Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 12

This might be the most varied Team of the Week we’ve had so far this season with players from nine teams making the XI. Here’s the starting XI for matchday 12. 


By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert


Goalkeeper: André Onana 

Perhaps a surprise to many but Onana’s showing against Luton Town has earned him a place in the team. Manchester United claimed a 1-0 win to lift themselves into sixth position. 

Onana made four saves at Old Trafford on his way to an 8.1 FotMob rating. The 27-year-old also recovered the ball on nine occasions. A real confidence boost for the former Inter goalkeeper. 

Right-Back: Pedro Porro 

Porro ended on the losing side on Saturday afternoon as Spurs fumbled a 1-0 lead. Ange Postecoglou’s team conceded two goals in stoppage time in defeat to Wolves but the Spanish full-back still impressed. The 24-year-old assisted Brennan Johnson’s goal and created two chances throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch. 

He also won two of his four tackles and eight of his 15 duels to round off a a decent showing. 

Centre-Back: William Saliba 

The French centre-back caught the eye for Arsenal in their 3-1 win over Burnley. 

Saliba scored the second for the Gunners to put his name up in lights. But his overall showing was enough to justify his inclusion in this XI. He completed the most passes of any player in the match and found a teammate with 92% of his attempts. 

The 22-year-old also won six of his eight duels in total, playing a key role in limiting Vincent Kompany’s side to just one goal.

Centre-Back: Victor Lindelöf 

Lindelof was the unlikely match-winner for Manchester United against Luton. The Swedish centre-back scored just before the hour mark, reacting quickest in the penalty area to lash the ball home. 

He also completed the most passes of any player (107), won 100% of his tackles and ground duels while winning 60% of his aerial battles. 

Left-Back: Oleksandar Zinchenko 

The former City full-back really impressed for Arsenal, even getting on the scoresheet in their win over Burnley. 

Zinchenko won the most duels of any player in the match (14) and found a teammate with 87% of his 95 passes. He created a chance too and was successful in three of his five tackles. His showing at the Emirates earned him a FotMob rating of 8.9. 

Midfield: James Ward-Prowse 

Ward-Prowse really was the perfect signing for West Ham. The 29-year-old registered two assists in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest to take his tally for the campaign to five.

The former Southampton skipper also completed the most passes of any player (66), created five chances and finished with an Expected Assists total of 0.57. Defensively, he put in a shift too, winning four of his five duels in total. 

Midfield: John McGinn 

McGinn ran the show for Aston Villa in their 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The Scotland international scored, completed the most dribbles of any player (seven), was fouled the most times (seven) and won the most duels (15). 

He was relentless and really encapsulated exactly what Unai Emery wants from his team. The 8.7 FotMob rating was more than deserved. 

Midfield: Mario Lemina 

Lemina performed a similar role for Wolves in their comeback victory over Spurs. 

He scored the winner in the 97th minute but his overall play really allowed him to standout. The 30-year-old completed 88% of his passes, completed 100% of his dribbles, won 100% of his tackles and triumphed in seven of his nine ground duels. 

Forward: Mohamed Salah

Salah was back to his ruthless best for Liverpool in the 3-0 win over Brentford. The prolific wide forward had three shots and scored two goals to take his tally to 10 for the season. In the process, he scored his 200th Premier League goal.

His first was a curled effort into the far corner. His second was a rare header after Kostas Tsimikas had kept the ball in play and delivered a smart cross.

Salah is now just the second player to hit double figures this season and is three goals behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot. 

Forward: Dominic Solanke 

Solanke helped Bournemouth stun Newcastle United. The 26-year-old scored twice to give the Cherries just their second win of the Premier League season. 

It was a strange game for the forward. He attempted just 10 passes – so he was barely involved – but had four shots and created three chances. So when he was involved, something happened. 

The one-time Liverpool striker is now on six for the season and is averaging a goal every other game. 

Forward: Erling Haaland 

Another game, another double for Haaland. 

The Manchester City forward is now on 13 for the reason after netting twice in the 4-4 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He kept his calm from the spot to open the scoring and he slid in to give the champions a 3-2 lead just after the break. 

Haaland won the penalty, created three chances and had four shots in what is now considered a normal showing from the goal machine. 


(Cover image from IMAGO)


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