Premier League team of the week - round 1

Pogba and Fernandes were exceptional against Leeds
Pogba and Fernandes were exceptional against Leeds / Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

The 2021/22 Premier League season got off to a sensational start this weekend with 34 goals hammered home up and down the country.

Newcastle and West Ham offered up a treat in the North East, a Tottenham in turmoil stunned Manchester City, Arsenal got smacked up by Brentford and Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all showed their title credentials with blistering performances.

There were so many performances worthy of a spot in 90min's team of the week, but we all know that only 11 players can make the cut - here's who sealed their spot...


Premier League team of the week - round 1

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

GK: David Raya (Brentford) - Up against an Arsenal side that wanted to sign him not too long ago, Raya was immense. He was dominant in the air, claiming every cross that came his way, but did his best work with the ball at his feet. He was everything Bernd Leno was not.

RB: Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham) - Tasked with being a constant menace against Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish, Tanganga could hardly have been better if he tried. The fact he didn't even get booked is mental.

CB: Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) - Not only did Chalobah impress defensively on his Premier League debut, he stole the show with a worldie of a strike from range that sent him crashing to the floor in tears. A true coming of age performance.

CB: Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) - The latest non-league success story is Pinnock, who was outstanding on the left of Brentford's defence. He was absolutely everywhere and even got involved in the opener against Arsenal.

Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) - Chelsea's first goal of the season was a gorgeous free-kick from Alonso, who extends his lead as the top-scoring defender over the past five years.


2. Midfielders

CM: Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) - New year, same old Fernandes. His three goals in Man Utd's 5-1 mauling of Leeds were great, but someone else stole the headlines...

CM: Paul Pogba (Man Utd) - Just the four assists for Pogba, who was so good that Graeme Souness was visibly furious at the praise being directed towards him.

AM: Lucas Moura
(Tottenham) - Up against Man City, Moura led Tottenham's counter with real determination and desire. He was constantly charging up the field and was the man to relieve the pressure on the defence time and time again.

3. Forward

RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - Salah's first assist against Norwich wasn't intentional, but his second definitely was. The Liverpool man then topped it off with a delightful strike of his own.

ST: Michail Antonio
(West Ham) - Antonio was absolutely unreal against Newcastle, so much so that his missed penalty doesn't even count against him. He provided a brilliant assist for the second goal and then thundered home the fourth with real class.

LW: Son Heung-min (Tottenham) - Tasked with replacing Harry Kane's goals, Son took pride in the gig as he curled home a gorgeous effort on the counter. Nathan Ake will be having nightmares about him.


Honourable mentions: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester), Said Benrahma (West Ham), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ismaila Sarr (Watford)