The 2026/27 Premier League returned from the long international break with a bang.
Manchester City continued their perfect start to the campaign with a 3-0 win over Liverpool, a game overshadowed by off-pitch stories. Arsenal kept close to the Citizens at the top of the table thanks to their comeback win over Leeds United.
The Gunners are one of three teams to have two players in our Team of the Week for Gameweek 6. Chelsea were also rewarded for their 5-1 win over Bournemouth, while Aston Villa have a pair for their performance against Brentford.
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: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Man City)
- Squawka Score: 7.8
Man City’s 3-0 win over Liverpool wasn’t an easy one, with the game only really changed after the Reds went down to 10 men. Gianluigi Donnarumma made six saves at Anfield, the most of any goalkeeper across the weekend. He also prevented the most goals at 1.49, proving vital to Man City’s win.
Honourable mention: Caoimhin Kelleher (7.3)
Despite conceding two goals, Caoimhin Kelleher made sure Brentford didn’t let in more. He made five saves against Aston Villa and prevented 0.57 goals.
RB: Ben White (Arsenal)
- Squawka Score: 8.0
Ben White was involved in Arsenal’s comeback against Leeds, even though he only played 63 minutes. His last action was to assist Riccardo Calafiori‘s equaliser, with his one big chance created. At the other end of the pitch, White won possession twice in the defensive third and won one tackle. He was also part of a defence that faced five shots on target while he was on the pitch, a solid return in relation to the weekend.
Honourable mention: Abdul Ouattara (7.6)
Abdul Ouattara scored the equaliser for Ipswich Town in their eventual win over Fulham, but he also made four passes into the box and three clearances.
CB: Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford)
- Squawka Score: 8.1
Kristoffer Ajer came out of Brentford’s draw with Aston Villa looking good, despite being part of a defence that conceded two goals. He scored for the Bees, but also made six clearances and won six of his seven duels. Three of those duels were aerial, but Ajer also contributed on the floor, completing 90% of his passes and winning one tackle.
Honourable mention: Dara O’Shea (7.6)
Dara O’Shea scored Ipswich’s late winner against Fulham, but he also made six clearances and two interceptions.
CB: Sven Botman (Newcastle)
- Squawka Score: 7.7
There are times when an individual performance outshines the team result. And this is one of those cases. Sven Botman did score in Newcastle United‘s 4-1 defeat to Coventry City, which certainly helped his score. But the Dutchman was a one-man defence at times. He made eight clearances and won 11 of his 14 duels, including 10 in the air. Without him, the defeat could have been a lot worse.
Honourable mention: James Tarkowski (7.3)
James Tarkowski made 11 clearances and won eight duels in Everton‘s draw with Hull City.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
- Squawka Score: 8.1
Riccardo Calafiori joins his full-back partner in the team having scored Arsenal’s equaliser against Leeds. But he isn’t just in the team for his goal. The Italian also created two chances and had four touches in the opposition box. Calafiori won two tackles and made two clearances, so he more than did his bit defensively.
Honourable mention: Jarrad Branthwaite (7.5)
Jarrad Branthwaite was utilised as a left-back in Everton’s draw with Hull and performed well, with three interceptions and one tackle won.
CM: Jordan Henderson (Chelsea)
- Squawka Score: 8.4
Jordan Henderson opened his Chelsea account with two goals in their 5-1 win over Bournemouth. Both strikes came from outside the box, including his second-half free-kick. But Henderson also provided an assist with one of his two chances created. Defensively, Henderson made three recoveries and won possession twice in the middle third.
Honourable mention: Adam Wharton (8.0)
Adam Wharton was Crystal Palace‘s best player in their win over Nottingham Forest, creating three chances and providing one assist.
CM: Sandro Tonali (Tottenham)
- Squawka Score: 8.0
Sandro Tonali helped Tottenham Hotspur win the middle battle in their draw with Manchester United. He completed 53 of his 62 attempted passes, including 16 in the final third. He also made six recoveries and won possession in the middle third three times. It was an excellent all-round display.
Honourable mention: Nico Gonzalez (8.0)
Another Newcastle man recognised despite the defeat, Nico Gonzalez created six chances and won three tackles, alongside 15 final-third passes.
RW: John McGinn (Aston Villa)
- Squawka Score: 7.8
John McGinn was in good form for Aston Villa in their draw with Brentford. He scored for the Villans with one of his three shots — all of which hit the target. He also created two chances and completed 14 final-third passes. But McGinn did the dirty work too, making four ball recoveries.
Honourable mention: Jaidon Anthony (7.4)
Jaidon Anthony created one chance and set up a Kristoffer Ajer’s goal in Brentford’s draw with Aston Villa.
No.10: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton)
- Squawka Score: 8.8
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was at the heart of everything Everton did in their draw with Hull. He scored the Toffees’ equaliser and then set up Thierno Barry to put them 2-1 up. It was one of four chances the Englishman created, two of which were big chances. Dewsbury-Hall also made seven recoveries and completed two take-ons.
Honourable mention: Rayan Cherki (8.3)
Aside from scoring, Rayan Cherki also created two chances and completed three take-ons in Man City’s win over Liverpool.
LW: Johan Manzambi (Aston Villa)
- Squawka Score: 7.7
Johan Manzambi was a constant thorn in Brentford’s side on Saturday, not just because he set up John McGinn’s goal. That was one of three chances the Swiss midfielder created, with 0.18 Expected Assists. But Manzambi also took seven shots at Villa Park. Although he only hit the target with one of those, his 0.40 Expected Goals is among the best of the gameweek.
Honourable mention: Noni Madueke (7.3)
Noni Madueke had three shots and created three chances in Arsenal’s win over Leeds.
ST: Joao Pedro (Chelsea)
- Squawka Score: 8.7
Joao Pedro’s performance in Chelsea’s win over Bournemouth may have gone under the radar slightly, due to Jordan Henderson’s brace. But the Brazilian also scored twice, with both of his shots. He posted 0.50 xG and had two touches in the opposition box, making the most of his time on the ball.
Honourable mention: Thierno Barry (8.2)
Thierno Barry scored and had five shots in Everton’s draw with Hull, with three hitting the target. He also had six touches in the opposition box.