Every league in the world has its own unique, interesting stars worth highlighting. This week we take a look at some of those players who have been making waves this past month
Manchester City and Liverpool both triumphed, intensifying the race at the top of the Premier League.
Tottenham smashed Newcastle 5-1, Chelsea were surprised 4-1 at home by Brentford, Manchester United and Leicester drew 1-1 at Old Trafford, and Wolves defeated Aston Villa 2-1.
Everton’s relegation worries were exacerbated by a 2-1 defeat at West Ham, as Leeds drew 1-1 with Southampton and Brighton and struggling Norwich went goalless.
But you’re really curious about who made my Team of the Week. Take a look at it below and then make your own choices at the bottom of the page.
Jose Sa is the goalkeeper (Wolves)
Jose Sa: Wow, what a game. Villa opened the game as if they’d forgotten to put studs in their boots and looked like they were in a Bambi on Ice play. Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins squandered two good opportunities and didn’t seem to mind. After colliding with Jose Sa, the Villa striker didn’t hesitate to take the penalty he was granted. I felt Sa was unfortunate to allow the penalty, but it didn’t take away from what I believed was another excellent effort from the Portugal international.
What if I told you that Sa has the greatest save percentage in the Premier League among goalkeepers who have played 500 minutes or more this season (79 percent ).
Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Ham), and Aaron Cresswell (West Ham) are among the defenders (West Ham)
Joe Gomez: It’s great to see Joe Gomez returning to the Liverpool starting lineup. His career has been hampered by injuries, but the manner he was spraying balls into the Watford goal area for Diogo Jota to attack was incredible. Gomez will need a run of league games to regain the form that made him a lock for international selection. Gomez is one of the rare English defenders who can play everywhere in the back four. He is a unique talent who can be pretty great on occasion.
What if I told you that Gomez’s assist against Watford was his first in the Premier League since Everton at Anfield in December 2017.
Cristian Romero: Joe Willock’s goal-scoring attempt was brilliantly blocked by Cristian Romero. The Newcastle player seemed to be on his way to a goal. Romero had already struck my attention when playing for Spurs, and he’s beginning to look like a genuine Premier League player. The better Romero became as the game against Newcastle progressed. When he’s under pressure, he’s composed, and when he’s not, he’s at ease on the ball. However, if Tottenham are to finish fourth, manager Antonio Conte must address the Jekyll and Hyde culture in his team’s performances.
What if I told you that In the Premier League this season, Romero has the most combined tackles and interceptions of any Spurs player, averaging 4.5 per 90 minutes (minimum 500 minutes played).
Craig Dawson: This player is the epitome of professionalism. Craig Dawson put up a mature effort against an Everton team that had its moments. Dawson has been around for a while, but I don’t remember him ever failing to perform for one of his teams. Yes, he’s made mistakes like the rest of us, but he’s been one of the game’s most consistent defenders. West Ham are presently leading the Premier League and participating in the Europa League’s knockout rounds, yet Dawson seemed unfazed by the situation.
What if I told you that This season, Dawson has won more aerial duels (82) than any other West Ham defender in the Premier League.
Frank Lampard has his job cut out for him here, according to Aaron Cresswell. Everton deserved to win this game and would have done so if Michael Keane’s idiocy and Alex Iwobi’s ineptitude hadn’t cost them. Everton would very probably have earned a point if Keane stayed on his feet and Iwobi controlled a ball that a newborn could have handled. West Ham didn’t have their best game, but they do have a defender in Aaron Creswell who can score a free-kick. The one really bright spot throughout the game.
What if I told you that For West Ham United, Cresswell has the most direct free kicks of any player. Cresswell had previously been tied on three with Dimitri Payet.
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Christian Eriksen (Brentford), and Kevin de Bruyne (Brentford) are all midfielders (Man City)
James Ward-Prowse: On present form, he’s the best dead ball striker in the nation. The free-kick by James Ward-Prowse against Leeds was both expected and fantastic. The minute the ball was put on the ground, it was bound towards the back of the goal. Illan Meslier saw it as it sped by. Leeds, however, seem to be progressing well under new boss Jesse Marsch. They couldn’t keep playing the high-octane football that Marcelo Bielsa had instilled in them, no matter how appealing it had become.
What if I told you that Only David Beckham (18) has scored more direct free kicks in Premier League history than Ward-Prowse (13), with Ward-Prowse scoring nine of his goals away from home.
Eriksen, Christian: Christian Eriksen has had an incredible two weeks. He went back to international duty for Denmark, scoring goals against Serbia and the Netherlands, before returning to the Premier League to thrash Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Eriksen’s comeback to the pro game has been nothing short of extraordinary. He’s back to full condition after almost dying on a football ground, and he’s changed Brentford’s season and playing style as a result. With 33 points on the board, the Bees’ win against Chelsea nearly ensures them a place in the Premier League next season.
What if I told you that Eriksen’s goal was his first in the Premier League since December of last year (for Tottenham against Norwich). In the tournament, he has been personally involved in eight goals (three goals, five assists), with all three goals coming at Stamford Bridge.
Kevin de Bruyne: Against a completely outclassed Burnley, the connection between Raheem Sterling and De Bruyne looked very scary. City must be odds-on favourites to retain the championship and reach the Champions League final if these two stay healthy. My main issue is City’s unwillingness to bring in a true center striker who can play off both of these outstanding players while still scoring goals. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, and now Luis Diaz are all determined goal scorers waiting in the wings for Liverpool. Meanwhile, City is still using a false nine. In the end, it may prove to be Guardiola’s undoing.
What if I told you that De Bruyne has 10 Premier League goals this season for Manchester City, just the second time in his career that he has scored in double digits in a single season (13 in 2019-20).
Forwards: Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt, Tottenham’s Harry Kane, and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (Man City)
Chelsea put in a poor performance, according to Vitaly Janelt. Brentford’s Ivan Toney had a chance to score two goals before several season-ticket holders had taken their seats. While Chelsea players’ thoughts appear to be on another world, Vitaly Janelt helped himself to a pair. Janelt scored both goals with finesse, but where were the European and World Club Champions? If they continue to play like this against Real Madrid in their next Champions League match, they would lose their chance to retain the championship.
What if I told you that Janelt’s double was his first in all competitions for Brentford, giving him as many Premier League goals as he had in his previous 24 games combined.
Harry Kane (actor): It’s not often that the England captain makes my team of the week after failing to score a single goal in a 5-1 thrashing. The game against Newcastle United, on the other hand, must be the exception. Kane’s second-half display was nothing short of incredible. Tottenham striker Harry Kane’s passing was so accurate that he could have threaded any of them through the eye of a needle and it would have found one of his teammates. Kane had a fantastic solo performance. I only hope he hasn’t gained a passion to score goals rather than set them up.
What if I told you that Kane has 40 Premier League assists, half of which have come in the 64 games since the start of last season; he had 20 top-flight assists in 210 appearances before 2020-21.
Raheem Sterling’s two assists against Burnley underlined another aspect of his game that has grown during his time at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola’s cautious development. The cushioned touch for Kevin de Bruyne’s goal was exquisite, but Ilkay Gundogan’s brilliantly laid out ball was even better. At Liverpool, Sterling never took as much care with his passes as he does at Manchester City. Guardiola, like all good professors, has rectified it, and Sterling, like all good pupils, has put in the effort.
What if I told you that For the sixth time in his Premier League career, Sterling delivered two assists, the first time since February 2019 against Arsenal.
Choose your XI from our list and tell your friends about it.
Choose a formation. Team members should be confirmed.
The crooks in charge of the situation
I was taken by former Chelsea and France defender Frank Leboeuf’s recent remarks, in which he nearly begged Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to consider retiring soon. The statement occurred as I was ready to make a similar remark in my Team of the Week, but I believed that the five-time Ballon D’Or winner needed more than a throwaway phrase about his form, and that he was entitled to a full examination of what happens to a player in decline.
We are all affected by old age, but some people are more affected than others. This season, Ronaldo has scored 18 goals in 32 games across all competitions, a long cry from his previous high standards of almost a goal per game when playing for Real Madrid. He’s gone from playing wide on the left, where he scored and created goals for himself and others on a regular basis, to playing up front, where he must depend on good service to generate chances to score goals.
I recall covering the European Championships in 2004 and seeing Ronaldo play against England in the quarter-finals. Goals and drama were both there in this match. After 120 minutes, the game was deadlocked and had to be decided by the dreaded penalty shootout. I was so close to David James behind the goal that I could have shook his hand.
The strain was overwhelming, yet Ronaldo seemed to be unaffected. He walked into the penalty area, carefully placed the ball on the spot, then glanced up at the bank of England supporters behind me before solidly placing the ball into the net. The boldness, not to mention the nerve, blew me away. It was the most confident I’d ever seen.
That self-assurance was unrivaled, and it came with the ability to manage whatever situation or circumstance the game threw at him. Ronaldo is someone I adore. His professionalism is unrivaled, and he has far exceeded the expectations placed on a 37-year-old player in the world’s hardest competition. He is, nevertheless, still a young guy in search of meaning in life. The United States might be the ideal location for achieving that goal. In Miami, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo would be an unstoppable force. One thing is certain: the five-time Ballon d’Or winner does not need financial assistance.
