Salah the star as Man Utd dominate Premier League team of the week
Manchester United are the dominant side in the first Premier League team of the week of the 2021/22 season after their thumping 5-1 win over Leeds. There is also space for Liverpool and Chelsea representatives after their respective victories over Norwich and Crystal Palace.
What a night it was for Brentford! On their Premier League debut to kick off the 2021/22 season, they secured a 2-0 win over Arsenal to mark a wonderful occasion at the Brentford Community Stadium. David Raya impressed between the sticks in the victory over the Gunners and is the first of two Bees representatives to make the XI. Four saves and one aerial duel won helped Brentford to a clean sheet and Raya a WhoScored rating of 7.60.
Sergi Canos (Brentford) - 8.78
The second Brentford player was their hero on the night. Sergi Canos impressed at right wing-back for Thomas Frank's side, netting the opener after 22 minutes. That goal came from one of three shots, but it was the Spaniard's work off the ball that really caught the eye. Indeed, no player made more tackles than Canos (7) on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, while an additional three interceptions saw the 24-year-old land the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 8.78.
After spending last season on loan at Celtic, Shane Duffy was handed a start in Brighton's backline in their 2-1 win at Burnley on Saturday. The centre-back put in a solid shift at the heart of the defence, too, as he dealt with the Burnley attacking threat with ease, be it aerially or with the ball on the deck. Duffy's return of nine aerial duels won and 10 clearances saw him garner a WhoScored rating of 8.38.
Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) - 8.32
Trevoh Chalobah partners Duffy in defence after making a dream Premier League debut with Chelsea. The youngster bagged his first ever league goal for the Blues to wrap up a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon. Chalobah returned a 92.8% pass success rate and chipped in with two clearances and two interceptions as he features alongside Duffy with a WhoScored rating of 8.32.
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) - 8.94
The second Chelsea player to make the cut rounds off the defence. Despite links with a move away from the Blues this summer, Marcos Alonso put in a superb showing from left wing-back for Thomas Tuchel's side against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Alonso scored Chelsea's first league goal of the season and he was unfortunate not to add an assist as he made two key passes to cap an afternoon deserving of a WhoScored rating of 8.94.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 9.21
The first Premier League player of the week of 2021/22 is Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian had a direct hand in all three goals in Liverpool's win at Norwich on Saturday evening. Salah provided the assists for Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino either side of half time before getting on the scoresheet himself, those coming from respective returns of four key passes and five shots. The 29-year-old also completed two dribbles to earn a WhoScored rating of 9.21.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 9.07
There are three Manchester United players in the Premier League team of the week after their resounding 5-1 win over Leeds on Saturday afternoon. Bruno Fernandes was the star performer in the victory as he scored his first ever Premier League hat-trick, finding a way past Illan Meslier with three of his four efforts on goal. Had the Portugal international's teammates boasted their shooting boots, he would have had an assist to his name, too, as he made three key passes to contribute towards his inclusion in the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 9.07.
Tomas Soucek (West Ham) - 8.28
Picking up where he left off, Tomas Soucek netted his first league goal of the season in West Ham's entertaining 4-2 win at Newcastle on Sunday. The Czech star was the first to Freddie Woodman's penalty save to tuck past the Magpies shotstopper as he scored with one of four shots. Soucek worked tirelessly off the ball to help West Ham to all three points, making five tackles and four clearances to secure a WhoScored rating of 8.28.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 8.99
Paul Pogba became the fifth player to register at least four assists in a Premier League game since the start of 2009/10 in Manchester United's 5-1 win over Leeds. Pogba's four assists came from five key passes at Old Trafford to set an early marker for the campaign. It was a performance that warranted a place in the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 8.99.
Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) - 8.78
The third Premier League debutant to feature in the first team of the week of the season, Emmanuel Dennis played a key role in Watford's 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. Dennis scored his first goal in English football with just 10 minutes on the clock and turned provider three minutes before the break for Ismaila Sarr, those coming from five shots and three key passes, respectively. In all, the 23-year-old put in a performance deserving of a spot in the side with a WhoScored rating of 8.78.
Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) - 8.96
Joining Dennis on the frontline is Manchester United youngster Mason Greenwood. It took until his seventh appearance of the season for Greenwood to bag his first league goal of 2020/21, but he netted his first goal of the campaign, and United's second against Leeds, shortly after the restart at Old Trafford on Saturday. With an additional five successful dribbles to his name, Greenwood completes the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.96.
