Our Premier League Team of the Weekend celebrates the finest performers of the past two days.
This week’s lineup puts the focus on some of the division’s lesser lights, featuring no one from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City!
Premier League Team of the Weekend:
GK: Robin Roefs – Sunderland
The frontrunner for Goalkeeper of the Season is not David Raya or Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Robin Roefs. The Sunderland stopper makes it into the lineup for a second week running after pulling off eight saves during a shock win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
No goalkeeper has made more saves (37) this season than the Dutchman, who is quickly becoming the star of the show on Wearside.
RB: Matty Cash – Aston Villa
Matty Cash has had his detractors over the years, but the full-back barely put a foot wrong as Aston Villa beat Manchester City at home. Indeed, he put his left peg to very good use in the 19th minute when he fired in from just outside the box following a clever corner routine.
CB: Joe Rodon – Leeds United
A huge defensive performance from the Leeds defence helped them secure a massive win over West Ham and move them up to 15th in the table. Joe Rodon knocked in his second goal of the season as well as make nine clearances and four recoveries to see them over the line.
A late Mateus Fernandes goal blotted their copybook, but it did not detract from a brilliant display all round.
CB: Micky van de Ven – Spurs
Tottenham are the new Set Piece FC as Micky van de Ven headed twice past Everton’s Jordan Pickford on Sunday to help them to a 3-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Dutchman is the first Tottenham defender to score twice in a league match in 12 years.
LB: Quilindschy Hartmann – Burnley
There is a real Dutch connection on the left side of the defence this week as Quilindschy Hartmann makes his way in on the back of a brace of assists.
The 23-year-old twice set up compatriot Zian Flemming to put Burnley two goals up at Wolves. The Wanderers brought it back to level terms later on, but a last-second goal from Lyle Foster snatched a vital victory in the relegation battle.
CM: Casemiro – Man Utd
I’m as surprised as you are. Casemiro’s days at Old Trafford seemed numbered, a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia was surely on the cards. But the Brazilian is still here, putting a shift in.
This was one of the midfielder’s better days in a United shirt, registering a goal and assist while also putting in the dirty work against Brighton. He completed five recoveries, three tackles, two interceptions, a block and a clearance. He can also gloat about the fact that the opposition only scored after he was subbed off.
CM: Bruno Guimarães – Newcastle United
Casemiro is joined in midfield by his national team compadre, Bruno Guimarães. The 27-year-old led the charge in the second half against Fulham and eventually got the winner right at the end.
It was Bruno’s fourth shot of the match, while he also created another four chances (the most of any player in the match), so it was fitting that he made the decisive action.
CM: Noah Sadiki – Sunderland
Granit Xhaka is earning all of the plaudits from the media and online, but Noah Sadiki was excellent on Saturday. He defended well in the opening half while also carrying the ball forward and starting attacks.
RF: Bryan Mbeumo – Man Utd
It felt like Bryan Mbeumo finally arrived at United this past weekend. The forward put in the kind of attacking performance against Brighton that the club paid good money for, getting himself a goal and an assist. He looks like he will be a massive threat this season.
CF: Zian Flemming – Burnley
We never thought we would see the day that two Burnley players made their way into the Team of the Weekend, yet here we are. The striker’s brace played a huge part in their win over Wolves, while he also won an insane number of duels; 14, the most of any player in the game.
LF: Kevin Schade – Brentford
There had to be at least one Brentford player in here following their famous win over Liverpool at home. Dango Ouattara misses out thanks to Mbeumo, but Kevin Schade was arguably even better on the opposite flank.
The German doubled the Bees’ lead towards the end of the first half and created five chances. That was more than anyone else on the pitch, which is crazy when you consider the level of talent on the opposition.
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