As both Manchester City and Arsenal were held to a draw at home by the visiting team, they lost their marginal advantage and Chelsea, the only team to keep a clean sheet this gameweek were first until Liverpool scored six goals past Watford and climbed to the top of the Premier League table after years.
Manchester United put up a good performance with their manager Jose Mourinho relegated to the stands and Burnley clinched a last-minute victory against Crystal Palace to rise higher in the league.
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After a total of 36 goals scored this week, here are the players who make it to Sportskeeda’s Premier League Team of the Week:
Goalkeeper
Victor Valdes
Even though the former Barcelona keeper failed to keep a clean sheet, he did make six excellent saves and some of them with a hole in his thigh! While only Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois kept a clean sheet this week, he didn’t really have much to do, whereas Valdes was kept busy all night at the home of one of the most feared teams in the league this season.
His team got away with a point right at the very end because he kept them in the game all night.
Defenders
Billy Jones
Sunderland did concede but they put up a stunning fight with 10 men as they found themselves with a surprising lead on Saturday evening. Billy Jones did some of the best defending of his life as the season’s first league victory loomed on the horizon. Inch-perfect tackles in the last leg of the game won his team much-needed three points which David Moyes needed a lot.
Michael Dawson
After going behind, Hull City put up a valiant fight and left with all three points after their captain Michael Dawson scored the winner. He made the most of a free-kick from Snodgrass and headed it past a helpless Foster. Dawson even did some great last-minute defending to hold onto their lead and finally win a game.
David Luiz
The Brazilian centre-back may not have been Antonio Conte’s first choice for a defender but the Italian seems to have wrought quite a transformation in him as he was the very essence of solidity in the Chelsea backline. He made sure Courtois had absolutely nothing to do all night and had the cheek to pass the ball around in his own box in front of the Toffees.
Marcos Alonso
Chelsea is yet to concede a goal ever since Marcos Alonso was introduced as a wing-back and it’s no surprise after you see the Spaniard’s work rate and sheer determination. With absolutely no lapse of concentration, he is as good providing protection as he is going forward and his goal against Everton was just further proof of that. His selfless style of play makes him a great team player.
Midfielders
N’Golo Kante
The French central midfielder has evidently upped his game since joining Chelsea and has settled into life under Conte. He was a tiny but fierce force that drove Chelsea’s game and allowed Everton no opportunity to gain any leverage over the home side. He played with a lot more freedom than the Premier League is used to seeing him from his time at Leicester and he is already one of the Blues’ most important players.
Emre Can
In the absence of Georgino Wijnaldum, Emre Can has proven to be equally effective for Jurgen Klopp’s side. After carving out a niche for himself in a team that goes all out to attack, the German midfielder increased the Reds’ lead with a cool finish in the final minutes of the first half.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba attracts his fair share of criticism but gives a glimpse into what he is capable of once in a while. He did exactly that against Swansea when he scored a stunning volley from outside the box. The shot was an amalgamation of power and unique skill and proved that when utilized in the right way, the French midfielder can make a world of difference.
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Forwards
Sadio Mane
Southampton must be envious of Sadio Mane’s current form as the Senegalese put in yet another stellar performance at home against Watford. His first goal was easy enough but the second goal from a header was almost hard to believe. And it wasn’t just his goals that were remarkable, his speed and agility made him a standout performer against the visitors and is surely one of Liverpool’s most valuable investments.
Eden Hazard
Hazard makes it to the team at the cost of excluding Liverpool’s Coutinho and with good reason. Involved in every one of Chelsea's five goals on Saturday, he was in rare spectacular form for any player in Europe. His two goals, both exquisite examples of individual talent, just goes to show his quality when allowed the freedom and space to play the way he prefers.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Not only did the Swedish star end his goal drought but also scored the 25,000th goal of the Premier League era. United supporters must have heaved a sigh of relief as Zlatan netted a brace to give his team a much-needed victory. Assisted by Rooney on both occasions, Zlatan’s first goal was a low shot and the second was aimed past a weak tackle from Angel Rangel which was incidentally the Swede’s 400th career goal.
Substitutes
Ashely Barnes
Burnley substitute Ashley Barnes gave the Clarets a last-minute victory as his team caught Crystal Palace on the break and he smashed a goal in from six yards out thanks to a great ball from Gudmundsson.
Bojan
After Stoke City gifted West Ham the lead through a Glenn Whelan own goal, substitute Bojan came on only to take advantage of a mistake from Hammers goalkeeper Adrian to score from a volley and salvage a point for his team.
Robert Snodgrass
Will Keane’s injury was a blessing in disguise as the Scottish international came on just before the half-hour mark and orchestrated the Tigers’ comeback in the second half. A convenient goal from 10 yards out and then a near-perfect free kick that allowed captain Michael Dawson to score with a header ensured that Hull City had finally shaken off their run of six consecutive defeats.
Manager
Jurgen Klopp
For weeks now, Klopp has proved his abilities as a top-class manager by turning the Reds into a ruthless machine of devastation and their game against Watford was no different. His message to his men appeared awfully clear as they laid the Hornets to waste at home.
