Five-star Man City dominate midweek Premier League best XI
Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League table as a 5-0 win over West Brom, coupled with Manchester United's 2-1 loss to Sheffield United, ensured they ended the gameweek in first. Liverpool maintained a four-gap between themselves and City with a 3-1 win at Tottenham and the two Premier League title contenders feature in the midweek best XI.
Alphonse Areola (Fulham) - 8.46
Alphonse Areola makes the Premier League team of the week once more following a man of the match showing in Fulham's 0-0 draw at Brighton. The Frenchman put in a fine shift between the sticks, making five saves and winning three aerial duels, to kick off the midweek best XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.46.
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 9.73
The first of five Manchester City players in the team of the week is also the Premier League player of the week. Joao Cancelo earned a WhoScored rating of 9.73 from City's 5-0 thumping of West Brom having had a direct hand in two goals. The full-back provided the assist for Ilkay Gundogan's opener before getting on the scoresheet himself midway through the first half, those coming from respective returns of three key passes and three shots. Five dribbles and two tackles helped Cancelo to the individual award this round.
Lewis Dunk was solid at the heart of the Brighton defence in their 0-0 draw with Fulham and the first in an all-English centre-back pairing. Dunk won six aerial duels in the stalemate and was proactive at the back as he made two clearances, two tackles and one interception in a clean sheet attaining display that yielded a WhoScored rating of 8.02.
Harry Maguire (Manchester United) - 8.01
Manchester United may have been on the losing side as they succumbed to a 2-1 loss to table footers Sheffield United in midweek, but Harry Maguire still impressed for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men. Indeed, the United captain scored the equaliser against the Blades and, to his credit, he defended resolutely, winning 10 aerial duels and making three clearances, to join Dunk in defence with a WhoScored rating of 8.01.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City) - 7.45
While he failed to have a direct hand in a goal at West Brom, Oleksandr Zinchenko was solid from left-back in Manchester City's 5-0 win as he rounds off the defence. The 24-year-old made three clearances in the victory and found a teammate with 89.3% of his 103 passes to make the team with a WhoScored rating of 7.45.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 8.92
Like Cancelo, Raheem Sterling had a direct hand in two goals in Manchester City's 5-0 win at West Brom, providing the assist for Riyad Mahrez's goal on the stroke of half time before notching his sixth league goal of the season shortly before the hour mark. The assist came from his only key pass and his goal from four shots, while five successful dribbles contributed towards Sterling's inclusion in the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.92.
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) - 9.37
A goalscoring machine at present, Ilkay Gundogan netted twice in the win over West Brom and while he played just 52 minutes, a WhoScored rating of 9.37 was enough to make the best XI. The German hit the back of the net with each of his two shots and he drove forward from midfield with purpose as he completed three dribbles to feature in the middle of the park.
Tomas Soucek (West Ham) - 8.98
Another central midfield goalscoring powerhouse, Tomas Soucek scored his sixth and seventh league goals of the season in West Ham's 3-2 win at Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, finding a way past Vicente with two of four shots. Off the ball, the Czech excelled as he made four tackles, three interceptions and two clearances to garner a WhoScored rating of 8.98.
Completing the midfield in the best XI this week, Sadio Mane played a key role in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Tottenham, as noted in his WhoScored rating of 8.61. The Senegalese star provided the assist for Roberto Firmino's opener on the stroke of half time and confirmed the three points midway through the second half, netting his seventh league goal of the season from respective returns of one key pass and seven shots.
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) - 9.35
Rounding off the Manchester City contingent, it was Riyad Mahrez's turn to lead the attack for Pep Guardiola's side this week and the Algerian did so impressively, having a direct hand in two goals. Mahrez netted on the stroke of half time after being picked out by Raheem Sterling and duly returned the favour, teeing up the winger to score past Sam Johnstone. Four shots, two key passes and one dribble helped Mahrez to his spot in the side with a WhoScored rating of 9.35.
Joining Mahrez on the frontline is Burnley striker Chris Wood, whose fourth league goal of the season was enough to seal a 3-2 win over Aston Villa. Wood netted with one of two shots and won five aerial duels in the entertaining win over the Villans to partner Mahrez in attack with a WhoScored rating of 8.12.
