Here is our Premier League Team of the Week for Matchday 13 after an event-filled weekend of top-flight football.
Goalkeeper: Thomas Kaminski – Luton
Luton are beginning to find their feet at Premier League level and the Hatters have built a buffer from the bottom three after beating Crystal Palace this weekend. Rob Edwards’ side worked tirelessly to secure their first Premier League win at Kenilworth Road, with Thomas Kaminski again excellent in goal. The Belgian has proven to be a shrewd signing since arriving from Blackburn and made seven saves against the Eagles, including five from inside the penalty area.
A brilliant double save kept Luton in the game in the first half and Kaminski has now prevented more goals – according to xG figures – than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League.
Right-back: Kieran Trippier – Newcastle
Another outstanding Newcastle performance led, as ever, by Kieran Trippier. The 33-year-old might just be the most consistent right-back in the Premier League and was influential once again as Eddie Howe’s side thrashed Chelsea 4-1 at St James’ Park.
The foul for Chelsea’s free-kick equaliser aside, Trippier combated the threat of the in-form Raheem Sterling and led the contest for touches (117), passes (82), passes in the final third (33) and crosses (16). A brilliant footballer at both ends of the pitch.
Centre-back: Tom Lockyer – Luton
Luton’s leader shone in the club’s hard-fought win over Crystal Palace, as the Hatters dug deep – and rode their luck on occasion – to earn a 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road.
Lockyer was aggressive and alert in his defensive work and made a huge six clearances, alongside four interceptions, two tackles and seven duels won. Last season’s Player of the Season as Luton won promotion, the 28-year-old Welshman will be key to their hopes of beating the drop.
Centre-back: Pau Torres – Aston Villa
A solid showing capped by a thunderous header to bring Aston Villa level at Spurs. The Spanish centre-back was viewed as a coup after reuniting with ex-Villarreal boss Unai Emery in the Midlands and was an assured presence as Villa climbed into the top four.
He won six of his seven duels in the contest and bounced back from an earlier missed chance with the equaliser. It was a brilliant header from the defender, who powered Douglas Luiz’s free-kick home.
Pau Torres’ game by numbers vs. Spurs:
84% pass accuracy
56 touches
37/44 passes completed
5/6 ground duels won
5 ball recoveries
2/2 dribbles completed
1 goalBrilliant at the back. ???? pic.twitter.com/wsCDA5l4mA
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 26, 2023
Left-back: Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal
Arsenal’s best player in their 1-0 win at Brentford and again at the hub of Arteta-ball. The Ukrainian had more touches (100), completed more passes (70/75) and made more passes into the final third (10) than any other Arsenal player, while he created a chance for Leandro Trossard that should have brought better results.
At the other end his contribution was even more crucial, with a scrambled goal-line clearance keeping out Neal Maupay’s effort. A narrow win, but one that sends Arsenal top of the league.
Midfield: Bernardo Silva – Manchester City
Bernardo Silva consistently brings his best to contests with Liverpool and in periods during Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with the Reds, he was unplayable.
The Portuguese playmaker pirouetted away from trouble in one moment of exquisite evasion, the highlight of another performance in which the 29-year-old ran himself into the ground and glided past top players as if they weren’t there.
Is it time to start talking about Bernardo among the Premier League’s best ever midfielders? He’s been so good, and so consistent, for much of the Citizens’ recent dominance of the division.
Some player with the ball at his feet! ????????@BernardoCSilva ???? pic.twitter.com/oTtCumkJss
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 26, 2023
Midfield: Mohammed Kudus – West Ham
West Ham were heading towards defeat at Burnley after a flat performance at Turf Moor, but two late goals turned defeat into victory for the Hammers. Mohammed Kudus turned the game around for the Irons, with two assists in the closing stages.
The Ghana international’s drilled cross forced an own goal from Dara O’Shea for the equaliser, before a wicked cross from the right found Tomas Soucek at the back post in stoppage time. The 23-year-old is growing in influence for the Irons and his balance, ball retention and creativity brought a spark that was lacking in Jarrod Bowen’s absence.
Two assists in four minutes from Mohammed Kudus saves West Ham late on ???? pic.twitter.com/UHTYtNpLCh
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 25, 2023
Right-wing: Marcus Tavernier – Bournemouth
Three wins in four games has kickstarted Bournemouth’s season, with the Cherries piling the pressure on Sheffield United with a 3-1 win at Bramall Lane. Marcus Tavernier was the architect of the win, as the winger scored twice to record his first goals of the campaign.
The 24-year-old collected Antoine Semenyo’s pass in his path and finished confidently for the opener, before adding the visitor’s third goal after arriving unmarked at the back post to steer home. Tevernier really should have had a hat-trick after a glaring miss, but was Bournemouth’s big threat with six shots, two goals and three chances created.
Marcus Tavernier steals the show with a brace away at Sheff Utd ????#SHUBOU pic.twitter.com/Uq8naAdv7b
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 25, 2023
Left-wing: Jeremy Doku – Manchester City
Is there a more watchable player in the Premier League right now?
You can sense the anticipation around the Etihad whenever the Manchester City winger picks up possession, with Doku’s drive and dribbling skills on show as he tormented Trent Alexander-Arnold at times this weekend.
The 21-year-old plays a daring brand of football with fleet footwork, and the prospect of Pep Guardiola fine-tuning those raw attributes is a hugely exciting one. Excellent, again.
1 – Jérémy Doku stats and match ranking in Manchester City vs Liverpool:
432m – Ball Carry Distance ????
233m – Ball Carry Progress ????
34 – Ball Carries ????
29 – Final Third Passes ????
19 – Touches in Opp Box ????
18 – Progressive Carries ????
16 – Dribbles Attempted ????
12 – Dribbles… pic.twitter.com/oxCsG7cpDl— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 26, 2023
Forward: Anthony Gordon – Newcastle
A threat all afternoon, Reece James will hardly have a tougher opponent all season. Gordon started off quietly in Newcastle’s 4-1 win over Chelsea, but grew into the game and was the decisive player after the break.
The winger created one and scored another, putting Jamaal Lascelles’ goal on a plate with a superb left-wing cross after cutting inside, before rounding off the win with a crisp finish into the far corner. In between he got James sent off after getting goal side of the England right-back and was a menace all game with his direct running. He now has eight goals and assists in 12 games for Newcastle this season, no teammate has managed more.
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️@anthonygordon with his fifth goal of the season so far! ???? pic.twitter.com/PetmuATFh1
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 26, 2023
Forward: Joao Pedro – Brighton
Joao Pedro was left out of the Brighton side against Nottingham Forest, but an early injury to Ansu Fati handed the forward a chance he would take. In a captivating clash at the City Ground, Pedro scored twice to earn the Seagulls a first win in seven Premier League games.
He headed home brilliantly from Pascal Gross’ cross to cancel out Anthony Elanga’s opener for the home side, before cooly sending Odysseas Vlachodimos the wrong way from the spot for his second.
In between he was full of effort for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, winning 11 duels, three tackles and making four clearances defensively. This performance continued a memorable month for Pedro, who made his senior debut for Brazil on November 16.
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