Former Chelsea star joins current Blues trio in Premier League team of the week
West Brom and Fulham joined Sheffield United in dropping into the Championship over the weeked as they lost to Arsenal and Burnley, respectively. The latter pair are represented in the Premier League team of the week, so too are Chelsea following their 2-1 win at Manchester City on Saturday evening.
Burnley relegated Fulham on Monday night as the Clarets came away from Craven Cottage with all three points in a 2-0 win. They were made to work for victory, though, with Nick Pope the first of three Burnley players to feature. Three saves and four high ball claims helped Pope to a clean sheet and a WhoScored rating of 8.11.
Matthew Lowton (Burnley) - 7.97
Continuing the Clarets trend, Matthew Lowton was solid from right-back in west London, as evidenced in his WhoScored rating of 7.97. Lowton's work off the ball ensured Fulham enjoyed rotten luck down their left as the Clarets right-back made six clearances, four interceptions and one tackle to make the side.
James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 8.58
Rounding off the Burnley trio is centre-back James Tarkowski, whose WhoScored rating of 8.58 at Craven Cottage was enough to land the man of the match award. The dominant centre-back won 10 of his 14 contested aerial duels and was on hand to mop up any danger at the back as he made 11 clearances and three tackles.
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) - 7.95
In a Champions League final dress rehearsal, it was Chelsea who emerged victorious, securing a 2-1 win at Manchester City to further delay their title triumph. The experienced Cesar Azpilicueta was solid in defence once more as he made six tackles, a personal record in a Premier League match this season, and three clearances. The 31-year-old also notched his second league assist of the campaign, providing for Hakim Ziyech to draw Chelsea level, and return a WhoScored rating of 7.95.
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) - 8.12
The second of three Chelsea players in the team of the week completes the defence. Marcos Alonso bagged his second league goal of the campaign in injury time at the Etihad Stadium to secure all three points for the Blues. That goal came from one of two shots as the Spaniard got forward well, completing two dribbles and creating two goalscoring chances, to help make the side with a WhoScored rating of 8.12.
Willian has endured a mixed debut season with Arsenal, but was at least on hand to bag his first league goal for the Gunners in Sunday's 3-1 win over West Brom to relegate the Baggies. The Brazilian netted with one of two shots in the victory and could have had an assist, too, having mustered four key passes in a man of the match display that yielded a WhoScored rating of 8.18.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) - 9.18
With a WhoScored rating of 9.18, Eberechi Eze is the Premier League player of the week. The Crystal Palace star had a direct hand in both goals in their 2-0 win over Sheffield United, providing the assist for Christian Benteke to put the Eagles ahead after two minutes before adding his first and Palace's second with two minutes to go. An additional five successful dribbles means Eze is good value for his award.
The third and final Chelsea player to feature joins Eze in the middle of the park. Hakim Ziyech may not have made the ideal impact supporters had hoped upon his arrival from Ajax, but the Moroccan scored his second league goal of the season at Manchester City on Saturday, and his second goal against the Cityzens in the space of a month. Ziyech found a way past Ederson with one of three shots and was tidy in possession, returning a pass success rate of 91.2%, to make the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 8.28.
After a nine-game goal drought, Sadio Mane has now scored twice in his last three Premier League outings, bagging his ninth of the season in Liverpool's 2-0 win over former employers Southampton on Saturday. Mane was difficult to stop at Anfield in the victory as he completed four dribbles and he could have had an assist, too, as he managed three key passes to nail down the left wing spot in the side with a WhoScored rating of 8.49.
Callum Wilson (Newcastle) - 8.83
The game of the weekend came on Friday night as Newcastle secured their Premier League safety in an entertaining 4-2 win at Leicester. Callum Wilson bagged a brace for the fourth time this season in the triumph, netting with two of five shots in the victory. The Newcastle forward's WhoScored rating of 8.83 was his best in a Premier League match following his move to St. James' Park.
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) - 8.72
Joining Wilson on the frontline is Crystal Palace powerhouse Christian Benteke. The towering Belgian put the Eagles ahead after just two minutes at Sheffield United on Saturday, that his seventh league goal of 2020/21. Benteke dominated in the air, winning 12 of Crystal Palace's 19 aerial duels at the Blades to round off the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 8.72.
