Team of the Week for EPL Matchweek 8: A surprising midfield lineup

Futsal News 22 oct 2024, 01:55
Luis Torres Luis Torres Dailysports's expert
Team of the Week for EPL Matchweek 8: A surprising midfield lineup PHOTO: ADRIAN DENNIS

The latest matchweek in the Premier League brought a number of surprises, including Bournemouth's shocking 2-0 win over Arsenal and Brighton's narrow 1-0 victory against Newcastle.

Leicester City thrilled fans by staging a dramatic comeback from 0-2 down against Southampton, winning with a last-minute goal in the 98th minute.

Meanwhile, Liverpool triumphed over Chelsea 2-1 in the marquee match, and Manchester City once again stole the show with a stoppage-time winner against Wolves, scoring in the 95th minute.

Here is Luis Torres' Premier League Team of the Week for Matchweek 8, arranged in a 4-3-3 formation:

Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)

The 22-year-old Dutch goalkeeper was key in Brighton's 1-0 victory over Newcastle, making 6 crucial saves to keep his side ahead.

Manager: Arne Slot (Liverpool)

While Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth masterminded a shock win over Arsenal, it's worth noting the Gunners played with 10 men from the 30th minute after Saliba's red card. Slot, on the other hand, tactically outclassed Chelsea in Liverpool's 2-1 win, solidifying his status as Klopp's perfect successor. His touchline passion and tactical acumen in a high-profile clash were just what the Liverpool faithful love.

Left-back: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City)

Gvardiol, a natural center-back, continues to thrive as a left-back under Guardiola. The Croatian opened the scoring in a tough match against Wolves and was immense defensively. Post-match, he even praised the Wolves’ high-tempo play, demonstrating his sportsmanship.

Centre-backs: Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth) & John Stones (Manchester City)

While Marcos Senesi might have had more to do defensively, Zabarnyi’s positioning and ability to thwart Arsenal’s midfield made him just as vital. He blocked crucial passing lanes and helped neutralize the Gunners' attack.
As for Stones, his introduction for the last 15 minutes helped secure another late victory for City. He’s becoming a defensive "joker," having already saved City in key moments this season, including his dramatic equalizer against Arsenal.

Right-back: Ashley Young (Everton)

At 39, Young is still putting in strong performances, this time on the right side of defense due to Vitaliy Mykolenko holding down the left. Against Ipswich (2-0), Young completed 4 tackles, won 1 aerial duel, and had a 79% pass completion rate, even getting a shot on target.

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham), Facundo Buonanotte (Leicester)

Anderson was Nottingham’s unsung hero in their win over Crystal Palace. The 21-year-old had a stellar game with 95% pass accuracy, 6 successful dribbles, 3 aerial duels won, and even contributed defensively with 2 interceptions.
Bissouma was outstanding in Spurs' 2-0 win against West Ham. He was not only solid defensively, with 5 tackles and 3 interceptions, but also got on the scoresheet. His passing was sharp, completing 93% of his attempts.
Buonanotte was the catalyst for Leicester’s comeback against Southampton, scoring the first goal and playing fearlessly despite the pressure. The 19-year-old Argentinian made 7 interceptions, took 5 shots, and completed 4 dribbles.

Left winger: Son Heung-Min (Tottenham)

Back from injury after missing three matches, Son returned with a bang, scoring a superb goal after brilliantly dribbling past defenders in Spurs' win.

Right winger: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Salah continued his brilliant form, notching a goal and an assist against Chelsea, proving once again that he’s the driving force behind Liverpool’s resurgence.

Forward: Jordan Ayew (Leicester)

Ayew deserves recognition for his match-winning performance. Coming off the bench, he secured a last-gasp victory for Leicester with a well-placed strike into the bottom corner, making him the standout forward of the weekend.

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