Each week we delve through the Premier League action and compile our divisional Team of the Week from the fixtures’ finest performances.
Goalkeeper: Sam Johnstone – Crystal Palace
Sam Johnstone’s strong start to the season continued with a fifth clean sheet of the campaign at Burnley, as Crystal Palace returned to winning ways at Turf Moor.
Johnstone made five saves, with three coming from inside the box, including a fine stop from Josh Brownhill’s effort from distance and a reactive save to deny Jay Rodriguez from the resulting corner. With several of England’s goalkeeping options lacking form and favour at present, Johnstone is making a strong case for Euro 2024 inclusion.
Sam Johnstone is the first goalkeeper to keep five clean sheets in the Premier League this season:
⛔ vs. Sheffield United
⛔ vs. Fulham
⛔ vs. Man Utd
⛔ vs. Forest
⛔ vs. BurnleySafe hands. pic.twitter.com/5CEj9qO2FH
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 4, 2023
Right-back: Ola Aina – Nottingham Forest
What a way to score your first goal for the club. Ola Aina rifled in the opener as Nottingham Forest secured a first win in seven games against Aston Villa. The Dutchman arrived on the edge of the area to fire home a sweet strike, in first-rate performance from the full-back.
Aina later moved to left-back and that versatility is a real asset for Steve Cooper. Forest’s recruitment has been chaotic, to say the least, since promotion to the Premier League, but the free transfer signing of Aina looks astute.
Centre-back: Nathan Collins – Brentford
Brentford came from behind to beat West Ham in an entertaining London Derby, with summer signing Collins a standout for Thomas Frank’s men. There was some surprise when Wolves allowed Collins to leave last summer and the Irishman already looks a fine fit for the Bees.
Collins made a huge 13 clearances, won four aerial duels, and was influential in Brentford’s comeback. The 22-year-old helped force the own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos for the equaliser, before rising to power home a winner from Mathias Jensen’s cross.
???? 22 22 Nathan Collins ????
Nathan playing football the Brentford way yesterday ???? pic.twitter.com/r6rh31YRlj
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) November 5, 2023
Centre-back: Jamaal Lascelles – Newcastle
Excellent in an outstanding defensive effort from Newcastle. The Magpies ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season with a solid showing at St James’ Park, one which saw Eddie Howe’s side restrict the visitors to just one shot inside the box and an xG figure of 0.02.
This was a real captain’s performance from Lascelles, who is arguably producing the best form of his Newcastle career right now. The 29-year-old has come back in from the cold due to Sven Botman’s absence and has produced a run of performances to strengthen his case for a regular role.
Lascelles won some huge headers, threw his body on the line to block three shots, and made a number of well-timed defensive interventions.
Centre-back: Harry Maguire – Manchester United
Harry Maguire is looking more like the defender who convinced Manchester United to break the bank to sign him of late, after a challenging couple of seasons at Old Trafford. Maguire battled on despite an early head injury to produce a dependable defensive showing at Fulham.
Maguire’s performance was a rare positive in an otherwise ordinary performance from Erik ten Hag’s team. The England international led his teammates for touches (75), clearances (9), duels won (10) and aerial duels won (8).
Left-back: Harry Toffolo – Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest ended a run of six games without a win after beating in-form Aston Villa in a Midlands Derby at the City Ground. Forest remain a formidable opponent for any team on home soil and earned an impressive 2-0 win this weekend.
Harry Toffolo produced a fine performance at left-back for Steve Cooper’s side, with the defender setting up both goals in the win. Toffolo has struggled for regular first-team football since joining Forest from Huddersfield last season, but can build on this performance.
Harry Toffolo’s game by numbers vs. Aston Villa:
100% tackles won
84% pass accuracy
3 long balls completed
3/4 ground duels won
3 ball recoveries
2 clearances
2 key passes
2 assistsExcellent today. ???? pic.twitter.com/Bj5Lx07lOw
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 5, 2023
Midfield: Ross Barkley – Luton
Ross Barkley was excellent during Luton’s draw with Liverpool, with the midfielder showing no sign of rust despite his lack of football. The ex-Evertonian often saves his best for fixtures with Liverpool and was a standout for Rob Edwards’ side.
Barkley was brave in possession and added a hint of class to Luton’s engine room, with the 29-year-old central to the sequence which saw the Hatters open the scoring with a clinical counter-attack. The signing of Barkley represented risk for Luton, but he was impressive here with 10 ball recoveries and moments of real quality in possession.
Midfield: Bernardo Silva – Manchester City
After a man-of-the-match performance in the Manchester Derby last weekend, Bernardo Silva was at his imperious best once again in Manchester City’s 6-1 battering of Bournemouth. Silva scored twice and helped set up the third, with his second goal a delicious finish lifted over Ionut Radu.
Silva started wide, but drifted in centrally as City took control of the game. The Portugal international appears to have found form at a perfect time for the champions, who have some huge fixtures on the horizon.
Beautiful football from @BernardoCSilva as he bags a brace ???? pic.twitter.com/MS3boFUMwL
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 4, 2023
Forward: Chiedozie Ogbene – Luton
Chiedozie Ogbene is fast proving he can cut it at Premier League level with the Luton winger his side’s most threatening presence in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool. Ogbene had Trent Alexander-Arnold on toast at times at Kenilworth Road, winning their one-on-one duel time and time again.
Ogbene won 10/11 duels in the game and completed 4/5 dribbles, with the Irishman’s electric pace a real nuisance for Liverpool to deal with in transitions. He will be key to Luton’s hopes of survival, after the Hatters climbed out of the bottom three on goal difference.
The star man from Luton 1-1 Liverpool: Mr Chiedozie Ogbene ⭐
✨ 4/5 attempted dribbles completed
???? Three fouls won
⚔️ Ten duels won (most in match)
???? One shot on target
And let’s be honest, that doesn’t cover half of it! A meteoric rise from the LOI.#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/luoxFWeAQu
— Kenny’s Kids (@IrelandRadar) November 5, 2023
Forward: Anthony Gordon – Newcastle
Fast becoming a firm favourite at Newcastle. Gordon runs his socks off for the cause and worked tirelessly to put Arsenal under pressure at St James’ Park.
The Liverpudlian’s lung-busting performance was well appreciated on the Gallowgate, particularly when Gordon was in the right place at the right time to steer in the winner. It’s now four for the season for Gordon, who’s pushing for an England call up ahead of November’s break.
Forward: Jeremy Doku – Manchester City
Simply sensational. Doku has shown flashes of his enormous potential since signing for Manchester City last summer, but this was a performance to make the rest of the Premier League sit up and take notice.
The 21-year-old was scintillating as Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed Bournemouth 6-1 at the Etihad, with Doku directly involved in FIVE goals. The Belgian became just the eighth player in Premier League history to assist four goals in a game – and the youngest to do so – and added a goal for good measure.
Doku remains raw, but this was an example of what he’s capable of when it all comes together. Untouchable all afternoon.
An incredible four assists and a goal for @JeremyDoku helped us to a 6-1 win on home soil ????
Best bits ???? pic.twitter.com/yriRasAf12
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 4, 2023
Read – Tweets of the Week: The Rock goes full David Beckham, Bellingham’s mum, poppy season
Read Also – Every player to register four Premier League assists in a single game following Doku masterclass
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