clearances, two tackles and won two aerial duels in a clean-sheet attaining display.
| Stat | Timber | Arsenal rank |
|---|---|---|
| Tackles | 2 | =2nd |
| Clearances | 4 | =2nd |
| Aerial duels won | 2 | =1st |
| Passes attempted | 41 | 4th |
| Pass accuracy | 92.68% | 1st (of starters) |
| Final 3rd passes completed | 16 | 1st |
| Shot accuracy | 100% | =1st |
Honourable mention: Trai Hume (68%)
Another key player in Sunderland’s draw at Crystal Palace, Trai Hume won three aerial duels and made two tackles as the Black Cats frustrated the Eagles. An additional three clearances capped a notable performance from the Sunderland full-back.
CB: Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
- Squawka Score rating: 74%
While Crystal Palace were the dominant side in their eventual 0-0 draw with Sunderland, Maxence Lacroix was still required to ensure a result against the Black Cats. The Frenchman returned a 100% aerial success rate, a 100% ground duel success rate, and a 93.18% retention rate on home turf to make the cut.
Honourable mention: Joachim Andersen (71%)
A comical late Gabriel Gudmundsson own goal saw Fulham claim all the spoils in a 1-0 win over Leeds on Saturday afternoon, but it was Joachim Andersen’s excellent rearguard performance that helped the Whites to victory. Andersen would instigate attacks from defence as he completed 17 passes into the final third, while eight clearances also helped the Dane to a Squawka Score of 71%.
CB: Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
- Squawka Score rating: 71%
Joining Lacroix at the heart of the defence is Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero. Not only did the Argentine manage a 100% duel success rate, the Argentine also created one big chance and provided the assist for Lucas Bergvall’s second half header in the 3-0 win at West Ham. Like Lacroix, Romero also managed a 93.18% retention rate in a solid showing at the London Stadium.
| Stat | Romero | Tottenham rank |
|---|---|---|
| Passes | 81 | 1st |
| Passes completed | 75 | 1st |
| Pass accuracy | 92.59% | 1st (of starters) |
| Long passes | 4 | =3rd |
| Long passes completed | 3 | 2nd |
| Clearances | 2 | =2nd |
| Poss. won defensive 3rd | 3 | =2nd |
Honourable mention: Gabriel (71%)
Despite playing alongside an unfamiliar centre-back partner in Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel looked as solid as ever in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Five clearances, two tackles and one interception meant the Brazilian was unfortunate not to make the cut.
LB: Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
- Squawka Score rating: 77%
Rounding off the defence is Liverpool’s Andy Robertson. The Scot replaced Milos Kerkez off the bench shortly before the break in the Reds’ 1-0 win at Burnley on Sunday, and got forward well to support the offensive as he created one big chance and completed one take on. Robertson also completed nine passes into the final third as he sought to set Liverpool on the frontfoot at Turf Moor.
Honourable mention: Ryan Sessegnon (67%)
Ryan Sessegnon did all he could to help break the Leeds resolve on home turf, as he completed two take ons at Craven Cottage. Furthermore, Sessegnon also won five aerial duels as he excelled at left-back once more.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
- Squawka Score rating: 77%
The second Liverpool player in the side, Ryan Gravenberch continued his solid start to the season with a fine midfield showing at Turf Moor at the weekend. The Dutchman routinely looked to punch a hole in the Burnley resolve as he completed three take ons in Lancashire and managed to land a 100% success rate of passes into the final third to help get Liverpool forward.
| Stat | Gravenberch | Liverpool rank |
|---|---|---|
| Tackles | 1 | =2nd |
| Clearances | 2 | =2nd |
| Take ons attempted | 6 | 1st |
| Take ons completed | 3 | 2nd |
| Chances created | 4 | =2nd |
| Final 3rd passes completed | 37 | 1st |
| Touches | 110 | 2nd |
Honourable mention: Idrissa Gueye (75%)
Idrissa Gueye was at his ball winning best as Everton played out a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, extending the Villans’ goal woes in the process. The experienced Senegalese midfielder managed two tackles, two interceptions and six ball recoveries as he claim perilously close to making this XI.
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CM: Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)
- Squawka Score rating: 76%
Linking up with Gravenberch in the middle of the park is Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, after he put in another mature display as the newly-promoted Black Cats claimed a fine point at Crystal Palace. The experienced Swiss star won seven aerial duels and managed two interceptions as Regis Le Bris’ side secured what could prove a vital point.
Honourable mention: Joao Palhinha (74%)
Some quarters of the Tottenham fanbase have criticised Joao Palhinha in the opening weeks of the season. But the Portuguese midfielder was solid again in Spurs’ 3-0 win at West Ham as he won three aerial duels and made three tackles in east London. The on-loan 30-year-old also won 11 duels and returned an 80% ground duel success rate in a solid off-the-ball shift.
CM: Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)
- Squawka Score rating: 79%
The third and final central midfielder to make the cut is Tottenham star Lucas Bergvall, who scored his first ever Premier League goal in Tottenham’s 3-0 win at West Ham. In addition, the young Swede provided an assist for Micky van de Ven’s second half strike, while he maintained a 100% take-on success rate as the Hammers struggled with to keep Bergvall in check.
Honourable mention: Sander Berge (72%)
Another key player in Fulham’s eventual win over Leeds, Sander Berge put in a shift both on and off the ball as he made two tackles and one interception in west London. Berge also returned a 93.62% open play pass accuracy and made seven accurate forward passes as he looked to set Fulham on the frontfoot when he did win the ball.
RW: Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)
- Squawka Score rating: 73%
While Brighton and Hove Albion were unable to claim a result at Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, Yankuba Minteh did all he could to help the Seagulls take flight on the south coast. Minteh made one big chance and provided one assist in the eventual 2-1 loss to the Cherries, and he worked hard off the ball having completed two tackles to nail down the right wing spot in this XI.
Honourable mention: Noni Madueke (69%)
Deputising for the injured Bukayo Saka on the right flank, Noni Madueke was excellent against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The England interception drove well down the wing, having completed five dribbles and managed a 62.5% take-on success rate but does just miss out on a place in the side.
ST: Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
- Squawka Score rating: 80%
Leading the charge in the Premier League team of the week is Newcastle new boy Nick Woltemade. The towering German scored the Magpies’ only goal in their 1-0 win over Wolves to mark his home debut in style. Woltemade struck with one of three shots, won three aerial duels, and made more tackles (3) than any other Newcastle player in a fine showing.
| Stat | Woltemade | Newcastle rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 1st |
| Shots | 3 | 2nd |
| Shot accuracy | 33.33% | 2nd |
| Chances created | 1 | =3rd |
| Aerial duels won | 3 | 3rd |
| Tackles | 3 | 1st |
| Poss. won middle 3rd | 3 | 2nd |
Honourable mention: Erling Haaland (77%)
Erling Haaland wasn’t necessarily Manchester City’s matchwinner in the Manchester Derby, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over this sorry Manchester United. But he just misses out in the best XI. Haaland got the better of Altay Bayindir with two of three shots on target in another fine showing.
LW: Jack Grealish (Everton)
- Squawka Score rating: 73%
Jack Grealish did all he could to help Everton to all the spoils against Aston Villa on Saturday as the rejuvenated 30-year-old created one big chance and fired off one shot on target on home turf. Grealish also managed three tackles and returned a 66.67% take-on success rate in another impressive showing.
Honourable mention: Kaoru Mitoma (66%)
It was close to a Brighton wide-pair in the Premier League team of the week despite their loss at Bournemouth. Kaoru Mitoma scored the Seagulls’ only goal at the Vitality Stadium, completed two take ons and made seven final third passes.