Matchday FM Team of the Week: Matchday Nine
- Chris Coughlin
- Oct 29, 2021
- 3 min read
Each week, Matchday FM pundit Chris Coughlin will bring you his Team of the Week from the top flight, as well as some honourable mentions who just missed the cut.
Goalkeeper - Lukas Fabianski (West Ham)
There were plenty of Hammers fans calling for Alphonse Areola to be number one when the French World Cup winner signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain but Fabianski has relished the challenge to retain his place this season.
His biggest contribution in West Ham's win against Spurs
Right-back: Reece James (Chelsea)
When I saw Reece James' name on the team sheet, I have a feeling the right-wing would score on Saturday.
Both James and Ben Chilwell had the freedom of Stamford Bridge all afternoon and both made it count emphatically either side of half-time.
It says a lot about Chelsea's squad that these two haven't been guaranteed starters this season.
Centre-back: Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
This was only Ibrahima Konate's second Premier League start but, barring an early mix-up which led to Bruno Fernandes' chance, he didn't put a foot wrong.
He's got pace, composure and brute strength as he kept Cristiano Ronaldo and co quiet.
Another impressive showing from the 22-year-old.
Centre-back: Kurt Zouma (West Ham)
Having gone down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, Zouma's move to West Ham looks to have given the Frenchman a fresh start.
His quality have never been in doubt and he showed it once again against Tottenham.
Left-back: Aaron Cresswell (West Ham)
No player has gained more assists from set pieces since the start of last season than West Ham's Aaron Cresswell and he was at it again against Tottenham.
His cross for Michail Antonio's winner was one of the best deliveries I've seen this season, it was impossible to defend.
Centre-midfield: Naby Keita (Liverpool)
I've defended the talent of Naby Keita more times than I can count, are we finally seeing his best form in a Liverpool shirt?
His opener at Old Trafford was clinical, his third goal of the season in all competitions and his awareness to set up Alexander-Arnold for Jota's tap-in showed his increased awareness.
Fortunately it looks like Keita didn't pick up as bad an injury as was first feared after Paul Pogba's horrendous challenge as the Guinea international finally looks set for some consistency in his Reds career.
Centre-midfield: Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal)
This lad is huge to both Arsenal's past and present.
It was a great delivery for Thomas Partey's first Gunners goal before finishing, ultimately fortuitously to give the Mikel Arteta's side an unassailable three-goal cushion.
Emile Smith-Rowe is a very, very talented footballer and I sense than an England call-up might not be far away.
Centre-midfield: Mason Mount (Chelsea)
The first of three Premier League hattricks this weekend.
Mount got the demolition of Norwich started with a fizzing low drive before rounding off the scoring with a retaken penalty and a tap-in for his first Premier League treble.
He even added a lovely assist with a beautifully weighted ball for Reece James to finish the game as a contest before half time, although Mount's opener had already done so.
Right-wing: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Just the five records broken by Mo Salah this weekend.
His first against Manchester United meant he became the Premier League all-time top scoring African player, moving ahead of Didier Drogba as well as extending his goalscoring run for the Reds to 10 games in a row as well as becoming the first player in Liverpool history to score in five successive away games.
But one wasn't enough for Salah. His iconic treble made him the first Liverpool player since Fred Howe in 1953 to score an away hattrick against Manchester United and the first visiting player to score a treble at Old Trafford in the Premier League era.
I'm running out of superlatives for him really.
Striker: Josh King (Watford)
This was quite a return to Goodison Park for Josh King.
The Norwegian made 11 goalless substitute appearances for Everton last season under Carlo Ancelotti but returned in ruthless fashion as he bagged a match winning hattrick.
Left-wing: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
For me, Phil Foden has overtaken Kevin De Bruyne to become Manchester City's most influential player.
He's unplayable at the moment and deserved his ultimately fortunate brace against Brighton before adding a brace to tally for Riyad Mahrez.
You really do get the feeling Foden is destined for greatness.
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