Clinical Son leads Tottenham trio in Premier League Team of the Month
As October comes to a close, we take a look at the month’s best performers in the Premier League, with table-toppers Tottenham leading the XI. There are also representatives from the likes of Newcastle, Brentford, Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham) - 7.12
Spurs stopper Guglielmo Vicario continued his impressive start to life in the Premier League in October, as Ange Postecoglou’s side won each of their three matches, keeping two clean sheets. Vicario’s standout performance came in the 2-0 win at home to Fulham, where the Italian made a total of three saves, while maintaining a pass success rate of 82%. The 27-year-old’s strong displays earned him a WhoScored rating of 7.12 for the month of October.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) - 7.13
September’s WhoScored Premier League player of the month keeps his place in the XI for October, after adding to his tally of assists against both West Ham and Crystal Palace. The England international helped his side to a clean sheet and victory against the latter, and posted WhoScored ratings of 7.67 in each of those matches, before an out of character display against Wolves, which leaves him with a monthly average of 7.13.
Cristian Romero (Tottenham) - 7.58
World Cup winner Cristian Romero continues to be ranked as the highest rated centre-back in the Premier League this season, and his high-calibre performances against Fulham and Luton earn him a spot in the month’s best XI. Romero recorded his best rated display of the campaign so far at Kenilworth Road, making a total of six tackles and interceptions combined and 12 clearances to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.56.
Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) - 7.53
Joining Romero in defence is Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, who played every minute throughout October as Thomas Frank’s side picked up seven points from four matches. Pinnock’s best performance of the month, and indeed the season so far, came in last Saturday’s victory at Chelsea (8.49), when his second half header all but sealed three points for the visitors.
Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton) - 7.30
Ukrainian left-back Vitalii Mykolenko earns a place in October’s best XI after strong performances in wins over Bournemouth and West Ham for Sean Dyche’s Everton side. The 24-year-old helped his team to clean sheets in both of those matches, and registered his highest rated performance so far this season (7.85) in last weekend’s win against the Hammers, where he made a total of 10 tackles and interceptions combined, four clearances and one key pass.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) - 7.70
Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai continues to excel in the midfield for Jurgen Klopp’s side, having arrived in the summer from RB Leipzig. The 23-year-old registered his first two Premier League assists in the 3-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend, in what was his highest rated performance of the season thus far (8.78).
England international Declan Rice added to his tally of ongoing goal involvements since joining the Gunners against both Chelsea and Sheffield United, scoring a crucial goal against the former and providing the assist for Eddie Nketiah to open the scoring against the latter. In the one game in October that Rice didn’t contribute to a goal, the 24-year-old posted his second highest rated performance so far this season as he earned a 7.77 against Manchester City.
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) - 7.69
Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has started the season in spectacular fashion, and brought his scoring tally for the season to five with his two goals against West Ham, in what was his highest rated performance of the season (8.81). The Brazilian would then go on to provide an assist in the 3-1 victory over Luton a week later.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) - 7.93
With a WhoScored rating of 7.93, Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo is our Premier League player of the month for October. The Cameroon international played a vital role in the Bees’ back-to-back wins over Burnley and Chelsea, registering a goal and an assist in each of them. Mbeumo’s performance against the Clarets was enough to earn a WhoScored rating of 9.33, by far his best so far this term.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) - 7.68
Spurs attacker Son Heung-Min continues to thrive under Ange Postecoglou, and brought his scoring tally for the season up to eight with goals against Fulham and Crystal Palace in October. Son opened the scoring at home to the former, before turning provider for in-form teammate James Maddison to double the lead and seal a 2-0 victory.
Dwight McNeil (Everton) - 7.78
Everton winger Dwight McNeil played a crucial role in his side’s revival in form throughout October, starting each of their three matches and playing the full 90 minutes in wins over Bournemouth and West Ham. Although the 23-year-old did not contribute to any of the Toffees’ four goals, his importance should not be underestimated, and was evident when he registered a total of six key passes and two successful dribbles against Bournemouth, to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.60, his best so far this term.
