Bale batters Burnley as Tottenham quintet dominate Premier League team of the week
After securing their spot in the next round of the Europa League in midweek, Tottenham put four past Burnley on Sunday afternoon and dominate the team of the week following the comfortable victory. Representatives from Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton, as well as title contenders Manchester City, also feature as we near the business end of the campaign.
Sam Johnstone (West Brom) - 7.95
Sam Johnstone kept just his fourth clean sheet of the season in West Brom's contentious 1-0 win over relegation rivals Brighton on Saturday, with his solid rearguard showing enough to extend the Baggies' unbeaten run to three matches. Johnstone made six saves in all to keep the Brighton offensive at bay as he takes his place between the stick in the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 7.95.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 7.89
Liverpool ended a four-game losing run with a solid 2-0 win at basement boys Sheffield United on Sunday night to boost their top-four hopes. Trent Alexander-Arnold was unable to add to his three assists this season in Yorkshire, but it wasn't for want of trying as the right-back managed three key passes in the victory. Two tackles and two interceptions was enough for Alexander-Arnold to make the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 7.89.
Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham) - 8.25
Tottenham dominate this XI after their 4-0 win over Burnley with centre-back Davinson Sanchez the first of five representatives for the north London side. The Colombian has come under criticism in recent weeks, but he put in a fine shift at the heart of the defence on Sunday as noted in his WhoScored rating of 8.25. The proactive Colombian made 10 clearances and won 11 aerial duels in a solid showing against the Clarets.
Kyle Bartley (West Brom) - 8.11
The second Baggies representative in the team of the week is Kyle Bartley. The centre-back bagged his third league goal of the campaign in West Brom's 1-0 win over Brighton and his work off the ball helped Sam Allardyce's side to a vital three points. Indeed, Bartley made four clearances and two interceptions to land the WhoScored man of the match award and a place alongside Sanchez at the back with a rating of 8.11.
Rounding off the backline is Everton left-back Lucas Digne. Famed for his attacking quality from deep, it was the Frenchman's defensive work that helped him to a WhoScored rating of 7.64 this week as Digne made five tackles and two clearances to secure his spot in the best XI.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham) - 9.44
The second Spurs player in the team of the week is the best rated player from the weekend's action. Gareth Bale put in his best league performance to date following his move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Real Madrid, earning a WhoScored rating of 9.44 in the 4-0 win over Burnley. Bale had a direct hand in three of Tottenham's four goals against the Clarets, scoring twice and providing one assist, to land the individual award.
Lucas Moura (Tottenham) - 8.45
Of the eight goals Lucas Moura has scored this season, three have come in his last four outings with the Brazilian getting on the scoresheet on Sunday for just the third time in the Premier League in 2020/21. The Brazilian's goal against Burnley came from one of three shots, while an additional four successful dribbles saw Moura yield a WhoScored rating of 8.45.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.97
Kevin De Bruyne moved level with Harry Kane at the top of the assist leaderboard as he notched his 11th assist of the campaign in Manchester City's 2-1 win over West Ham on Saturday. That assist came from one of two key passes, while four successful dribbles against the Hammers sees the Belgian partner Moura in the middle of the park with a WhoScored rating of 7.97.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) - 8.85
Son Heung-Min rounds off the midfield having landed a WhoScored rating of 8.85 in Tottenham's 4-0 win over Burnley. The South Korean registered his seventh and eighth assists of the season against the Clarets, both of which came for Gareth Bale to score, with his brace of assists coming from seven key passes, the latter his best return in a Premier League match in 2020/21.
The sole Wolves player in the team of the week is dribble machine Adama Traore. The Spaniard was unable to play his part in breaking down this Newcastle defence, but he glided past opponents with ease as he completed 14 dribbles in the 1-1 draw, that a record in a match in Europe's top five leagues this season. Four key passes and three shots helped Traore to a WhoScored rating of 9.33 to nail down a frontline berth this week.
The fifth and final Tottenham representative in the team of the week is star forward Harry Kane. The England captain bagged his 14th league goal of the campaign against Burnley, hitting the back of the net with one of five shots, and he was unfortunate not to add to his assist return having made two key passes. Kane gave the Burnley backline a torrid time as he completed three dribbles in the 4-0 win to round off the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.65.
