The Premier League Team of the Week column returns to Playing for 90 following a fallow few weeks from the team. Here, co-editor Kevin Kelly brings you what he considers as the past weeks team of the week.
Formation – 3-4-2-1
Hugo Lloris (Goalkeeper)
Spurs hosted Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon and beat their London rivals 1-0, with a solid, if not flattering performance. The watertight defense on the day was underpinned by the performance of French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
On the day Lloris made three saves and two successful claim on the day, while his passing rate was an impressive 70%. Lloris may not make the headlines like David De Gea, but he may actually be the best keeper in the Premier League.
John Stones (Right centre-back)
Amidst the furore which surrounded John Stones in the summer, he has responded astutely. While Everton were held to a 0-0 against Swansea on the weekend, Stones was superb throughout.
The Everton defender completed one aerial duel and one dribble on the day, while he kept the ball very well too – with a 92% pass success rate. While Stones may not stay at Everton forever, the fans can relish his performances for the time being.
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Brede Hangeland (Centre-back)
An odd choice perhaps, given Brede Hangeland was on the back of a 1-0 defeat for Crystal Palace. However, Hangeland, who received an 8.2/10 rating for his performance from who scored, was a rock throughout.
Hangeland completed seven aerial duels on the day, as well as four successful tackles and even taking two shots. The experienced defender will be key for the Eagles keeping up their good form this season.
Kurt Zouma (Left centre-back)
Kurt Zouma started ahead of John Terry on the weekend, and having scored the opening goal, was an obvious candidate for man of the match. Like Terry, Zouma’s aerially ability is not just defensively but offensively too. Beyond that though, the central-defender’s defensive capabilities were on show throughout the game.
Zouma won two aerial duels and completed three tackles on the day, along with taking two shots and completing 81% of his 48 passes on the day.
Matt Ritchie (Right Wing-back)
While wing-back isn’t a natural position for Ritchie, he still makes our team this week, due to his fine performance – and goal of the season contender – for Bournemouth who beat Sunderland 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Ritchie, who scored 15 goals and assisted 17 times in the Championship last season, took three shots on the day and also completed two aerial duels and two tackles on the day.
Dele Alli (Central-midfield)
Dele Alli left MK Dons for Spurs in the summer for an initial fee of £5m and has looked a superb signing so far, with his performance on the weekend illustrating the vast array of abilities the 19 year-old possesses.
Against Palace Alli took four shots, completed two dribbled and made five tackles. Furthermore, he had an 80% pass success rate, though he was dispossessed twice. Overall Alli was brilliant on the day for a player of his age.
Cesc Fabregas (Central-midfield)
Amidst a torrid start to the season – and in truth since January – Cesc Fabregas made tentative steps back to form on the weekend against Arsenal. While admittedly he was afforded more time and space due to Arsenal’s falling numbers, Fabregas made astute use of it, and was central to the win for the Blues.
On the day Fabregas completed 86% of his 94 passes, while he also took three shots, made three tackles, and won one aerial duel on the day.
Son Hueng-Min (Right attacking midfield)
Son Hueng-Min is the third Spurs player to make the team of the week and rightly so, as was the quality of the south-Korean’s performance on the day. Signed from Bayern Leverkusen as the ‘big-money’ player the pressure was certainly on Son, but for now, he is looking assured in his performances.
Son scored his first Premier League goals on the weekend, and was a constant menace; taking five shots and completing three dribbles throughout the game. He showed nous defensively too – completing three tackles against the hardy Palace team.
Kevin De Bruyne (Left attacking midfield)
Arriving from Wolfsburg for a club record fee of £54m Kevin De Bruyne is under serious pressure to deliver at one of the world’s wealthiest club’s. Having now played in two consecutive losses for the Blues some may mistakenly think the Belgian has underperformed. De Bruyne has, in fact, been one of the very few shining light for Man City in their last two games.
De Bruyne, who scored Man City’s only goal on the weekend as they lost 2-1 at home to West Ham, completed three dribbles and took four shots on the day, while he also won two aerial duels and one tackle.
The Top Flight
Anthony Martial (Striker)
What a start to his Manchester United career for Anthony Martial. Not only did he score against Liverpool last week, but he netted a vital brace against Southampton on Sunday. So far Martial ha scored a goal on average every 38 minutes!
While that’s not sustainable long-term, an impressive start to a time at a club can be vital, with the young Frenchman already going a long way to dispelling worries about his big fee.