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Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 26

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 26

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It was an extended Matchday 26 this week with Liverpool hosting Luton on Wednesday evening to kick things off. The Reds romped to a 4-1 win over the Hatters to cement their place at the top of the Premier League and their showing at Anfield has seen four players make it into the FotMob Team of the Week. Who joins the Liverpool quartet and why? 

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno 

Leno played his part in a huge victory for Fulham away at Old Trafford. The Cottagers scored in the 97th minute to claim a 2-1 win over Manchester United to bring the four-match winning streak the Red Devils had been on to an abrupt halt. The 31-year-old German shot-stopper was in fine form, making seven saves while facing efforts with an Expected Goals on Target total of 2.45. 

Right-Back: Vladimir Coufal 

The 31-year-old West Ham full-back was in inspired form for the Hammers in the 4-2 win over Brentford on Monday evening. Coufal created three chances and claimed an assist. He also completed 100% of his attempted dribbles and found a teammate with 100% of his attempted crosses. He was flawless defensively too, winning 100% of his tackles and duels. His 8.0 FotMob rating was more than deserved. 

Centre-Back: Virgil Van Dijk 

Van Dijk put in a captain’s performance for Liverpool as the Reds came from behind at Anfield to claim a 4-1 win against Luton. The skipper nodded in the equaliser early in the second half to give the hosts a platform to kick on and win the game. Van Dijk also completed 89% of his passes and won all seven of his aerial duels on his way to an 8.5 rating. 

Centre-Back: Chris Richards

Richards helped Oliver Glasner get off to the dream start as Crystal Palace manager. The 23-year-old defender scored the first goal of the new era while putting in quite the shift defensively. He won seven of his nine duels against Burnley and recovered the ball on five occasions to help the Eagles keep a much-needed clean sheet. Richards also completed 92% of his 62 attempted passes to earn himself a FotMob rating of 8.3. 

Left-Back: Emerson 

Another West Ham United full-back made the FotMob Team of the Week. Emerson managed to one-up Coufal by scoring and assisting in the victory against Brentford. The 29-year-old left-back created four chances on the night and set-up Bowen for the opener early on. The Italy international won all four of his tackles and won nine of his 13 duels to cap off a solid showing. 

Midfield: Jordan Ayew

Ayew put in a Player of the Match performance for Crystal Palace against Burnley. The 32-year-old scored and assisted in the 3-0 win. He also carved out five chances for teammates while completing 100% of his dribbles and winning 11 of his 14 duels. Ayew could prove to be a key player for Glasner if we’re reading into this showing. 

Midfield: Alexis Mac Allister 

Mac Allister, in the absence of a number of creative players for Liverpool, really stepped up against Luton to pull the strings for the Reds. He finished the game having created four chances and assisting two of the four goals. The World Cup winner completed 86% of his passes, 100% of his dribbles and won 50% of his duels in what was a dominant display in the heart of the midfield for the hosts. 

Midfield: Phil Foden 

Foden was the match-winner for City against Bournemouth as they kept the pressure on leaders Liverpool. The versatile midfielder scored the only goal of the game. He had four shots in total and carved out four chances for teammates. The 23-year-old was also diligent defensively, recovering the ball on nine occasions and winning five of his eight ground duels. 

Attack: Harvey Elliott 

Elliott was given the task of filling in for the injured Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota on the right side of the Liverpool attack. He did an admirable job too. The 20-year-old played his part in the Reds coming from behind to claim all three points on Wednesday evening. He created eight chances against the Hatters and scored the fourth to cap off a fine showing. 

Attack: Jarrod Bowen 

Bowen was on fire in West Ham’s 4-2 win over Brentford. The opposition defenders really were terrified of the England international as he netted a hat-trick to take his haul for the season to 14 in the Premier League. The 27-year-old was ruthless, scoring with every single effort against Thomas Frank’s men. He was also quite tidy in possession, finding a teammate with 80% of his attempted passes. 

Attack: Cody Gakpo 

Gakpo was determined to make something happen for Liverpool against Luton having come into the team to replace the injured Darwin Núñez. The Dutch international scored the goal to give the Reds the lead with one of his eight shots during the match. He also created one chance, completed all of his dribbles, won all of his tackles and came out on top in 12 of his 19 duels. The 24-year-old did his part for the Reds at Anfield. 

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 26

It was an extended Matchday 26 this week with Liverpool hosting Luton on Wednesday evening to kick things off. The Reds romped to a 4-1 win over the Hatters to cement their place at the top of the Premier League and their showing at Anfield has seen four players make it into the FotMob Team of the Week. Who joins the Liverpool quartet and why? 

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno 

Leno played his part in a huge victory for Fulham away at Old Trafford. The Cottagers scored in the 97th minute to claim a 2-1 win over Manchester United to bring the four-match winning streak the Red Devils had been on to an abrupt halt. The 31-year-old German shot-stopper was in fine form, making seven saves while facing efforts with an Expected Goals on Target total of 2.45. 

Right-Back: Vladimir Coufal 

The 31-year-old West Ham full-back was in inspired form for the Hammers in the 4-2 win over Brentford on Monday evening. Coufal created three chances and claimed an assist. He also completed 100% of his attempted dribbles and found a teammate with 100% of his attempted crosses. He was flawless defensively too, winning 100% of his tackles and duels. His 8.0 FotMob rating was more than deserved. 

Centre-Back: Virgil Van Dijk 

Van Dijk put in a captain’s performance for Liverpool as the Reds came from behind at Anfield to claim a 4-1 win against Luton. The skipper nodded in the equaliser early in the second half to give the hosts a platform to kick on and win the game. Van Dijk also completed 89% of his passes and won all seven of his aerial duels on his way to an 8.5 rating. 

Centre-Back: Chris Richards

Richards helped Oliver Glasner get off to the dream start as Crystal Palace manager. The 23-year-old defender scored the first goal of the new era while putting in quite the shift defensively. He won seven of his nine duels against Burnley and recovered the ball on five occasions to help the Eagles keep a much-needed clean sheet. Richards also completed 92% of his 62 attempted passes to earn himself a FotMob rating of 8.3. 

Left-Back: Emerson 

Another West Ham United full-back made the FotMob Team of the Week. Emerson managed to one-up Coufal by scoring and assisting in the victory against Brentford. The 29-year-old left-back created four chances on the night and set-up Bowen for the opener early on. The Italy international won all four of his tackles and won nine of his 13 duels to cap off a solid showing. 

Midfield: Jordan Ayew

Ayew put in a Player of the Match performance for Crystal Palace against Burnley. The 32-year-old scored and assisted in the 3-0 win. He also carved out five chances for teammates while completing 100% of his dribbles and winning 11 of his 14 duels. Ayew could prove to be a key player for Glasner if we’re reading into this showing. 

Midfield: Alexis Mac Allister 

Mac Allister, in the absence of a number of creative players for Liverpool, really stepped up against Luton to pull the strings for the Reds. He finished the game having created four chances and assisting two of the four goals. The World Cup winner completed 86% of his passes, 100% of his dribbles and won 50% of his duels in what was a dominant display in the heart of the midfield for the hosts. 

Midfield: Phil Foden 

Foden was the match-winner for City against Bournemouth as they kept the pressure on leaders Liverpool. The versatile midfielder scored the only goal of the game. He had four shots in total and carved out four chances for teammates. The 23-year-old was also diligent defensively, recovering the ball on nine occasions and winning five of his eight ground duels. 

Attack: Harvey Elliott 

Elliott was given the task of filling in for the injured Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota on the right side of the Liverpool attack. He did an admirable job too. The 20-year-old played his part in the Reds coming from behind to claim all three points on Wednesday evening. He created eight chances against the Hatters and scored the fourth to cap off a fine showing. 

Attack: Jarrod Bowen 

Bowen was on fire in West Ham’s 4-2 win over Brentford. The opposition defenders really were terrified of the England international as he netted a hat-trick to take his haul for the season to 14 in the Premier League. The 27-year-old was ruthless, scoring with every single effort against Thomas Frank’s men. He was also quite tidy in possession, finding a teammate with 80% of his attempted passes. 

Attack: Cody Gakpo 

Gakpo was determined to make something happen for Liverpool against Luton having come into the team to replace the injured Darwin Núñez. The Dutch international scored the goal to give the Reds the lead with one of his eight shots during the match. He also created one chance, completed all of his dribbles, won all of his tackles and came out on top in 12 of his 19 duels. The 24-year-old did his part for the Reds at Anfield. 

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.