Matchday FM Team of the Week: Matchday Twelve
- Chris Coughlin
- Nov 26, 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: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
It was the perfect start for Steven Gerrard and goalkeeper Emi Martinez had a huge part to play in that.
He was at his best in the first half against Brighton including a superb stop to deny Tariq Lamptey after he rushed off his line to get in the way of the wing-back's effort.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
It's going to be some battle between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James to claim the starting right-back slot for England.
The Liverpool man gave one of his best displays so far this season against Arsenal, providing two assists including the cross that provided the breakthrough for Sadio Mane at the back end of the first half.
Centre-back: Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)
What a record Rudiger has against Leicester!
He scored twice in a 2-2 draw in February 2020 as well as in the Blues' crucial 2-1 win against the Foxes last season en route to a top four finish and he was it again with the opening goal on Saturday as Leicester's weakness from set pieces this season was exposed yet again.
Centre-back: Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa)
For a left-footed centre-back, this was a hell of a finish from Mings considering it was first-time with his right-foot.
The pace it came at him as well made it an even better strike and sealed a much needed win for Villa.
Left-back: Joao Cancelo (Man City)
Joao Cancelo's season is getting better and better by the game.
I've said before it almost feels wrong to call him a full-back in a similar fashion to Alexander-Arnold and James and it was from that central midfield role where he delivered a quite sensational pass to set up Raheem Sterling's opening goal against Everton.
Central midfield: Rodri (Man City)
Rodri can be somewhat of an unsung hero this Manchester City full of stars.
He had one of his easier days this season against a toothless Everton attack but his impact was at the other end as he riffled home a stunning strike to double City's lead and all but secure the points at the Etihad.
Central midfield: N'golo Kante (Chelsea)
Known more for his defensive prowess, N'golo Kane once again bit the hand that once fed him and he scored Chelsea's second goal at the King Power Stadium.
He collected Reece James' pass halfway inside the Leicester half, drove forward and with his weaker left foot buried a great finish into Kasper Schmeichel's net from 20 yards.
Central midfield: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham)
A first Premier League goal for Spurs under Antonio Conte came at a crucial time for Hojbjerg.
They were totally outplayed against Leeds for the first 45 minutes so there had to be a response in the second half and ultimately it was a winning one.
Right-wing: Emmanuel Dennis (Watford)
The man who put the final nail in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coffin at Manchester Utd.
Nigerian international Dennis earned two assists and a goal in the Hornets' demolition of the Red Devils including a clinical low drive past David De Gea in stoppage time.
Striker: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace)
At times, Christian Benteke is genuinely unplayable.
Yes he's had his barren runs in recent seasons but he's a handful for centre-backs when he's on form as Burnley found out to their cost on Saturday.
His first goal was slightly fortuitous with the deflection that went in off the post but his second was an emphatic low finish.
Left-wing: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Liverpool have never lost a home game in the Premier League when Sadio Mane has scored so the omens were good for the Reds after his header broke down Arsenal and Aaron Ramsdale's resistance.
Mane also showed his other qualities as he burst onto Diogo Jota's header to power into the Arsenal box and square the ball for Mo Salah's 16th goal of the season - Only McManaman and Fowler have combined more times in the Premier League for the Reds than Mane and Salah.
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