Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Premier League Team of the Week - Alexander-Arnold, Bailey, Gravenberch

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 April 2024, 20:41
With the FA Cup semi-finals taking precedence, only seven Premier League fixtures were on the menu this weekend, albeit ones with crucial consequences at both ends of the table.

Arsenal have reclaimed top spot for the moment thanks to their 2-0 success over Wolverhampton Wanderers, although Liverpool remain on their coat-tails thanks to their 3-1 beating of Fulham.

Aston Villa's Champions League destiny remains in their own hands courtesy of their own 3-1 win over Bournemouth, but West Ham United's European ambitions suffered a devastating blow in a 5-2 beatdown against Crystal Palace.

At the other end of the division, Brentford ran riot in a 5-1 pummelling of Luton Town, Everton's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest was marred by controversy and an astonishing post-match social media post, while the basement battle between Sheffield United and Burnley saw the Clarets smash the Blades 4-1.

Here, Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week for the latest round of fixtures.

DEFENCE

On the back of two horrible howlers against Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion, Vincent Kompany kept faith in Burnley shot-stopper Arijanet Muric, who completed a heroic redemption arc in the success over Sheffield United with 10 saves. There was little he could have done about Gustavo Hamer's consolation either.

As Muric's exploits in his own penalty area made headlines for the right reasons, Clarets full-back Lorenz Assignon was a force to be reckoned with in the final third, jinking his way into the box and scoring via a deflected finish, before driving infield to set up Lyle Foster as Burnley kept their survival bid just about alive.

Owing to Assignon's brilliant Bramall Lane display, Trent Alexander-Arnold occupies an unfamiliar central role in our Team of the Week, but the Liverpool man simply had to be shoe-horned in. Surprisingly named in the first XI against Fulham after his energy-sapping display against Atalanta BC, the right-back opened the scoring with an inch-perfect free kick and also created one big chance to help the Reds put their miserable week out of their minds.

There is room for one out-and-out central defender in our rearguard, though, as Ethan Pinnock's return to the Brentford XI was a highly successful one; the Jamaica international easily outmuscled Gabriel Osho to head into the top corner while also making four clearances, one tackle, one block and one interception to steer the Bees further away from relegation danger.

Sergio Reguilon may only have a few weeks left in the red and white stripes, but the Tottenham Hotspur loanee put himself in the shop window with a stellar display of his own at Kenilworth Road. The Spaniard's corner for Pinnock was one of four chances he created on the day, while he also chipped in with five clearances, three tackles and two interceptions as speculation over his future rages.

MIDFIELD

As West Ham endured their worst-ever first half of football under David Moyes, Palace star Eberechi Eze was just one of several Eagles to help rip the Europa Conference League winners to shreds. The playmaker's goal and assist were both of the sublime variety - an emphatic bicycle kick before a cheeky yet simple pass through the legs of Kurt Zouma, which allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta to complete the rout.

The legacy of Everton's success over Forest will forever be the Tricky Trees' unprecedented post-game tweet - incredibly accusing the video assistant referee of holding Luton Town ties as their side were denied three penalties, but the exploits of Idrissa Gueye should not be forgotten. The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder broke the deadlock with a terrific low strike from range, while putting in four tackles and two interceptions to bring the Toffees one step closer to safety.

Speaking of well-taken goals from outside the area, Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch broke multiple ducks at Craven Cottage. By curling in an exquisite strike to restore the Reds' lead, the Dutchman opened his Premier League account and ended his side's two-week wait for another goal from open play, having gone eight halves of football without one.

ATTACK

Eze's fellow Palace jewel Michael Olise was certainly an honourable mention, and the Frenchman is unfortunate to be overlooked this week. However, Aston Villa's Leon Bailey was just too hot for Bournemouth to handle in the West Midlands, spraying a fantastic long ball to Morgan Rogers - one of six key passes he made on the day - and claiming the assist as the 21-year-old finished, before crashing in at the back post to hit double figures for the Premier League season.

It would have been an act of sacrilege to pick a Brentford-less attack after their destruction of Luton, where Yoane Wissa once again excelled in Ivan Toney's absence. Beginning the Bees' rout with a powerful first-time strike, the 27-year-old then got a lucky break of the ball in first-half injury time, but he quickly managed to sort his feet out to complete a well-earned brace.

Another London-based two-goal attacker continued his unexpected renaissance on Sunday, as Palace talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta made it seven goals from his last 11 games with a delightful double in the thrashing of West Ham. On the stretch, the 26-year-old managed to poke Olise's delivery into the net, before latching onto Eze's nutmeg pass, quickly adjusting his position and clinically finding the bottom corner, thereby scoring multiple goals in a Premier League game for the first time.

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-3-3): Muric; Assignon, Alexander-Arnold, Pinnock, Reguilon; Eze, Gueye, Gravenberch; Bailey, Mateta, Wissa

Top News

5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Chelsea's young attackers plying his trade on loan elsewhere has confirmed his desire to leave the club permanently this summer. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah achieved an unprecedented Premier League feat in the Reds' 4-2 success over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou was pleased to see his side look more like their usual selves in their 4-2 hammering at the hands of Liverpool at Anfield. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are sweating over the fitness of Eric Dier for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, while Raphael Guerreiro has been ruled out with an ankle issue. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool survive a late Tottenham fightback to keep their title hopes alive in a 4-2 win. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have revealed that central defender Harry Maguire will be out for approximately three weeks due to a muscular problem. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi enjoyed a record-breaking night in Inter Miami's 6-2 win over New York Red Bulls. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has said that his club will "try everything" to keep Jadon Sancho beyond the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Radu Dragusin's agent has hinted the Tottenham Hotspur defender could leave the club due to his lack of playing time. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Las Palmas attacker Alberto Moleiro. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be bidding to avoid an unwanted first when they head to Selhurst Park on Monday evening to tackle Crystal Palace in the Premier League. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged that his players must find a way to 'keep their momentum going' if they are to have a chance of securing European qualification after thrashing West Ham United by a 5-0 scoreline. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Joao Pedro scored a late winner to guide Brighton & Hove Albion to a narrow 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have risen into seventh position in the Premier League table courtesy of a 5-0 victory over West Ham United at Stamford Bridge. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have both been named in the Liverpool starting lineup for their Premier League showdown with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly planning to use Harry Maguire as a makeweight in a move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite during this summer's transfer window. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly keen to move for Liverpool's Darwin Nunez this summer, viewing the Uruguay international as the ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly 'still waiting' for offers to arrive for Antony, with the Red Devils yet to receive a 'concrete approach' for the Brazil international. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have made one change for Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United, while Mauricio Pochettino is able to welcome six players back to his squad. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to book their spot in the final of the Champions League when they welcome Bayern Munich to Bernabeu for the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic will make wholesale changes to his XI for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique will be forced into a defensive alteration for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Made to pay for missed opportunities in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain seek to right their German wrongs in Tuesday's return battle with Borussia Dortmund. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has heavily criticised his side for their performance in Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Catalan rivals Girona in Spain's top flight. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly miss out on the chance to sign Real Madrid centre-back Nacho this summer, with the Spaniard said to be preparing to continue his career in North America. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly keen to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager this summer, with the Dutchman potentially losing his job at Manchester United. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul vs. Kasimpasa (Sunday, 2.00pm) Two sides vying for a top-four finish in the Turkish Super Lig go head-to-head when Istanbul Basaksehir host Kasimpasa at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Farense vs. Estoril (Sunday, 3.30pm) Two sides separated by just one point in the Primeira Liga standings go head to head on Sunday as SC Farense play host to Estoril Praia at the Estadio de Sao Luis. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Berlin vs. VfL Bochum (Sunday, 2.30pm) Both aiming to take a massive step towards top-flight safety, Union Berlin and VfL Bochum will lock horns at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday afternoon in the Bundesliga.