Mo Salah, Marcos Alonso and Daryl Janmaat helped their teams maintain their perfect starts to the new season while champions Manchester City blinked first at Ruben Neves’ Wolves.
Team of the Week: Matchday 3
Formation: 4-3-2-1
Goalkeeper – Rui Patricio – Wolves
Newly-promoted Wolves held champions Manchester City to a 1-1 draw with a great contribution from Patricio. The experienced Portuguese stopper was in fine form, making some important saves.
His flying tip onto the bar from Raheem Sterling’s long-range strike in the first half was the pick of the bunch. He pips Ben Foster to the goalkeeper spot; two great keeper performances this week.
Right-Back – Daryl Janmaat – Watford
The former Newcastle man was in top form, a constant thorn in Crystal Palace’s side as he ran up and down the right-wing.
The Dutchman helped Watford maintain their winning start while grabbing an assist for Jose Holebas’ fluke goal.
Centre-Back – Shkodran Mustafi – Arsenal
Shkodran Mustafi had more clearances than any other Premier League player on Saturday, helping Arsenal regain their composure after going a goal down early.
The German World Cup-winner looked solid at times and will be hoping to form a long-term partnership alongside Sokratis.
Centre-Back – Sol Bamba – Cardiff City
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has come out and claimed that Sol Bamba is a better defender than Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk.
While that remains to be seen, the Paris Saint-Germain academy product has kept up his impressive start to the season. Cardiff managed their second goalless consecutive goalless draw.
Left-Back – Marcos Alonso – Chelsea
Marcos Alonso was the star of the show at Newcastle, causing the Magpies all sorts of problems with his runs on the outside and inside.
With one assist and a major hand in the winner, he takes his tally to four assists and a goal in just three games now this season.
Centre-Midfield – Joao Moutinho – Wolves
The experienced Portuguese playmaker was a major part of everything good Wolves did against Manchester City. He showed his creativity with some impressive passes and notched up an assist for Willy Boly’s goal with a delightful free-kick.
He could be a dark horse for one of the signings of the season under his compatriot and manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Centre-Midfield – Jean-Michel Seri – Fulham
What a way to get your first Premier League goal! Jean-Michel Seri came to Craven Cottage with big hype surrounding him with, reportedly, major clubs around Europe all interested before arriving at Fulham.
Fulham needed a boost early on against Burnley after two defeats to start the season and Seri’s strike from long-range did just that. It was a sensational hit and a marvellous performance overall.
Centre-Midfield – Ruben Neves – Wolves
The Portuguese star didn’t look out of place one bit against a midfield containing the likes of Fernandinho and David Silva. He is definitely at home in the Premier League. He took a few shots from long-range where he could’ve maybe kept his composure better but a very gutsy performance against the champions.
FC Porto’s youngest captain in history looks set to dominate midfields across England this year.
Right-Wing – Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
Perhaps not a vintage Mo Salah performance but it was a vintage Mo Salah finish that brought Liverpool their winner. He doesn’t need many invitations; absolutely clinical.
Left-Wing – Andre Schurrle – Fulham
Finally getting his groove on, the World Cup-winner in Fulham colours put in a great display for his new club, grabbing his first goal in his third appearance.
It was a goal his performance thoroughly deserved.
Striker – Aleksandar Mitrovic – Fulham
Two typical goal poachers’ finishes from Mitrovic as he put in a match-winning performance.
The Newcastle flop seems to have found his true home in England and, under compatriot Slavisa Jokanovic, who knows how far he may go at Craven Cottage?
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