Matchday 7 saw Liverpool and Manchester City deliver another Premier League classic as the two championship favourites went toe to toe and put on a mesmerizing spectacle at Anfield. The likes of Mohamed Salah and Phil Foden lit up the league this weekend with their world-class performances, and here is our Man’s Life Team of the Week.
GK: Ederson (Manchester City)
Although Ederson was culpable for Liverpool’s opening goal from Sadio Mane by rushing out too early – the Brazilian goalkeeper reminded the world why he is considered the best ball-playing goalkeeper in football. Ederson’s distribution was near-perfect for City at Anfield, and the Brazilian nearly created a few goal-scoring opportunities for City with his impeccable long-kicks which released Phil Foden.
RB: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Cesar Azpilicueta has been Mr. Reliable for Chelsea for the best part of the decade, and the club captain delivered once again versus Southampton – creating three chances in the game and supplying the assist for the winning goal from Timo Werner.
CB: Joel Matip (Liverpool)
Joel Matip was Liverpool’s best defender throughout the 90 minutes, and the centre-back did extremely well against the trickery of Foden and Grealish, while also creating problems for City’s defence with his ball carrying and incisive line-splitting passes.
CB: Diego Llorente (Leeds United)
Leeds United finally got their first win of the season on Matchday 7, and centre-back Diego Llorente put in an excellent shift for Marcelo Bielsa’s side – scoring the only goal of the game with an instinctive finish past Ben Foster and helping Leeds keep their first clean sheet of the season.
LB: Marc Cucurella (Brighton)
Marc Cucurella has enjoyed the perfect start to life at Brighton since his summer move from Getafe and the left-wing-back created the most chances (4) in the game against Arsenal and was a constant threat down the wing.
CM: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
After dominating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Bernardo Silva put in another midfield masterclass for Manchester City against Liverpool at Anfield. The Portuguese midfielder was almost impossible to press in the middle of the park, and his constant energy and industry in midfield helped City control the proceedings for the majority of the game.
CM: Pierre Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham)
Pierre Emile Hojbjerg has played a more box-to-box role under Nuno Esperito Santo this season, and the Norwegian scored the opening goal for Tottenham against Aston Villa while also completing the most dribbles (5) and passes (59) in the match.
CM: Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton)
Everton took home a crucial point from Old Trafford, and Abdoulaye Doucoure thrived once again in central midfield. Defensively, Doucoure did extremely well to shield the Everton backline and the Frenchman also created three chances in the game, including the equalising goal from Andros Townsend during a lightning-quick counter-attack.
RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah scored one of the most iconic goals in modern Premier League history this weekend and was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch against Manchester City. Salah created Mane’s opener with a dizzying run and through-ball but scored the second himself with a Messi–Esque dribble into the box past three City defenders before slotting the ball in the back of the net off his weaker foot from an impossible angle.
LW: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
After dominating Liverpool at Anfield last season, Phil Foden put in another mercurial performance for City on Merseyside – as he continued to torment James Milner down the left wing and scored City’s equaliser with an emphatic finish into the side-netting.
ST: Hee-Chan Hwang (Wolves)
Hee-Chan Hwang has hit the ground running for Wolves after his loan move from Germany in the summer – and bagged a brace against Newcastle this weekend with two instinctive finishes into the bottom corner.
Manager of the week: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Although Manchester City couldn’t get the victory against Liverpool this weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the Reds away from home for the majority of the 90 minutes, and have elevated their championship status after taking four points at Anfield and Stamford Bridge in the span of seven days.
Shivaan Shah