Brighton and Arsenal dominate Premier League Team of the Week
After a perhaps crucial weekend at both ends of the Premier League, we run through the standout performers from gameweek 25, with Brighton the dominant side after their ruthless 5-0 victory at Sheffield United. Also included in the XI are players from Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool) - 7.52
Ireland international Caoimhin Kelleher stood in for the injured Alisson for the second successive week, and the 25-year-old’s performance in the 4-1 win at Brentford was the best rated by a goalkeeper across gameweek 25. Kelleher made a total of five saves, while he also completed six accurate long balls, to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.52, his highest in a Premier League match this season.
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton) - 8.24
On Sunday it was Brighton who were on the right end of yet another thrashing for Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and the Seagulls also picked up only their third Premier League clean sheet of the season. Crucial to that feat was Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who won a total of six aerial duels, made three tackles, four clearances and three key passes, to land a WhoScored rating of 8.24.
Joining Van Hecke at the heart of defence is Brighton teammate and captain Lewis Dunk, who registered his first assist of the season when he headed down a corner for Facundo Buonanotte to lash home into an open net and put the Seagulls ahead. The England international also won three aerial duels, made two key passes, four accurate long balls and maintained a pass success rate of 94.5%, to post his highest rated performance of the season so far.
James Tarkowski (Everton) - 8.01
Rounding off the back three is Everton defender James Tarkowski, who put in a typically dominant defensive display in the Toffees’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday evening. The 31-year-old won a total of six aerial duels, while he also made two tackles, five interceptions and five clearances, to return a WhoScored rating of 8.01.
Simon Adingra (Brighton) - 8.90
After helping his nation to Africa Cup of Nations glory last week, Ivory Coast international Simon Adingra returned to club football in style on Sunday. The 22-year-old netted his fifth and sixth league goals of the season in the 5-0 thrashing at Bramall Lane, finding the target with two of his six shots. Like teammates Van Hecke and Dunk, Adingra’s performance at Sheffield United was his highest rated of the season so far (8.90).
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) - 9.13
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard registered a WhoScored rating higher than 9.00 for the second successive weekend when he both scored and assisted in the Gunners’ rampant 5-0 victory at Burnley on Saturday. Odegaard, who has now been directly involved in 11 league goals this season, also made three key passes and one successful dribble, to record a WhoScored rating of 9.13.
Pascal Gross (Brighton) - 9.15
The ever-reliable Pascal Gross stood out once more for Brighton at the weekend, with the 32-year-old making a whopping eight key passes, one of which found its way to Simon Adingra for the visitors’ fourth goal. That assist would mark Gross’ ninth of the season; only two players have registered more in the Premier League. The Germany international also completed an impressive 97.5% of his passes, as well as nine accurate crosses, to take home a WhoScored rating of 9.15.
Like club-mate Odegaard, Arsenal midfielder Kai Havertz also starred in the victory at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. The 24-year-old put the icing on the cake for the visitors, netting their fifth goal of the afternoon and his fifth of the campaign so far, while he also won a total of eight aerial duels and made one key pass, to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.57.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest) - 8.13
Former Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi scored in a third successive Premier League match as Nottingham Forest saw off West Ham at the City Ground on Saturday. Along with his stoppage-time strike, the 23-year-old also made a total of four key passes, the most he has made in a league game this season.
Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United) - 8.63
Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund made history when he became the youngest player to score in six successive Premier League matches, after his brace secured victory for the Red Devils at Luton on Sunday. Hojlund found the net with two of his three attempts on goal at Kenilworth Road, while he also won four aerial duels and made two key passes, to land a WhoScored rating of 8.63, his highest of the season so far.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) - 8.52
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins continued his electric form in front of goal this season when he bagged a brace in Saturday’s victory at Fulham. In doing so, the England international brought his scoring tally for the campaign to 13, earning a WhoScored rating of 8.52 for his efforts.
