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Premier League Team of the Week - Rashford, De Bruyne, Pickford

Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week, including Kevin De Bruyne, Marcus Rashford and Jordan Pickford.

An enthralling and highly controversial weekend of Premier League action has come to a close, where goal-laden performances and VAR drama dominated the headlines.

League leaders Arsenal saw their 100% record come to an end in a 3-1 loss to Manchester United, but they remain ahead of Manchester City in the table after the champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa.

Tottenham Hotspur edged past Fulham 2-1 in their London derby to remain third, while Liverpool and Everton's Merseyside derby ended all square in an exciting goalless stalemate.

Chelsea came from behind to record a 2-1 win over West Ham United, who were on the wrong end of one of the many disputed VAR calls, while Brighton & Hove Albion thumped a hapless Leicester City side 5-2.

Seven goals were also to be had when Brentford demolished Leeds United by the same scoreline, but neither Newcastle United nor Crystal Palace could make the breakthrough at St James' Park in a 0-0 draw.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth came from two goals behind to sink fellow newly-promoted side Nottingham Forest 3-2, and Wolverhampton Wanderers got the better of Southampton 1-0.

Here, Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week for gameweek six.


DEFENCE

Everton's Jordan Pickford saves a shot from Liverpool's Darwin Nunez on September 3, 2022© Reuters

Fine goalkeeping performances were aplenty over the weekend, but not selecting Everton number one Jordan Pickford would have been criminal, as the England man kept Liverpool at bay with eight wonderful saves, including a stellar tip onto the crossbar from Darwin Nunez's volley at Goodison.

How Newcastle's game with Palace ended goalless was the question on everyone's lips at St James', but it was not for the want of trying by Kieran Trippier, who made six key passes and won all four of his ground duels during an assured performance.

A steadfast member of the Eagles' defence also weaves his way into our four-man backline this week, as Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen made an astounding 17 clearances, three interceptions and two blocks to thwart Newcastle, although he was counting his lucky starts that an early error did not lead to a goal for Alexander Isak.

While Pickford was undeniably on top form when he needed to be in the Merseyside derby, he was aided by the efforts of new recruit James Tarkowski, who came up with eight clearances, four blocks and three interceptions alongside Conor Coady, which could blossom into a promising partnership.

Finally, Ben Chilwell needed just 19 minutes of action to help turn the tide in Chelsea's favour against West Ham, as the left-back managed to squeeze home the equaliser from a tight angle before picking out Kai Havertz for the winning goal at Stamford Bridge.


MIDFIELD

Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring a disallowed goal on September 4, 2022© Reuters

Man City may have only left Villa Park with one point on Saturday evening, but the creative brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne was there for all to see once again, as the Belgian assisted Erling Braut Haaland with a pinpoint cross to the back stick, was unlucky not to score with a free kick that hit the crossbar and made a total of six key passes on the day.

Cherries fans were once again fearing the worst when Forest stormed into a 2-0 lead at the City Ground, but an absolutely sumptuous effort from Philip Billing sparked the Bournemouth comeback, as the Dane took a touch before unleashing a 30-yard screamer beyond Dean Henderson.

Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister could very well have rivalled Billing for the goal of the weekend award, but the Argentinian did not let his disallowed thunderbolt sour his mood against Leicester, who witnessed Mac Allister calmly slot a penalty down the middle before a stunning free kick capped off a fine display.


ATTACK

Brentford's Ivan Toney celebrates scoring their second goal on September 3, 2022© Reuters

Billing initiated the Bournemouth fightback at the City Ground, and an inspired Dominic Solanke would help the Cherries complete that dramatic turnaround on Saturday, firstly scoring a peach of a bicycle kick - albeit a deflected one - before pressuring Scott McKenna into a mistake and finding Jaidon Anthony for the winner.

Manchester United needed just three moments of quality to condemn Arsenal to a first loss of the campaign, and a reinvigorated Marcus Rashford was involved in all three, as his deft pass set up Antony for his maiden Red Devils goal before adding a second-half brace as the Gunners' defence and midfield was carved open.

An all-English attacking lineup is spearheaded by the weekend's most potent number nine, as Brentford talisman Ivan Toney scored three unique and wonderful goals in the thumping of Leeds - a confident penalty, a postage-stamp free kick and finally a 25-yard chip into an empty net with Illan Meslier in no man's land.


SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK

PL TOTW GW6

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-3-3): Pickford; Trippier, Andersen, Tarkowski, Chilwell; De Bruyne, Billing, Mac Allister; Solanke, Toney, Rashford


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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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