Premier League Team of the Week – Simons, Cash, Cherki | OneFootball

It’s time for our latest Premier League Team of the Week, celebrating the finest performers from the weekend’s action.

Goalkeeper: Robert Sanchez – Chelsea

Continued his improvement this season. Five saves earned Sanchez a seventh clean sheet of the season at Bournemouth, with the Spaniard strong to keep out two fierce efforts from Antoine Semenyo. He has looked far more assured in a Chelsea shirt this season.

Right-back: Matty Cash – Aston Villa

Fired Aston Villa in front to kickstart a big win over leaders Arsenal. Cash caught Eberechi Eze sleeping at the back post to steal in and open the scoring with a fantastic first-time finish. It was a third goal of the season for Cash, who was a willing outlet for Villa all afternoon.

Centre-back: James Tarkowski – Everton

Excellent defensive display from the Everton vice-captain against Nottingham Forest. He made a mammoth 13 clearances, won five aerial duels, and bailed out Jordan Pickford with one recovery to clear from the goal-line. A towering presence.

Centre-back: Micky van de Ven – Tottenham

Dominated his duel with one of the most in-form forwards in the Premier League, in Brentford’s Igor Thiago. His pace and power were too much for the Brazilian, including one perfectly-timed challenge to stop the striker scoring on the hour.

Left-back: Tyrick Mitchell – Crystal Palace

There’s a healthy contingent of Crystal Palace players in Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up at the moment, with Marc Guehi, Dean Henderson and Adam Wharton all involved.

Tyrick Mitchell, who won two caps in 2022, is likely to be on the Three Lions’ radar again. In a problem position at left-back, there are not many as consistent as Mitchell. Against Fulham this weekend, he was superb, leading his teammates for duels won, take-ons and tackles.

Midfield: Bruno Guimaraes – Newcastle

Led by example and broke the deadlock against Burnley with an Olimpico, becoming the first Newcastle player to score directly from a corner in the Premier League era. It was a moment the Brazilian deserved, in a characteristically all-action performance.

Midfield: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Everton

Has really grown into his role at Everton. Nominated for November’s Player of the Month award, Dewsbury-Hall has been excellent again in the opening weeks of December.

He created the opener against Nottingham Forest when his delivery was headed in by Nikola Milenkovic for an own goal inside two minutes.

Dewsbury-Hall wrapped another effort off the post in a bright performance, before finally getting the goal his display deserved with a right-footed finish drilled through traffic.

Midfield: Xavi Simons – Tottenham

Is this the lift-off his Tottenham career needs? Xavi Simons is off the mark for Spurs and produced a match-winning performance to sink Brentford.

The Dutchman broke away to set up Richarlison for the opening goal, before scoring a stunning solo second. After initially losing possession inside his own half, the midfielder tigerishly won the ball back and drove forward to score. A performance to take real encouragement from.

Right-wing: Rayan Cherki – Manchester City

How fun is this guy to watch?

Cherki claimed an assist for Ruben Dias’ driven opener, but it was in the second half that the Frenchman came alive.

One fleet-footed run bamboozled the Sunderland backline before teeing up Erling Haaland for a chance. He eventually got his second assist of the afternoon for Phil Foden, with a gorgeous Rabona for the midfielder to head home. The tricks and flicks were all out for one of the league’s most watchable widemen.

Left-wing: Georginio Rutter – Brighton

A bright light for Brighton as the Seagulls snatched a late draw with West Ham. No player had more shots (6), won more duels (7), completed more take-ons (3) or drew more fouls (2) than Rutter, who netted his first Premier League goal of the season with a 91st-minute equaliser. It was a contentious goal, but one he richly deserved.

Forward: Hugo Ekitike – Liverpool

He has to play. After a recent mini-drought and back-to-back games on the bench, Ekitike returned to the Liverpool side and scored twice in their 3-3 draw at Leeds.

The Frenchman’s first was a clinical finish before displaying a striker’s instinct to slide in a second. He’s been Liverpool’s biggest threat this season, and Arne Slot can not keep him sidelined – no matter how much Alexander Isak cost.

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