The Premier League entered week-two this past weekend with 18 teams of the 20 in action. Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park on Monday to take on Crystal Palace in the last game of the game week.
Manchester City continued their domination of opponents with a convincing 6-1 win over relegation candidates Huddersfield Town. Chelsea scrapped to a 3-2 victory over London rivals Arsenal in the biggest clash of the game week while Spurs made light weight of new-comers Fulham to record their second successive victory of the season.
Else Where, Everton, Leicester and Brighton recorded their maiden victories this campaign with the later trouncing Man United 3-1 on Sunday.
Here are the 11 players that stood out for me in game week one in a 4:4:2 formation.
GK. Neil Etheridge (Cardiff City).
The Philippines international is already making a name for himself in the Premier League. Just looking at his Nationality sums it all up for anyone but then two penalty saves in two games make you wonder who the hell he is.
Against Newcastle United, Etheridge made six saves including a 96th minute penalty that ensured the Welsh side register their first point in the League this season.
RB. Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspurs).
After Serge Aurier produced a scintillating display in Spurs’ first game against Newcastle United, it was very hard to predict that World Cup semi-finalist Kierran Trippier would be starting the next game but he did. Trippier was so instrumental in the Spurs’s 3-1 win at home to Fulham, scoring from a direct free-kick to put his side 2-1 up and creating three chances.
CB. Steve Cook (Bournemouth).
Cook was phenomenal against West Ham this past weekend. He commanded the back-line like he has always done and scored the winner on top of assisting Callum Willson’s equalizer.
Eddie Howe will be counting on the big Center-Half to ensure that his side does not get dragged into the relegation scrap at any point this campaign.
CB. Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion).
What a performance by the big fella against Manchester United! The defender was outstanding, particularly having lost his accomplice Lewis Dunk through injury.
Despite conceding a late penalty, Duffy defended superbly without Dunk and got his first top-flight goal in their third successive victory over United at the America Express Community Stadium.
LB. Marcos Alonso(Chelsea).
It was one hell of a decision on who to pick between Marcos Alonso and Man City’s Benjamin Mendy after two stellar performances by the left backs. However, i had to go with Alonso who provided the assist for Chelsea’s opener against Arsenal, before scoring their winner in a 3-2 victory.
MF. Will Hughs (Watford).
Hughes made six tackles in Watford’s 3-1 win at Turf Moor; the most of any player for the Hornets. On top of the steal exhibited in midfield, he sealed the victory with the third and final goal for his team.
He may not be a finished product as per now but a very promising prospect for the near future.
MF. James Maddison (Leicester City).
I didn’t see a lot of Maddison in the Championship but I was impressed with his performance against Manchester United in the opening game of the season.
Capped his fine start to life in the Premier League with a goal as the 10-man Foxes beat Wolves 2-0 in a Midlands derby this past Saturday afternoon.
MF. David Silva (Manchester City).
With star-man Kevin De Bryne out for three months, it’s down to the Spanish little Magician to pull the strings in the middle for Pep Guardiola’s side and at the very first time of asking, Silva did that with perfection. He also scored his first ever goal in a Citizen’s shirt from a direct free-kick.
FW. Troy Deeney (Watford).
Mr. Watford was at it again this past weekend. Laying on the assist for Andy Gray to open the scoring and then putting his side 2-1 up in a game that they were highly tipped to win due to Burnely’s involvement in the Europa League last Thursday.
FW. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).
Sergio Aguero was at his deadly best against a Huddersfield side who looked outgunned, outclassed and left for dead in a 6-1 drubbing. He scored the first Hat-trick of the new season, his ninth in the league and 13th for City.
It is also worth noting that Aguero had only four shots on target in the entire game.
FW. Glenn Murrey (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Turns 35 next month but has never been better, as he showed by scoring and starring against Manchester United in a famous win. When his team needed him most, the tall Center Forward delivered as he held up play and won crucial free-kicks as Brighton ran down the clock.
