Antonio steals the show as Man City dominate Premier League best XI
Manchester City made light work of Brighton on Saturday to romp to a 5-0 win and dominate the Premier League team of the week, but the standout performance came in West Ham's 4-0 win at Norwich, where Michail Antonio's four-goal haul relegated the Canaries.
Here, we look at the WhoScored.com Premier League team of the week...
Goalkeeper
Making the Premier League team of the week for the second gameweek running, Nick Pope put in a second successive man of the match showing as Burnley drew 1-1 with Liverpool. While he was unable to keep Andy Robertson's stunning first half header out, Pope made eight saves in total to feature between the sticks in this team with a WhoScored rating of 7.85.
Defenders
Like Pope, Ryan Fredericks makes the Premier League best XI for the second round running as he impressed in West Ham's thumping 4-0 win at Norwich on Saturday. The 27-year-old's only key pass in the victory resulted in a goal for Michail Antonio, while off the ball, Fredericks was solid, making three interceptions and two tackles to yield a WhoScored rating of 7.75.
The relegation candidates worked wonders over the weekend to boost their chances of survival with Bournemouth's Diego Rico featuring on the opposite flank. The Cherries were excellent in their 4-1 win over Champions League chasing Leicester. Like Fredericks, Rico's sole key pass on the day resulted in an assist for one of Dominic Solanke's two goals. Three clearances, two interceptions and two tackles saw Rico yield a WhoScored rating of 7.79.
Like West Ham and Bournemouth, Watford, too, secured a vital victory in their bid to beat the drop, earning a 2-1 win over Newcastle. Craig Dawson was key at the heart of the Hornets defence, putting in a man of the match showing to keep the Magpies offensive at bay. 14 aerial duels won and three tackles contributed towards Dawson's inclusion in this side with a WhoScored rating of 8.22.
Partnering Dawson at the heart of the backline is Sheffield United star Jack O'Connell. The Blades were comfortable in their 3-0 win over Chelsea, giving their top-four push a shot in the arm in the process. At his proactive best, O'Connell made five clearances and three interceptions to yield a WhoScored rating of 7.90.
Midfielders
The first of three Manchester City representatives, Raheem Sterling looks to be back to his best for the Cityzens post-lockdown as he bagged a hat-trick in their 5-0 win at Brighton to make it seven goals from seven appearances. While there was a hint of fortune about his third, the 25-year-old still hit the back of the net with three of his five shots at the AMEX, while four dribbles and three key passes saw him return a perfect WhoScored 10 rating, his first in the Premier League this season.
Teammate Bernardo Silva is one of two central midfielders in an all-Portuguese pairing in the middle of the park. Silva netted his sixth league goal of the campain at Brighton and he could've had an assist, too, having made two key passes. Three tackles and two interceptions helped the Portugal international to a WhoScored rating of 8.77.
Putting in a man of the match showing in Wolves' 3-0 win over Everton, Ruben Neves joins his compatriot in the middle of the park. One of his three key passes resulted in an assist in the comfortable home win, that a perfectly weighted ball for Diogo Jota. Out of possession, Neves didn't let the Everton midfield settle as he made five tackles and three interceptions as the 23-year-old, like Silva, garnered a WhoScored rating of 8.77.
Rounding off the midfield, Trezeguet netted his fourth and fifth league goals of the season in Aston Villa's vital 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. While there was a hint of fortune about the victory, with Mamadou Sakho's early opener controversially ruled out, Trezeguet was on hand to make the Eagles pay. Two of the Egyptian's three shots hit the back of the net to help Trezeguet to a WhoScored rating of 8.47.
Forwards
The third and final Manchester City representative, Gabriel Jesus' performance at Brighton was overshadowed by Sterling's man of the match showing, but the Brazilian did enough to return a WhoScored rating of 9.44. Jesus provided assists for Sterling and Bernardo Silva to score, those coming from two of three key passes, and he hit the back of the net with one of his seven shots to feature up front.
Completing the team of the week is the WhoScored player of the week as Michail Antonio put Norwich to the sword on Saturday. Antonio netted four times in West Ham's 4-0 win and it means he has scored more league goals at Carrow Road than Norwich (3) in 2020. The attacker doubled his goal tally in the lunchtime kick off, with four of his nine shots finding a way past Tim Krul, while five aerial duels won, five successful dribbles and three key passes helped the 30-year-old to a perfect WhoScored 10 rating.
