🦁 Premier League Player of the Week: Change of scenery works wonders | OneFootball

Liverpool suffered their first loss of the season with time up at Crystal Palace, Arsenal pulled off a late show of their own in Newcastle and Manchester United's misery continued with defeat at Brentford.

But who was the standout star of the Premier League weekend?

Sean Longstaff (Leeds United)

📸 Stu Forster - 2025 Getty Images

It is Leeds' 2-2 draw with Bournemouth we're looking at for the best performance from the latest round of action.

That came in the home side's engine room where Longstaff came to the fore for the newly-promoted side with his finest display yet for his new side.

Some eyebrows were raised in the summer when Daniel Farke's side opted to pay £12m plus add-ons for the Newcastle United academy product - several pundits openly questioning the wisdom of that decision.

But if he can keep producing performances like this, it will prove to be money well spent.

He earned his side their point with a goal and an assist - with his goal in particular being a real beauty, firing a fantastic half-volley in off the woodwork.

Outside of that impact in the final third, he was impeccable in his midfield duties too, showcasing an intelligent range of passing and not shirking against his defensive responsibilities against a Bournemouth side who have ran roughshod over many midfields with their intensity.

No player anywhere else in Europe's top five leagues last weekend registered more key passes than Longstaff's seven against the Cherries and where the action occurred, Leeds' new number eight was never far behind.

Last season, Ao Takana shone for the Yorkshire giants in midfield (deservedly winning Player of the Year) but after this showing from the 27-year-old, he has undoubtedly won the starting jersey on a regular basis and may keep the Japanese ace out of the team.

However, the player himself isn't getting too carried after one stellar showing and is well aware of his need to make sure he backs it up on a consistent basis.

"I think to come here and play every week is something that I definitely don’t take for granted and looking to do that for as long as possible," he told LUFC TV.

Playing time had been difficult for Longstaff to come by at his hometown club in recent years after Newcastle's newest arrivals in that area of the park.

This is perfect proof that sometimes a change of scenery, no matter how difficult it may be to leave your comfort zone, can be the best thing for all concerned.

📸 Ed Sykes - 2025 Getty Images