Premier League Team of the Month: Manchester United and Manchester City stars feature

Here we run through the first best rated monthly XI of 2019 in the Premier League.

Goalkeeper : Ben Foster (Watford) - 7.46 rating

Ben Foster has made a thoroughly consistent start to the new year. The Watford goalkeeper garnered WhoScored ratings above 7.00 in all four of his league appearances in January. The 35-year-old kept at least four more saves than any other Premier League goalkeeper last month (22), while also keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Burnley.

Right-back: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester) - 7.86 rating

Ricardo Pereira continues to prove one of the best pieces of business conducted by any Premier League club this season. The versatile full-back started 2019 with a WhoScored Man of the Match display against Everton and registered two assists in four league outings in total. In fact, no defender registered more key passes in the Premier League than the 25-year-old last month (8). Moreover, Pereira also completed the most dribbles in the division (17).

Centre-back: Jan Bednarek (Southampton) - 7.95 rating

Few players have benefitted from a change of manager more this season than Southampton’s Jan Bednarek. The Poland international couldn’t get in the team under Mark Hughes but is now one of the first names on the team-sheet under Ralph Hasenhuttl. Bednarek finished January with three straight WhoScored Man of the Match awards, which only two other players have managed in the Premier League all season.

Centre-back: Steve Cook (Bournemouth) - 7.53 rating

Bournemouth finished January with successive clean sheets, including one in their thumping 4-0 win over Chelsea in midweek. Steve Cook, who now faces competition from January signing Chris Mepham, played an integral part at the back for the Cherries. The 27-year-old won more aerial duels than any other defender in the Premier League (27), while making as many clearances to alleviate danger in Bournemouth's penalty area.

Left-back: Danny Rose (Tottenham) - 7.72 rating

Danny Rose finally looks to be getting back to his best form at Tottenham after what has been a tough two years returning from a serious knee injury. The England international rounded off January with the assist for Fernando Llorente’s dramatic late winner against Watford on Wednesday. In fact, only Tottenham team-mate Kieran Trippier (7) completed more cross (excluding corners) in the Premier League than Rose last month (5).

Right midfield: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 7.66 rating

Despite a disappointing finish to the month, Raheem Sterling was generally in irresistible form for Manchester City in January. Sterling won the WhoScored Man of the Match award in two of his four league appearances. The England international scored his 10th goal of the campaign and also took his tally for assists to seven last month. Furthermore, only two players had more touches in the opposition penalty area than Sterling (31) and only two players completed more dribbles than the 24-year-old (15).

Central midfield: Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 7.62 rating

Paul Pogba has spearheaded Manchester United’s resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and was pivotal during their unbeaten run last month. The 2018 World Cup winner has benefited immediately from being given greater license to attack, scoring or assisting in three of United’s four Premier League matches last month. Furthermore, only team-mate Marcus Rashford hit the target as many times as Pogba (both 10) in the Premier League in January.

Central midfield: Joao Moutinho (Wolves) - 7.62 rating

Joao Moutinho has registered six assists in the Premier League this season and four of those have come in his last two Premier League appearances. The 32-year-old played an instrumental part in Wolves’ January run that saw them finish last month with successive victories. Moutinho registered at least two more assists than any other Premier League player, with his four assists coming from just seven key passes. Not only was the Portuguese Wolves’ main creative outlet last month, but only Aaron Wan-Bissaka (17) completed more tackles than the Moutinho (15) of all Premier League players.

Left midfield: Leroy Sane (Manchester City) - 7.58 rating

Like team-mate Raheem Sterling, Manchester City’s final game in January did not showcase their best skills but it was an otherwise strong month for Leroy Sane and Co. The German winger played a direct hand in four goals in four games last month to take his tally for the season to eight goals and nine assists in the Premier League.

Striker: Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) - 7.84 rating

Despite representing South Korea at the Asian Cup last month, Son Heung-Min only missed one Premier League game and marked his return with a WhoScored Man of the Match display in a 2-1 win over Watford in midweek. The 26-year-old played a direct hand in three goals in his three league appearances and Tottenham won all of those games. With Harry Kane out for the rest of February, Son will be key to their chances of consolidating third place.

Striker: Joshua King (Bournemouth) - 8.02 rating

Bournemouth striker Joshua King was our player of the month in the Premier League for January after finishing it with a bang. The 27-year-old has won successive WhoScored Man of the Match awards and has played a direct hand in four goals in those games. He put Chelsea to the sword in midweek after scoring and assisting three of Bournemouth’s four goals. Indeed, no player scored more clear-cut chances in the month of January than King (3) in the Premier League.