Goalkeeper: Tom Heaton
Tom Heaton was one of Burnley’s best performers against Liverpool as he helped lead his side to a 2-0 victory. The English goalkeeper made 5 saves to keep the Reds out and keep a clean sheet. He also had 44 touches on the ball and claimed three crosses, continuing to always shut down Liverpool’s attacks. Rating: 8/10.
Centre Back: Jake Livermore
Jake Livermore has adapted to his role as a centre-half brilliantly so far this season and it has resulted in Hull City winning both of their opening matches. Livermore was a key figure for the Tigers at the back in their 2-0 win. He made 9 clearances, 5 interceptions, completed 100% of his tackles and made 3 blocks to help Hull keep a clean sheet. Livermore is forming a very interesting partnership with Curtis Davies at the back for Hull and if the two of them keep it up, the Tigers might turn out to be a very difficult side to break down this season. Rating: 8/10.
Centre Back: Curtis Davies
Two games, two team of the week appearances for Curtis Davies. Davies was fantastic at the back again for Hull City and was once again the main reason why they were able to beat their opposition and keep a clean sheet. The British defender won 3 duels in the air, completed 100% of his attempted tackles, completed 95% of his passes, made 2 blocks, 3 clearances and a staggering 11 interceptions, always getting his body in the way and shutting down attacks. Oh, and he even chipped in the other way with an assist for Maloney’s opening goal. Davies was excellent against Swansea and if he keeps this kind of form up, he’ll be one of the star defenders of the league season for sure. Rating: 9.5/10.
Left Back: Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw has been phenomenal since returning from injury and had another fantastic game on Friday to help Manchester United beat Southampton by a score of 2-0. Shaw won a penalty early on in the second half which was converted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But he was also brilliant in defense, making 5 clearances and 3 blocks. He also completed 86% of his passes, whipped in 2 crosses and helped United keep that clean sheet. If he can just avoid injury, this may be Luke Shaw’s year. Rating: 8/10.
Centre Midfield: Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba was unreal in his debut back at Old Trafford and Manchester United. He controlled the play, dictated the tempo, orchestrated attacks and linked perfectly between defense and attack just like every midfielder should. He was the epitome of what it means to be a central midfielder in fact, doing absolutely everything in the game. He was the pass master of the team, he was the playmaker, he was the lynchpin, the orchestrator, the tough tackling defensive midfielder. He was absolutely everything Manchester United needed him to be against Southampton. Pogba constantly won possession back for his team and then distributed it accordingly. The French midfielder was so confident, so comfortable on the ball, always urging other players to get forward so that he could be the distributor and orchestrator of United’s attacks. He had 103 touches on the ball, more than any other Manchester United player by 30. He also won 8 dribbles, just dangling his way through the opposition all game long and he was also a threat to score, taking 4 shots, 1 of which was an excellent opportunity to open his account. Paul Pogba put in a man of the match performance against Southampton and could not have asked for a better debut. Rating: 9.5/10.
Centre Midfield: Victor Wanyama
Tottenham weren’t brilliant against Crystal Palace on Matchday 2, but they were bailed out by a late header from Victor Wanyama. Wanyama had a superb individual performance in just his second Premier League game with the Spurs and is now starting to make claims for a spot in the starting XI permanently. He was an ever-presence in the midfield, having 78 touches, 3 dribbles and completing 92% of his passes for a total of 54 passes. He also helped out in defense with 3 tackles and 5 clearances to help Tottenham keep a clean sheet. It was a brilliant performance from Victor Wanyama as he led his new side to victory on Saturday. Rating: 8.5/10.
Right Attacking Midfield: Cristhian Stuani
On his Premier League debut, Christian Stuani netted 2 goals to give newly promoted Middlesbrough a 2-1 win over Sunderland. Middlesbrough weren’t absolutely fantastic in this match, but they had the quality of someone like Stuani to put the ball in the back of the net with two fine finishes. On top of his two goals, the Uruguayan midfielder also helped out in defense with 3 tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 blocks. It was a fabulous all-round performance from Stuani and as much as you have to credit the man for such a wonderful performance you also have to credit the manager Aitor Karanka for giving him the nod ahead of Adomah on Sunday and getting the win. Rating: 9.5/10.
Left Attacking Midfield: Shaun Maloney
Shaun Maloney came on as a second half substitute in the 73rd minute for Hull City and would go on to lead them to victory by scoring a goal and assisting Hernandez’s late goal to help the Tigers beat Swansea 2-0. The game was dull and tight until Maloney came on, opened everything up and led his side to victory. Rating: 8.5/10.
Striker: Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero didn’t have his best game ever, but he was still clinical in bagging a brace against the Potters. The Argentinean forward stepped up bravely to hammer home City’s first from the spot after missing two penalties midweek and then headed home his side’s second of the afternoon with a fabulous header from distance. Aguero put in another incredible performance, so much so that he proved that even when he’s not absolutely on top of his game and in full flow, he still manages to score goals. Rating: 9/10.
Striker: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
It’s only been two games but so far so good for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his goal to game ratio is better so far in the Premier League than it was in Ligue 1. Few could have imagined Ibrahimovic getting off to such a good, flying start to his Manchester United career and now he looks like the man that could lead United to the title. His link up play with Wayne Rooney was excellent on Friday night and it was that duo who combined for Manchester United’s first goal. Rooney put in a picture-perfect cross high in the air and Ibrahimovic met it with a powerful, thumping header after leaping high up in the air. Then late on after a clumsy tackle from Jordy Clasie on Luke Shaw, Ibrahimovic stepped up again and fired United to a 2-0 lead that was never overcome. Ibrahimovic has been brilliant in the Premier League so far and could not have asked for a better debut at Old Trafford. Rating: 9/10.
Striker: Andre Gray
Just when everyone was transferring him out of their Fantasy Premier League teams after just one game, Andre Gray goes on to lead Burnley to a stunning 2-0 victory over Liverpool. Gray was fantastic on Saturday, scoring and assisting a goal before half time. Gray only actually made 9 passes the entire game, but his influence on his side going forward was so superb that he just couldn’t be left out of this week’s Team of the Week. Without Gray, Burnley might not have won their match. Rating: 8/10.
Formation: 4-3-3
Player of the Week: Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba accumulated the highest WhoScored? Rating of the Week at 8.9 and is also The Mastermind‘s Player of the Week after completely dominating the show for Manchester United against Southamtpon. Pogba may not have scored or assisted a goal, but he was a constant presence in the midfield, touching the ball 103 times, having 4 opportunities to find the back of the net and completing 8 dribbles. Pogba could hardly have asked for a better debut back at Old Trafford and if he can continue this kind of form he’ll surely be an all-time Manchester United great.
Manager of the Week: Mike Phelan
Nobody expected Mike Phelan to beat Leicester and likewise nobody expected his side to beat Swansea City on Matchday 2. But somehow they managed to pull it off and are now tied on points for top of the table with 6 points. The game was tied 0-0 for 73 minutes, until Phelan threw on Scottish midfielder Shaun Maloney. Maloney soon after scored to make it 1-0 and then assisted Abel Hernandez who fired home a second to make it to 2-0. Phelan had a stroke of genius with this substitution and it allowed his side to pull off another surprise result.
So there it is! The Team of the Week for Gameweek 2 in the Barclays Premier League. Like what you read? Click the follow button for more team of the week every single week.
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