Players from nine different teams appear in our latest Team of the Week after an enthralling Gameweek 5 in the 2026/27 Premier League.
The stand-out game of the weekend saw Manchester City eventually overcome Sunderland by a 5-3 scoreline at the Etihad Stadium. Unsurprisingly, Brian Brobbey leads the line for our side after his hat-trick in that Black Cats defeat.
Perhaps the biggest story of the weekend however came out of the Amex Stadium. Brighton & Hove Albion eased to a 3-0 win over reigning champions Arsenal, allowing City to leapfrog the Gunners into top spot on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Tottenham’s search for a first win of the campaign continued after they were beaten 2-3 by Aston Villa but Coventry City were able to get off the mark with a 0-1 victory at Nottingham Forest.
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: James Trafford (Leeds United)
- Squawka Score: 86%
Leeds’ James Trafford once again scores highly on this week’s goalkeeping Squawka Score and gets in our team for the third time this season. The former Burnley man made five saves while keeping a clean sheet in his side’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace.
Honourable mention: Jordan Pickford (84%)
Trafford’s fellow England stopper made four saves and two sweeper-keeper actions as the Toffees overcame Ipswich Town at the Hill Dickinson.
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Everton)
- Squawka Score: 75%
Ainsley Maitland-Niles announced himself to Everton fans with a stunning last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United recently. However, Saturday’s performance in a 1-0 win over Ipswich was more of an indicator of his ability to plug their right-back shaped hole. The ex-Arsenal man completed all three of his attempted tackles, made four clearances and created one big chance in his side’s 1-0 victory.
Honourable mention: Mohamed Belloumi (75%)
Hull City’s stand-out performer in their 2-1 loss at Newcastle United. The full-back assisted his side’s only goal, completed 12 passes into the box and even took five shots.
CB: James Tarkowski (Everton)
- Squawka Score: 85%
James Tarkowski joins his Everton team-mate Ainsley Maitland-Niles in defence in this week’s team. The Toffees skipper assisted Thierno Barry for his side’s winner and completed seven clearances and four interceptions. He also won nine of his 10 contested duels.
Honourable mention: Murillo (77%)
The Nottingham Forest man made seven clearances and completed three interceptions while hitting the intended target with 93% of his passes in a 0-1 home loss to Coventry.
CB: Jannik Schuster (Brentford)
- Squawka Score: 77%
Another centre-back to earn an assist and a clean sheet this weekend was Brentford’s Jannik Schuster. The young Austrian made 12 clearances and blocked three shots as he helped his side to a 3-0 win over London rivals Chelsea.
Honourable mention: Jan-Paul van Hecke (77%)
Tottenham’s Jan-Paul van Hecke gets an honourable mention based on his ball-playing with eight progressive passes and 15 final-third passes.
LB: Lewis Hall (Newcastle)
- Squawka Score: 83%
It was an all-round display from Lewis Hall in Newcastle’s win over Hull City. The left-back scored what turned out to be the winning goal but also completed an impressive 19 final-third passes, 7 recoveries and 6 clearances while earning a 93% pass completion rate.
Honourable mention: Jay DaSilva (79%)
Scored a brilliantly-taken winning goal in Coventry’s win at Nottingham Forest. Also completed three out of three take-ons and made four ball recoveries.
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CM: Pascal Gross (Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Squawka Score: 81%
Pascal Gross has been central to making Brighton tick so far this season and he was in fine form again in the 3-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday. The 35 year old scored one goal and set up another while making two key interceptions in a highly effective showing.
Honourable mention: Jose Baixauli (79%)
Gross only just edged out his Brighton team-mate Baixauli, who was also on the scoresheet in the win over Arsenal while winning five aerial duels and making two interceptions.
CM: Joe Willock (Newcastle United)
- Squawka Score: 80%
Joe Willock scored his second goal of the season in Newcastle’s win over Hull and he was instrumental in ensuring the Magpies took all three points. With 92% pass completion, 11 final third passes and four ball recoveries this was an excellent all-round midfield display.
Honourable mention: Granit Xhaka 76%
An effective attacking display from the Sunderland skipper. He created three chances, two of which were considered big chances, and made eight progressive passes in the defeat to Manchester City.
RW: Savio (Tottenham)
- Squawka Score: 83%
Unlucky not to give Spurs the lead in the early stages, Savio was a threat for Tottenham in their defeat to Aston Villa. The Brazilian took three shots (all of which were on target), created four chances and completed four take-ons as Spurs’ search for a win goes on.
Honourable mention: Jaidon Anthony (76%)
Got off the mark for Brentford with a close range header and caused a threat all night, winning four of his seven duels.
AM: Johan Kula Manzambi (Aston Villa)
- Squawka Score: 91%
Manzambi sent Villa on their way to the points in their win at Spurs with the opening goal. He took a total of four shots, two of which were on target and also earned himself an assist by setting up Nicolas Jackson for the Villans’ second.
Honourable mention: Rayan Cherkhi (80%)
A goal, 20 final-third passes and two chances created for the man who is quickly becoming Manchester City’s main creative outlet.
LW: Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
- Squawka Score: 90%
Antoine Semenyo was in unstoppable form in City’s victory over Sunderland. Two goals, one assist, six touches in the opposition box and not a single misplaced pass marked a wonderful display from the Ghanaian in one of the most entertaining Premier League games of the season so far.
Honourable mention: Emi Buendia (83%)
Another stunning goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium capped a lively display for the Aston Villa man who also won 12 duels and created three chances.
ST: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland)
- Squawka Score: 93%
Not many players score a hat-trick and still end up on the losing side but that’s exactly what happened to Brian Brobbey on Sunday. The Dutchman also won 10 of his 12 duels and took seven touches in Manchester City’s box as his side lost 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium.
Honourable mention: Nicolas Jackson (82%)
Another Villa man with an honourable mention. Scored one goal from his six shots while completing six take-ons and making eight opposition box-touches.