Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold breaks Premier League record to make best U21 XI
Here we run through the best rated XI from the weekend’s action in Europe’s top five leagues of players aged 21 and under, with additional information about their Football INDEX share prices.
Goalkeeper: Adrian Semper (Chievo) - 8.05 rating
Football INDEX share price - N/A
Chievo have turned to youth since they were officially relegated from Serie A, with one eye on the team they will build next season. 21-year-old goalkeeper Adrian Semper was given his fourth league start of the season in Monday’s 2-0 defeat to Inter and he did his reputation no harm with a solid display despite the scoreline. Semper made eight saves to ensure the margin of defeat was not a huge one.
Left-back: Aihen Munoz (Real Sociedad) - 8.14 rating
Football INDEX share price - N/A
Aihen Munoz is one of two Real Sociedad players in the best rated XI after they inflicted Real Madrid with a 3-1 defeat at the weekend. The 21-year-old picked the ideal opponent against to garner his best WhoScored rating of the season, excelling at both ends of the pitch. The Sociedad left-back completed six dribbles and made three key passes, while also making three tackles and interceptions combined and three clearances.
Centre-back: Ibrahima Konate (RB Leipzig) - 7.80 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.01
Ibrahima Konate features in the XI once again after another eye-catching performance, this time against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. Leipzig denied Bayern the chance to wrap up the title with a game to spare by holding the Bavarian outfit to a 0-0 draw. Konate made three tackles and interceptions combined and six clearances to help Leipzig keep a clean sheet. Not only that, but the 19-year-old completed four dribbles, as many as his previous nine matches combined.
Centre-back: Ozan Kabak (Stuttgart) - 7.57 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.71
Stuttgart will have to play a relegation play-off to determine which league they will compete in next season and relegation would almost certainly see Ozan Kabak leave the club. The 19-year-old only joined in January but has demonstrated he belongs in top-flight football. Stuttgart shocked Wolfsburg 3-0 last time out, with the teenager a standout performer. Kabak won four aerial duels and made as many clearances to help Stuttgart keep their second clean sheet in three matches.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 8.20 rating
Football INDEX share price - £2.76
Trent Alexander-Arnold finished the 2018/19 Premier League campaign with 12 assists, a record for a defender in a single campaign. The England international supplied one of Sadio Mane’s goals against Wolves on Sunday was denied another assist by a deflection. Alexander-Arnold finished the season with six assists in his final six appearances in the league. He registered three key passes against Wolves in total, while also attempting one shot. He made five tackles and interceptions combined.
Left wing: Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad) - 8.51 rating
Football INDEX share price - N/A
Ander Barrenetxea is the youngest player in the XI at the age of just 17 but the highest WhoScored rated player after turning in a WhoScored Man of the Match display in Real Sociedad’s surprise win over Real Madrid. The teenager forward scored his first goal of the season on just his fourth start, while also completing five dribbles and registering three key passes. He also weighed in with six tackles and interceptions combined in a hugely impressive display.
Central midfield: Houssem Aouar (Lyon) - 8.32 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.71
Lyon took a major step towards securing the final Champions League spot in France with a 3-0 win away to rivals Marseille last weekend. Houssem Aouar was a standout performer against Marseille, as Lyon moved four points clear of fourth with two games left to play. The 20-year-old midfielder registered two assists in the victory, completed three dribbles and had one shot. Out of possession, Aouar made four tackles and interceptions combined.
Central midfield: Hamid Traore (Empoli) - 8.13 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.62
Successive victories have given Empoli a fighting chance of beating the drop with two games left to play in Serie A. They are now only a point off safety after winning away to Sampdoria on Sunday and Hamid Traore caught the eye. The 19-year-old midfielder assisted the first goal and was the WhoScored Man of the Match. He registered two key passes in total, completed two dribbles and made four tackles and interceptions combined.
Right wing: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.48 rating
Football INDEX share price - £3.07
Kai Havertz is spearheading Bayer Leverkusen’s charge to the Champions League, with the Bundesliga outfit only outside the top four on goal difference. Havertz has now scored in three straight league games and has six in his last six after netting in their 1-1 draw with Schalke on Saturday. Havertz picked up the star man award with his 16th league goal of the campaign. The 19-year-old hit the target with three of his four shots, completed 90.5% of his passes and registered four key passes - a personal best in a league game this season.
Striker: Johannes Eggestein (Werder Bremen) - 7.78 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.45
Werder Bremen followed up their 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund with an impressive 1-0 win away to Hoffenheim on Saturday to consolidate a top half finish this season. 21-year-old forward Johannes Eggestein made the most of just his 12th league start of the campaign to net the winner at Hoffenheim, while also hitting the target with two more efforts during his 86-minute display. Eggestein also completed two dribbles and won two fouls.
Striker: Jean-Philippe Mateta (Mainz) - 8.06 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.70
Mainz have done just enough in the last few months of the season to stay clear of the relegation fight, with young striker Jean Philippe-Mateta particularly stepping up when needed. The 21-year-old striker has been the goalscorer of late but was the provider in a shock 2-0 win away to Frankfurt on Sunday, registering just his second assist of the campaign. The Frenchman had four shots of his own and also won as many aerial duels. He registered three key passes in total and completed two dribbles.
