Ronaldo and Lukaku complete Premier League team of the week takeover
Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return to Manchester United with a brace in their 4-1 win over Newcastle. However, it is Chelsea who dominate the team of the week on the back of their 3-0 win over Aston Villa, while stars from Manchester City and Liverpool also make the cut in gameweek four.
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) - 8.66
Edouard Mendy is the first of three Chelsea players to feature in the Premier League team of the week after their 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Mendy was routinely called upon to deny this plucky Villa side, making a total of six saves in the victory at Stamford Bridge as he kicks off the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.66.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 8.41
Liverpool's 3-0 win at Leeds was overshadowed by Harvey Elliott's serious ankle injury, but the Reds performed well to secure a comfortable victory at Elland Road. Trent Alexander-Arnold was on hand to register his second assist of the season, teeing up Mohamed Salah's 100th Premier League goal of his career, that coming from one of five key passes - only two players made more in gameweek four - to help the right-back to a WhoScored rating of 8.41.
Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) - 7.92
Southampton were backed to struggle against high-flying West Ham over the weekend, but held firm to secure a point at St. Mary's. Mohammed Salisu has become a first team regular following a debut season in England disrupted by injury and he put in another man of the match shift, his second of 2021/22, to help Saints to a result against the Hammers as eight clearances, four interceptions and two tackles helped the 22-year-old to a WhoScored rating of 7.92.
Michael Keane (Everton) - 7.86
Partnering Salisu at the heart of the defence is the first of two Everton players following their 3-1 win over Burnley on Monday night. Michael Keane scored the equaliser at Goodison Park, that coming from his only effort on goal, and was sound defensively, making five clearances, three interceptions and one tackle to contribute towards his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 7.86.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United) - 7.58
Rounding off the defence is the first of two Manchester United representatives. Luke Shaw registered his first assist of the Premier League season on the hour mark, setting up Cristiano Ronaldo's second in their 4-1 win over Newcastle. That assist came from one of four key passes, while the Magpies enjoyed little luck down their right flank as Shaw managed two tackles to yield a WhoScored rating of 7.58.
Andros Townsend (Everton) - 8.33
The second Everton player in the side, Andros Townsend bagged his first league goal of the season in their 3-1 win over Burnley, finding the top corner with a thundering effort on Merseyside. Townsend was on hand to provide the assist for Keane's goal on the hour mark, with those respective returns coming from two shots and two key passes. With additional returns of two interceptions and one tackle, the 30-year-old is good value for his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 8.33.
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) - 8.72
A criticism of Mateo Kovacic has been his lack of output in the final third, yet he has on hand to score his second Premier League goal of his career in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, netting with one of two shots. The Croat also provided the assist for one of Romelu Lukaku's two goals at Stamford Bridge, that coming from his only key pass, while two dribbles and two tackles sees Kovacic feature in the middle of the park with a WhoScored rating of 8.72.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) - 8.37
With a WhoScored rating of 8.37, Bernardo Silva joins Kovacic in midfield in the Premier League team of the week. The Portugal international was heavily linked with a move away from Manchester City over the summer, yet has gone on to start three of four league matches in 2021/22. Silva scored the decisive goal against Leicester on Saturday, finding a way past Kasper Schmeichel with one of three shots, and was unfortunate not to add an assist as he made three key passes in the 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium.
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) - 8.65
After a handful of sub-par displays in a Crystal Palace shirt, Wilfried Zaha put in a storming performance in their 3-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday. Zaha opened the scoring on home turf, netting past Hugo Lloris from the spot, that coming from one of four shots in the victory. The Ivorian also managed an assist in the London derby, setting up Odsonne Edouard to make a huge impact from the bench, as three key passes and six dribbles saw him garner a WhoScored rating of 8.65.
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) - 8.86
Romelu Lukaku is the Premier League player of the week as he managed a WhoScored rating of 8.86 in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Aston Villa. The Belgian hit the back of the net with his two shots on Saturday to take his tally for the season to three. Lukaku also won three aerial duels and returned a 100% pass success rate to land the individual award.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 8.61
Marking his return to Manchester United with a brace, Cristiano Ronaldo partners Lukaku on the frontline. This was the strike force in the 2020/21 Serie A team of the season and early signs indicate that the pair will go toe-to-toe in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot. Only Sadio Mane (10) managed more shots than Ronaldo (6) in gameweek four as the 36-year-old landed the WhoScored man of the match award on his return to Old Trafford with a rating of 8.61.
