🦁 Premier League Player of the Week: Derby decider and history maker | OneFootball

Liverpool claimed Merseyside bragging rights over Everton, Manchester United eased their woes with a slog of a win in the downpour against Chelsea and a last gasp Gabriel Martinelli moment of magic rescued Arsenal a point against Manchester City.

But which man was the standout from the Premier League action? Our Player of the Week is...

Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)

📸 Stu Forster - 2025 Getty Images

It was an easy decision this week.

When you are single-handedly delivering a derby win then you are without a doubt the main man from the weekend's games.

That is exactly what Ryan Gravenberch did when the reigning champions welcomed Everton on a new and slightly longer journey than unusual to Anfield for the Merseyside derby.

Liverpool have largely had to rely on late winners in the early stages of the current campaign but thanks to the Dutch midfielder's magic in the first half, there was no need to keep chasing the game in injury-time on this occasion.

He opened the scoring with just 10 minutes on the clock with a sublime finish that he made look so much easier than it was.

Catching a Mohamed Salah pass on the bounce from a difficult angle inside the area, his instinctual quick hooked finish seemed to catch Jordan Pickford completely by surprise as it sailed across goal and into the far corner.

Not long after that, he created what proved to be the winner with a perfect pass for Hugo Ekitike, who couldn't miss when played through on goal - calmly giving Gravenberch's ball the finish it deserved.

At the age of 23 years and 127 days, in doing so he became the youngest player to both score and assist in this fixture in the Premier League.

But this form isn't anything new and ever since Martin Zubimendi's failed moved to Anfield in the summer of 2024, he has made the most of that situation by stepping up and giving Arne Slot the influential No. 6 he wanted from within.

After shining in an attacking sense in the first half, the other impressive defensive side of his game came to the fore in the second when Everton pulled one back to set up a nervy finish but through it all, he remained a calm, composed head in the heat of battle, easing his side towards the finish line.

In a side stacked with star-studded talent who won the league last season and then added to it during the summer, other players often grab all of the headlines and limelight.

One of those men who often finds himself the target of such praise, compatriot and captain Virgil van Dijk, wanted to make it clear in the wake of Gravenberch's derby heroics that his performance was a surprise to nobody.

"It isn't just about this season. He has been playing like this from the moment last season started," he told reporters after the 2-1 win.

"He's unbelievable, so important to the way we play. You can see the amount of times I try to look for him. It benefits me and it benefits the team.

"He's in incredible shape and is in the form of his life. He has to keep going now, he's still young. The expectation will always be there for him but it is a nice challenge."

So far, it is certainly a challenge he is rising to.

📸 Stu Forster - 2025 Getty Images