Premier League round-up: 5-star Manchester City dominate best rated XI
Manchester City and Liverpool are now joint-leaders in the Premier League after Chelsea only managed a point at home to Manchester United on Saturday. Liverpool edged out a poor 1-0 win over Huddersfield, while City went on a rampage against Burnley, smashing five unanswered goals past the Clarets.
Riyad Mahrez has struggled to discover his best form since leaving Leicester for the Premier League champions over the summer but turned in his best performance for City to date against Burnley. The Algeria international was at the centre of everything positive about City’s performance.
The 27-year-old netted his third league goal of the season, had three more shots and also created four goalscoring opportunities. Mahrez completed two dribbles and, even more impressively, won two tackles when he had only made three in his previous eight league appearances combined.
Mahrez finished the weekend’s Premier League action as the highest WhoScored rated player (9.54), beating Arsenal talisman Mesut Ozil (8.94) to the award. Unai Emery named Ozil captain for Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Leicester on Monday night and the German turned in a real captain’s performance.
Ozil was at his sparkling best, creating goals and even getting on the scoresheet himself. The Gunners played some champagne football against Leicester and Ozil was more or less at the heart of everything Emery’s side did going forward, as they wrapped up a 10th successive win in all competitions.
The 30-year-old scored one and registered an assist for another, artfully setting up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a dazzling move that started from Arsenal’s own box. Ozil created another three goalscoring opportunities, completed two dribbles and drew two fouls.
Rounding off the three highest WhoScored rated players from gameweek nine is Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue (8.68). The Hornets shocked Wolves 2-0 at the Molineux on Saturday, with Capoue driving Javi Gracia’s side to victory.
Watford had not won in five prior to their match against Wolves, losing four times in that spell. Capoue’s first league goal of the season got Watford on their way, before Roberto Pereyra doubled their advantage 60 seconds later. Capoue won six tackles and two interceptions in midfield to help Watford see out the victory and secure their first clean sheet in the Premier League since the opening weekend.
While the aforementioned trio flourished, the same cannot be said for Burnley defender Ben Mee. The 29-year-old was part of the Burnley defence that conceded five goals to City but Mee was particularly poor. He failed to win a tackle, only made one interception and City goalkeeper Ederson (2) won more aerial duels than the Burnley centre-back (1). He finished the weekend’s action as the lowest WhoScored rated player (5.45).
