Our Premier League Team of the Week following the weekend action, featuring Liverpool’s inevitable superstar, Aston Villa’s exciting new recruit and a West Ham debutant.
Goalkeeper: Mark Flekken – Brentford
Brentford eased to a 4-0 win at Leicester on Friday night but required Mark Flekken to perform when called upon. The Dutchman made a big save to deny Jamie Vardy one-against-one with the game goalless and was exceptional with his distribution, completing 10/13 long balls forward. He’s had critics recently but no goalkeeper in the Premier League has made more saves (106) this season.
Right-back: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – West Ham
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was consistently criticised for his end product at Manchester United but there was arguably no better cross all weekend than his assist for Jarrod Bowen. He burst forward from wing-back to tee up the winner against Arsenal and had Riccardo Calafiori on toast for much of the game. Only Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri has completed more dribbles among defenders.
A moment for this AWB assist 🤩 pic.twitter.com/WvKRZDL3oR
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 23, 2025
Centre-back: Ibrahima Konate – Liverpool
A man-mountain for Liverpool in a statement win at the Etihad. Konate looked up for the battle from the off and threw his body on the line when required, geeing up the Liverpool fans after getting across to stop one cross. It’s cant be underestimated how important his covering of Trent Alexander-Arnold is for Liverpool, particularly with the latter enduring a torrid time against Jeremy Doku defensively.
Centre-back: Maxence Lacroix – Crystal Palace
Fulham fans thought Crystal Palace were mad to sell them Joachim Andersen last summer, but their replacement has certainly proven to be a player.
Maxence Lacroix was outstanding again in the club’s 2-0 win at Fulham, as the Eagles secured a fourth straight win on the road. He racked up 12 clearances, won four tackles, and didn’t lose a single defensive duel (7/7). A class act.
Left-back: Oliver Scarles – West Ham
When a young player gets an opportunity in the senior side, the onus is on them to perform and stay there. Oliver Scarles did just that this weekend with a terrific first Premier League start for West Ham. The 19-year-old became the first plater to record 6+ interceptions and 6+ tackles in a Premier League game in over a year, as the Hammers earned a huge 1-0 win at Arsenal.
Ollie Scarles’ 7 interceptions against Arsenal is the most by any Premier League player in an away game this season 👏
This is how unbelievable Scarles was today 👇 pic.twitter.com/D2MqAEcZUy
— Hammers Hub (@HammersHubWHUFC) February 22, 2025
Midfield: Abdoulaye Doucoure – Everton
Some questioned the decision to bring Doucoure back in, amid Carlos Alcaraz’s impressive showing in his absence last week. Doucoure delivered a reminder of what he can bring to Everton with an all-action performance in midfield. He assisted Everton’s opener with an important header on the edge of the box, before showing desire to get above Harry Maguire and nod in the second. Full of tireless running and drive, Manchester United struggled to deal with him.
Midfield: Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai fell to the ground after the full-time whistle at the Etihad and it’s little wonder. The Hungarian ran himself into the ground during Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Manchester City, rotating with Curtis Jones as the lead of the press. He set up the opener as part of a well-worked corner kick routine and scored the second himself – reward for his endeavour. This is the sort of showing that proves why he’s so important for the league leaders.
Right-wing: Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford
A brilliant goal and performance from a player Brentford might face a fight to hold onto in the summer. Mbeumo made it 15 goals in the Premier League this season with a beauty at Leicester, as the Bees swept to a 4-0 win at the King Power Stadium. An excellent set-piece delivery for Christian Norgaard was another moment of quality from the Cameroonian, who has been superb this season.
Trademark, Bryan Mbeumo ™️ pic.twitter.com/wyAHzZjRfQ
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) February 22, 2025
Left-wing: Marco Asensio – Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s new signings are beginning to shine and Marco Asensio arrived as a Premier League player on Saturday. Asensio’s two goals turned the game around against Chelsea, with the Spaniard showing flashes of the quality that justified the hype around his arrival. He picked up possession in dangerous pockets and was a constant threat to the visitors, as Villa picked up a priceless win in their top-four pursuit.
Forward: Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
Inevitable. Mohamed Salah is having one of the great Premier League seasons and fired Liverpool a step closer to title success this weekend. Yet another goal and assist for Salah, who has become the first player in Premier League history to reach 40+ goal involvements in multiple campaigns. It’s an astonishing feat from the Egyptian, who put Manchester City to the sword in a changing-of-the-guard moment.
30 goals ⚽️
20 assists 🅰️Mohamed Salah has FIFTY goal involvements this season! 🤯#MCILIV #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/VgwHCggKSm
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 23, 2025
Forward: Matheus Cunha – Wolves
Wolves’ best bit of business in the January window was tying Matheus Cunha down to a new deal. His form this season might just be the difference between survival or not.
Cunha made it 13 league goals for the season with a vital winner at Bournemouth and was unplayable at times on the south coast. With a release clause of £62m in his new deal, it would be a surprise if that were not activated in the summer.
Read – 30 of the most iconic football photos ever taken: Pele, Maradona, and Pickles the dog
See more – The fastest players to 50 Premier League goals as Isak reaches half-century
