Our Premier League Team of the Week is back after a weekend that saw hat-trick heroes take centre stage.
Premier League Team of the Week – Chelsea duo shine
Goalkeeper: David Raya – Arsenal
For the second successive week, it’s inclusion for Arsenal’s number one, whose game-changing save from Ollie Watkins helped the Gunners to three points at Aston Villa.
The England international looked certain to score from a rebound, only for Raya to spring back into action and keep the contest goalless. After a similar save of importance from Jorgen Strand Larsen against Wolves last weekend, Raya has delivered two top-class moments in the season’s opening weeks.
David Raya 🧤⛔️ pic.twitter.com/DelM8T5sm6
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 25, 2024
Centre-back: Cristian Romero – Tottenham
The Tottenham centre-back marked his 100th appearance for the North Londoners with a superb showing, as Ange Postecoglou’s side blitzed Everton 4-0 in the capital.
Romero tested Jordan Pickford early on and was exceptional on the ball, carving out two good opportunities for James Maddison. His defending was typically front-footed and no-nonsense, before Romero rose to power in the third goal from a set-piece. A fine afternoon’s work for the Argentine.
🌟 | PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Cristian Romero v Everton:
👌 118 touches (🥇)
⚽️ 1 goal
🎯 3 shots/1 on target (0.53 xG)
🎁 1 big chance created
👟 90/96 accurate passes (0.30 xA)
⚔️ 10/17 duels won (=🥇)
🦵 6 tackles (=🥈)
🚀 3 clearances (=🥈)
📈 9.1 Sofascore Rating (🥇)Spurs’… pic.twitter.com/vNVcJmBvei
— Sofascore Football (@SofascoreINT) August 24, 2024
Centre-back: Nikola Milenkovic – Nottingham Forest
Nikola Milenkovic looked a coup for Nottingham Forest this summer and the Serbian centre-back delivered on debut this weekend. Milenkovic was outstanding in the air in the 1-0 win at Southampton, winning 100% of his duels (3/3). A rock for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, he was unfortunate not to open his account with a goal and offered a real presence in both boxes.
Centre-back: Max Kilman – West Ham
Max Kilman has already started to silence those who suggested West Ham overspent on his services this summer. The £40m recruit from Wolves was impressive on debut despite defeat to Aston Villa and again a standout as the Irons won at Crystal Palace this weekend.
Kilman won 100% of his aerial duels (4/4), led the contest for clearances (6), and showed trademark confidence when stepping into midfield into possession. He strode forward from the backline to assist Jarrod Bowen’s goal at Selhurst Park, in a moment of real quality. More performances of this standard and the 27-year-old could earn an England call next month.
Kilman strides into midfield and sets up Bowen for his first goal of the season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UocgfSGFjx
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 24, 2024
Midfield: Yves Bissouma – Tottenham
A perfect response to his one-game club ban, Bissouma was bright and busy in the Spurs midfield. He used the ball effectively (92.5%), positioned himself perfectly in front of the backline, and opened the scoring with a thumping strike in off the crossbar.
“Listen to that roar — Spurs are back!” 🔥
A rocket from Yves Bissouma to open the scoring! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/syXDKtQI9j
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 24, 2024
Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
Right place at the right time to score from Arijanet Muric’s mistake, before notching an almost customary assist for Erling Haaland against Ipswich.
De Bruyne created four chances in a typically creative performance and came within a whisker of a second goal after thundering an effort against the crossbar. Still the man who makes Manchester City tick. No Premier League player has created more big chances (23) than De Bruyne in 2024.
Midfield: Cole Palmer – Chelsea
If anyone thought Cole Palmer’s performances last season were a flash in the pan, think again. The 22-year-old celebrated being named the PFA Young Player of the Year for 2023/24 with a sublime showing at Wolves, with Palmer the architect of a big Chelsea win.
After being involved in the opener, he opened his account for the season with a lovely lifted finish over Jose Sa. In the second half, he claimed a hat-trick of assists for Noni Madueke. Four goal involvements and it could have been more. Pure quality.
🏆 PFA Young Player of the Year.
🅰️ A hat-trick of assists.
⚽️ Scoring Chelsea’s second.What a week Cole Palmer is having. pic.twitter.com/Hz7CjACOTm
— Professional Footballers’ Association (@PFA) August 25, 2024
Right-wing: Noni Madueke – Chelsea
After an ill-advised social media post providing a review of Wolverhampton as a town, Noni Madueke was the pantomime villain at Molineux. At full-time he was Chelsea’s hero, having helped himself to the first hat-trick of his senior career.
It’s now four goals in two games for Madueke, who has played his way into Enzo Maresca’s plans. Linked with an exit for much of the summer, Chelsea should rebuff all approaches on current form.
Only three Englishmen have scored a Premier League hat-trick away from home for Chelsea:
◎ Frank Lampard vs. Bolton (2011)
◎ Tammy Abraham vs. Wolves (2019)
◉ Noni Madueke vs. Wolves (2024)This is the second one at Molineux. 🎩 pic.twitter.com/UTD4rOaeHW
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 25, 2024
Left-wing: Luis Diaz – Liverpool
A dazzling display from the Liverpool winger who gave Brentford a torrid time at Anfield. He capped an electric counter with an emphatic finish for the opening goal, before teeing up Mohamed Salah for the second in Liverpool’s 2-0 win.
Diaz led the contest for chances created (4), won six ground duels, and did not misplace a single pass (100%) in a near-perfect performance.
Forward: Son Heung-min – Tottenham
Led from the front in the absence of Dominic Solanke in a fine performance from the Spurs skipper. Son was back to his sharp-shooting best in the 4-0 win over Everton as the South Korean scored a brace for the North Londoners.
He got his reward from the press after stealing the ball from Everton ‘keeper Jordan Pickford for a simple finish, before putting the finishing touch on Micky van de Ven’s lung-busting assist. A tidy effort, from one of the finest finishers in the Premier League.
Son Heung-min has now scored in 🔟 consecutive Premier League seasons ⚽️🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/szv3Bb7grg
— LiveScore (@livescore) August 24, 2024
Forward: Erling Haaland – Manchester City
New season, same Haaland.
Four goals in two games for the Manchester City machine, who put Ipswich to the sword at the Etihad. A clinical hat-trick was kickstarted with a penalty before Haaland raced in behind to round Arijanet Muric and volley in a second.
1⃣0⃣1⃣ games
9⃣4⃣ goals
🔟 hat-tricksThere’s only one @ErlingHaaland! 👏 pic.twitter.com/MlspnIKeI0
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 25, 2024
He completed his treble with a crisp finish from the edge of the area to make it 94 goals in 101 appearances for the Citizens and 10 hat-tricks since moving to English football. He’s averaged a Premier League hat-trick every 10 games and is just five from Sergio Aguero’s all-time record.
Read – Tweets of the Week: Jenas sacked, Vardy has a party, and amazing goal animations
See more – The Premier League players with the most hat-tricks as Haaland bags another treble
