Matchday FM Team of the Week: Matchday One

The Premier League was back with a bang this weekend with 34 goals across the ten games played, the second most for the opening matchday of the competition as full stadiums returned for the first time since March 2020.

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: David Raya - Brentford

The promoted Bees got off to the perfect start on their return to the top flight after 74 years away and goalkeeper David Raya was a huge part in Friday's deserved victory over Arsenal.

The former Blackburn & Southport shot-stopper made four saves against the Gunners, including a sensational late parry to deny Nicolas Pepe at his near post.

Brentford will need heroes all over the pitch this season if they are to survive their first Premier League campaign but they have a competent number one between the sticks.

Right back: Japhet Tanganga - Tottenham Hotspur

What a performance this was against Raheem Sterling & Jack Grealish, two of the men who helped to light up the summer for England en route to the European Championship final.

I remember Tanganga's Premier League debut in early 2020 against Liverpool and he was clearly a promising defender at that stage.

It's been a frustrating time for him since then, having to compete with Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty for the right-back berth at Spurs especially when it comes to games where Tottenham will expect to have more of the ball, but if he continues to perform like he did on Sunday then Nuno can't help but be impressed.

Centre back: Trevoh Chalobah - Chelsea

It's been a dream week for the 22-year-old who appears to have emerged from nowhere to provide Chelsea with a genuine option for their back line.

Chalobah followed up an impressive showing in Wednesday's Super Cup triumph over Villareal in Belfast with a composed display against Crystal Palace, even if it has to be said that he will surely face tougher tests this season.

He capped off his week with a stunning low drive from long range that was too hot for Vicente Guaita to keep out. A superb way to round off a first senior week in Chelsea colours for the young man.

Centre back: Ethan Pinnock - Brentford

It's been a long road to the top flight for the former Dulwich Hamlet defender but, even after the opening day, Friday's victory must've made all the hard work worth it for Ethan Pinnock.

Whilst it's correct to say that Arsenal were without their two biggest threats in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang & Alexandre Lacazette, Pinnock was excellent against the highly rated Florian Balogun as he marshalled the home defence superbly.

He can even claim the assist for Sergi Canos' historic opening goal to cap off an impressive night's work.

Left back: Marcos Alonso - Chelsea

Chelsea's forgotten man until the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, Marcos Alonso has always had an eye for goal and he showed that yet again on Saturday.

Many are tipping the Blues to be the closest challengers to Manchester City's crown and the Spaniard got the Champions League holders off to the perfect start with a superb first-half free-kick - no defender has scored more Premier League goals since Alonso arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2016 from Fiorentina.

With Ben Chilwell waiting in the wings after returning from holiday following the Euros, this was Alonso's chance to stake his claim for the left-wingback spot and he took it emphatically.

Midfielder: Oliver Skipp - Tottenham Hotspur

I've got to say that after the first 10 minutes of Tottenham's win against Manchester City, Oliver Skipp was nowhere near this team selection. In fact, he arguably couldn't have been further away.

The Tottenham youth product's start to the game gave the impression that he was out of his depth after being thrown in against the Premier League champions but he grew into the game with remarkable maturity.

He was given the task of assisting Tanganga in keeping Sterling and Grealish quiet as well as nullifying the threat of Ilkay Gundogan and, ultimately, he did so with great effect.

Midfielder: Paul Pogba - Manchester United

It's going to be an interesting year for Paul Pogba at Old Trafford with the World Cup winner looking set to leave on a free transfer in 2022 after the expiration of his contract.

Some may question his commitment to the cause at Manchester United as a result but you cannot question his quality, especially not when he gained four assists in Saturday's 5-1 win against Leeds United, one more than he managed in the whole of last season.

The variety of assists was impressive as well, in particular his inch-perfect pass into the path of Mason Greenwood who went on to finish expertly. The beauty of Pogba in this system is that he is prepared to play deeper, allowing Bruno Fernandes to operate do effectively in the number 10 role.

When Pogba performs at the level we all know he can, there aren't many better around for my money.

Midfielder: Bruno Fernandes - Manchester United

The star man from the opening day, what a start to the season for Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese has firmly established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in the league since arriving in early 2020 and that reputation was only enhanced by his treble against Leeds.

His first showed superb timing to latch onto Paul Pogba's dinked pass before blasting the ball through Illan Meslier before it trickled over the line.

His second was a matter of composure as he once again collected a Pogba pass before cutting inside on his left foot and driving low with the Leeds defence unable to prevent his show from crossing the line.

Finally, the goal that secured his first Premier League match ball was emphatic as he volleyed home a lovely raking pass from Victor Lindelof from inside the box. All three goals suggested a potential change of role for Fernandes this season, breaking from deep to become more of a primary goal threat. Time will tell.

Right wing: Mohamed Salah - Liverpool

Record breaker. History maker. What more can you say about Mo Salah?

In similar fashion to Fernandes, the Egyptian will be crucial to any title hopes his side have this campaign and he showed that he is ready to deliver.

Salah provided two assists before his record-breaking moment as Diogo Jota & Roberto Firmino got Liverpool up and running for the new campaign.

But Mo's moment came on 74 minutes as he calmly curled home after Norwich failed to clear a corner. That goal made Salah the first player in the Premier League era to score for five consecutive opening days.

Where would Liverpool be without him?

Left wing: Richarlison - Everton

It's been an incredibly busy summer for Richarlison but that didn't stop the Blues star from putting in another superb attacking display on Saturday.

It was a lacklustre first half from the Toffees at Goodison Park as Southampton edged in front with a debut goal from Adam Armstrong but, after the break, Rafa Benitez's men stormed back.

Richarlison showed predatory instincts to volley home Andros Townsend's cushioned header before delivering a perfect cross for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to dive and convert.

A Copa America winner and an Olympic Gold medallist, Richarlison's form will be crucial to Everton's hopes this season and he's clearly up for the fight.

Striker: Michail Antonio - West Ham United

Despite his penalty miss, Michail Antonio did more than enough to warrant a place in the team of the week.

West Ham's only striker is under enormous pressure to put his injury woes behind him and he has proven on more than one occasion just how effective his is when fit.

His assist for Said Benrahma was as inch perfect as his own finish was explosive to the Algerian's through ball to seal the Hammers' 4-2 win at St James' Park.

The real test for Antonio and co will come from September as they embark on their first ever European group stage campaign.

Honourable mentions:

Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker - Liverpool

In truth, other than David Raya, there weren't many goalkeeping performances that caught my eye over the weekend so I've gone for Alisson for his remarkable late stop to keep Liverpool's clean sheet at Carrow Road,

It looked for all the world that Norwich would claim their first goal back in the top-flight when the ball fell to Ben Gibson with the goal gaping only for the Brazilian to deny him at close range.

Alisson recently committed his long-term future to the Reds as well, this was just one of many reasons why keeping him at Anfield was key for Jurgen Klopp.

Defender: Sergi Canos - Brentford

One of the few Brentford players with any sort of Premier League experience at all was the man who will forever be in Bees folklore after ending their 74-year wait for a top flight goal.

Canos, who made one appearance for Liverpool at the end of the 2015/16 season, gave the rest of the Premier League a taster as to what they can expect from Thomas Frank's side as he cut inside from the left wing to blast the ball past Bernt Leno at his near post.

Playing in a wingback system suits Canos and his counterpart Rico Henry who will be integral to Brentford's hopes of surviving their debut Premier League campaign.

Midfielder: Lucas Moura - Tottenham Hotspur

I feel there's a few midfielders that are extremely unlucky to not chosen in either my team or my honourable mention, in particular Said Benrahma who provided a goal and assist in West Ham's win at Newcastle as well as Abdoulaye Doucoure whose thunderous effort proved to be the crucial breakthrough for Everton against Southampton.

You won't, however, see many better performances from an attacking player without scoring than Lucas Moura against City on Sunday.

He helped open up the play for Heung-Min Son's decisive strike but his all round game was outstanding. He took the fight to Manchester City and played a key role in the Nuno era getting off to a winning start in North London.

Forward: Emmanuel Dennis - Watford

For many the signing of Emmanuel Dennis will have gone under the radar as Watford continued their annual tradition of making almost wholesale changes to the playing squad but he certainly announced himself in English football in superb fashion.

He did well to finish at the second attempt after seeing his initial shot blocked before sending Ismaïla Sarr away to double the lead via a deflection.

He was replaced in the second half after picking up a knock but Hornets' fans will be hoping that there's much more to come from the Nigerian.