El Ghazi the star as Aston Villa dominate Premier League Team of the Month
Aston Villa were unbeaten in December, winning three and drawing two, and are the dominant side in the Premier League team of the month. There is also room for Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham stars in the best XI from December...
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) - 7.52
Aston Villa have three players in the Premier League team of the month following a fine December that saw them go unbeaten, winning three of five matches. Emiliano Martinez is the first representative in the XI as he kept a clean sheet in four of five games, and made a commendable 22 saves, to make the team with a WhoScored rating of 7.52.
Mason Holgate (Everton) - 7.38
Mason Holgate is the first of two Everton players in the December best XI. The Toffees may have started 2021 with a 1-0 defeat to West Ham, but they ended 2020 impressively, going five games unbeaten, winning four. Youngster Mason Holgate put in a number of solid shifts for Carlo Ancelotti's side from right-back, winning the WhoScored man of the match award in meetings with Leicester and Sheffield United, to help make the team of the month with a 7.38 rating.
Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) - 7.72
Southampton were unfortunate to lose Jannik Vestergaard to injury last month, as the towering Dane excelled before succumbing to knee problem. Nevertheless, Vestergaard did enough in the games prior to his absence to yield an average WhoScored rating of 7.72 in a December in a month that saw him garner the WhoScored man of the match award in a 2-1 win at Brighton to feature in this XI.
Yerry Mina (Everton) - 7.51
Everton's second representative in the Premier League team of the month partners Vestergaard at the back. The Colombian scored his second league goal of the season in December, hitting the back of the net against Arsenal, while 21 aerial duels won was a solid return as Mina landed a WhoScored rating of 7.51.
Andy Robertson (Liverpool) - 7.33
Left-back Andy Robertson rounds off the backline. Liverpool endured a lacklustre end to 2020 as they were held to draws with West Brom and Newcastle, but an unbeaten December saw the Reds end the calendar year on top of the Premier League. Robertson registered two of his five league assists for 2020/21 last month, those coming in wins over Tottenham and Crystal Palace, with the pair of assists coming from 14 key passes, more than any other defender.
Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa) - 7.66
Having initially struggled to nail down a spot in the starting XI under Dean Smith, Bertrand Traore has become a key man for Aston Villa. The former Lyon man returned an average rating of 7.66 in December to occupy the spot on the right flank in the December team of the month as Traore hit the back of the net twice and provided one assist for the Villans.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.65
Kevin De Bruyne had a direct hand in three goals in December as he scored one and provided two assists, those coming in man of the match performances against Fulham and Southampton. The Belgian created more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities (6) than any other player last month to feature as Manchester City's sole representative with a WhoScored rating of 7.65.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 7.56
Joining De Bruyne in the middle of the park is Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes. No player had a direct hand in more goals than Fernandes (7) in the Premier League last month, while his four assists was more than any other player. Only Jack Grealish (25) made more key passes (20) than the Portugal international, whose solid showings were enough to garner a WhoScored rating of 7.56.
Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) - 8.02
With a WhoScored rating of 8.02, Anwar El Ghazi was our Premier League player of the month for December. No player scored more goals than the Dutchman (5), who also had more shots (24) than any other player in England's top tier last month as the winger did exceptionally well to nail down a regular spot in the Aston Villa starting XI.
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) - 7.48
The second Liverpool player to make the grade, Roberto Firmino had a direct hand in four goals in his six league outings in December. The Brazilian netted twice and provided an assist in Liverpool's 7-0 win at Crystal Palace having bagged a late winner against Tottenham, earning the man of the match award in both victories. Firmino's good form in December sees him feature with a rating of 7.48.
Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 7.32
December may have been a disappointing month for Tottenham, who won just one of five league games, but Harry Kane once again excelled on the Spurs frontline. The England international had a direct hand in three league goals in December, scoring in meetings with Arsenal and Crystal Palace, and was one of six players to win two WhoScored man of the match awards last month.
