Pogba one of two Man Utd stars in Premier League August best XI
Last season's top four - Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea - are all represented in the Premier League team of the month for August, but it's a West Ham star who takes the player of the month award as, starting from the back, we run through the best XI...
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) - 7.46
Tottenham were the only side that didn't concede a Premier League goal in August as 1-0 wins over Manchester City, Wolves and Watford saw them end the month top of the league. While Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli have scored the decisive goals in those victories, captain Hugo Lloris has been a steadfast performer between the sticks. The Frenchman ended the month with three clean sheets and made more saves (12) than any other goalkeeper to kick off the best XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.46.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 7.89
The first of two Liverpool players to make the Premier League team of the month, Trent Alexander-Arnold has again been a creative force to be reckoned with for the Reds. The England international ranks first for key passes (15) in the Premier League so far in 2021/22, while no player has created more clear-cut chances (3). Unfortunately, Alexander-Arnold has just one assist to show for his efforts, but he is still good value for his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 7.89.
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) - 7.34
Two Chelsea players make the team of the month after the Blues conceded just one goal in August, that a Mohamed Salah penalty at the weekend. Cesar Azpilicueta put in a series of fine rearguard showings for Thomas Tuchel's side, the most impressive of which was in Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Reds as Chelsea played the second half with 10 men. No player made more tackles than Azpilicueta (15) in August to help the 32-year-old to a WhoScored rating of 7.34 and a spot in the team of the month.
Partnering Azpilicueta at the heart of the defence is Brighton's Shane Duffy. After spending last season on loan with Celtic, few expected Duffy to come straight back into the Seagulls XI and impress as he has done, even in the wake of Ben White's big money move to Arsenal. Yet the 29-year-old has excelled as evidenced by his WhoScored rating of 7.76. Only Ben Gibson (24) made more clearances than Duffy (19) last month, while 18 aerial duels won was more than any other centre-back to nail down a place in the side.
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) - 7.90
The second Chelsea player in the side is Spaniard Marcos Alonso to complete the defence. Alonso bagged his first goal of the season in a man of the match showing against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the campaign, netting with one of three shots last month. A total of 16 tackles and interceptions combined was the seventh best in the division and helped the Chelsea man to a WhoScored rating of 7.90.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 7.92
It's an all-Liverpool partnership down the right flank in the best XI this month as Mohamed Salah joins Alexander-Arnold in the XI. Four goals and assists combined, the third best in the Premier League last month, was a contributing factor for the Egyptian's inclusion in the team of the month. Salah's two assists came from nine key passes, that in itself was the joint-fourth best in the division, as he features with a WhoScored rating of 7.92.
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) - 7.85
Manchester City were the highest scoring side in August, bagging 10 goals across their three matches. Big money summer capture Jack Grealish may have struggled on his debut against Spurs, but recovered to net in City's 5-0 win over Norwich and provide the assist for Gabriel Jesus' second half strike against Arsenal on Saturday. Those came from respective returns of five shots and nine key passes to yield a WhoScored rating of 7.85.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 7.82
Joining Grealish in the middle of the park is Manchester United's Paul Pogba. The Frenchman has made an early play for the best playmaker award, registering five assists in his opening three league outings of the campaign. For context, Pogba has registered six assists in the previous two league seasons combined. Impressively, those five assists came from just seven key passes as the 28-year-old makes the XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.82.
Adama Traore was the only player to be named the WhoScored man of the match in all three league outings in August, securing the gong in meetings with Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester United. Wolves have lost all three games so far, but the wing-wizard has been just that, completing at least 11 more dribbles (28) than any other player in August. He may not have any goals or assists to show for his efforts, but Adama made as many key passes as Salah and Grealish (9) to feature on the left with a WhoScored rating of 8.19.
Michail Antonio (West Ham) - 8.84
With a superb WhoScored rating of 8.84, Michail Antonio is the Premier League player of the month for August. The West Ham forward was exceptional on the Hammers frontline last month as he had a direct hand in seven league goals, netting four, that more than any other player. Only Pogba bettered Antonio's assist return (3) to cap a historical month for the frontman, where he became West Ham's all-time Premier League goalscorer.
Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) - 8.01
Rounding off the team is Manchester United superstar in the making Mason Greenwood. The teenage forward scored in all three league outings for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side in August, netting decisive goals in meetings with Southampton and Wolves. Seven successful dribbles also ranked among the top 10 players in the England's top tier in August as Greenwood partners Antonio on the frontline with a WhoScored rating of 8.01.
