Matchday FM Team of the Week: Matchday Two

Matchday Two of the Premier League saw a thumping first win of the season for Champions Manchester City, Brighton record their best ever start to a Premier League campaign and a goalscoring return to Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku.

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

For the second week in a row, the Bees number one is the goalkeeper in my team.

Brentford are yet to concede after their return to the top flight and Raya has been a huge part of that, starring against Arsenal on the opening weekend and doing so again at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

His highlight came after 69 minutes of the contest as he produced a world class tip over the bar to deny James McArthur from just outside the box.

Four points from their first two games is a promising start for Brentford but they'll need Raya to keep up his excellent form between the sticks to survive this season.

Right-back: Reece James - Chelsea

It feels wrong to put Reece James at right-back in this team because, in effect, he was a winger at the Emirates.

He had the freedom of the right-hand side all afternoon and used it to devastating effect in North London, firstly providing an assist for Lukaku to claim his first Chelsea goal on his second debut for the club before emphatically firing into the top corner after being found inside the box by Mason Mount.

James has the ability to play in several positions as he's shown already in his career but right-back, or rather right-wing back, is where he is flourishing the most right now.

Centre-back: Shane Duffy - Brighton

Last season, Shane Duffy's Brighton career looked all but over.

The Irishman was loaned out to Celtic where he failed to impress while Brighton looked to have moved on with a back three of Ben White, Lewis Dunk & Adam Webster.

However, after Ben White's departure to Arsenal & an injury to Dan Burn, Graham Potter has given the defender a second chance at the Amex and he took it against Watford with a bullet header to open the scoring early on and helping to keep a clean sheet at the other end.

Once Burn returns we'll see if Duffy retains his place but, right now, there is no reason why he won't.

Centre back: Tyrone Mings - Aston Villa

Unlike Duffy there was no goal for Tyrone Mings but be played a significant role in allowing others to find the back of the net.

His flick-on provided Danny Ings with the chance to make it two goals in two games after his arrival from Southampton which he gobbled up with finish worthy of a shout for Goal of the Month.

Mings then won a penalty after his second-half header hit Jamaal Lascelles' hand inside the six-yard box with Anwar El Ghazi tucking home the spot kick.

Left-back: Kostas Tsimikas - Liverpool

In the absence of the injured Andy Robertson, the opening two weekends of the season were the chance that Liverpool fans have had to properly see Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas in action after a succession of injuries disrupted his 2020/21 campaign.

He was threatening against Norwich but showed defensive fragility at times at Carrow Road. This performance against Burnley was much more well rounded.

He provided a superb assist for Diogo Jota's opener while also nullifying the threat down Burnley's right-hand side.

Robertson's lightning quickly recovery means he has every chance of regaining his place in the mouth-watering clash with Chelsea on Saturday but Tsimikas has shown he is more than capable if called upon this campaign.

Right midfield: Jack Grealish - Manchester City

Admittedly, even though Manchester City thrashed Norwich on Saturday, there weren't too many individuals who stood out.

I have, however, gone for Jack Grealish after the £100m man got off the mark for the Cityzens with a bundled finish at the far post to lift a bit of weight off his shoulder which such an astronomical price tag is bound to bring.

Grealish will score goals of a far higher quality during his time at the Etihad but he will take this one for starters.

Centre midfield: Abdoulaye Doucoure - Everton

Undroppable. That's how to describe Abdoulaye Doucoure's start to the season at Everton.

The Frenchman followed up his goal scoring performance against Southampton with another box-to-box display against Leeds at Elland Road.

He was crucial at both ends of the pitch, particularly when he provided the assist for Demarai Gray's first Everton goal.

Part of the frustration for me with Doucoure has been that I've never been clear on what his main role has meant to be but he's taken to Rafa Benitez's system as well as any player in the Blues' squad.

Centre midfield: Yves Bissouma - Brighton

I did not expect Yves Bissouma to still be at Brighton but boy the seagulls will be glad he is.

It was another typically robust display by the Mali international in the middle of the park as he provided more interceptions and tackles than any of his teammates against Watford while his pressing brought a rare assist as his set up Neal Maupay to double the lead.

Various price tags have been placed on Bissouma depending on what you read but, this late on in the window, if anyone make a last-gasp move they had better be prepared to pay more than the premium for Brighton's prized asset.

Left midfield: Saïd Benrahma - West Ham

Saïd Benrahma is a prime example of a player who doesn't take to the Premier League straight away, but when they have adapted they show just how good they are.

It was a difficult first season at the London Stadium for the Algerian but he is shining now.

Monday's hammering of Leicester was the second game in a row which he has managed both a goal and an assist at the start of the season and he looks be enjoying himself in any position across the front line.

David Moyes has been singing Benrahma's praises recently and they won't be stopping any time soon if Benrahma continues this form.

Striker: Michail Antonio - West Ham

Of course, Benrahma is not the only West Ham star flying at the start of the campaign.

Michail Antonio has burst out of the blocks to devastating effect with three goals and two assists in the Hammers' first two matches.

He showed good awareness and patience to set up Benrahma following Çağlar Söyüncü's poor backpass before stealing the show with one of the best penalty box braces you can wish to see.

His first goal displayed brute strength and destructive finishing to become West Ham's all-time top scorer in the Premier League while his control for the second was inch perfect to poke the ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel.

Antonio dedicated his record-breaking goal to the Last Dance but it looks like this won't be the last time Antonio hits the headlines this season.

Striker: Romelu Lukaku - Chelsea

Ladies and gentleman, big Rom is back!

Compared to the youngster who was hastily let go by Chelsea in 2014, Romelu Lukaku is a different beast now, so much so that everyone who sat down to watch the 4:30pm kick off on Sunday knew the script before the curtain had been raised.

Lukaku bullied Pablo Mari was the first whistle til the last with a performance that shows why he is one of the best strikers on the planet.

He claimed his first ever Blues goal with a tap-in from Reece James' cross before holding up the ball and creating space which led to James' strike later on in the first half.

Only a wonder save by Bernt Leno denied Lukaku a second of the afternoon but there will be plenty of defences have sleepless nights over the next nine months, both before and after facing the Belgian.

Honourable mentions

Goalkeeper: Illan Meslier - Leeds

Illan Meslier has had his questionable moments in the past but he is a superb shot stopper.

That point was proved once again on Saturday as he made two good stop to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin giving Everton a two-goal lead before Raphinha's stunning equaliser to make it 2-2.

Defender: Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool

Big shoutout to Tino Livramento who looks a steal for Southampton after signing from Chelsea but I had to go with the Liverpool star.

We all know about Alexander-Arnold's passing range but seeing it in the flesh at the weekend reminded me of just how good he is.

He had a tough battle against Dwight McNeil early on, a battle which he ultimately won, before popping up in the perfect position to provide Sadio Mane with a chance the Senegalese gobbled up - only Kevin De Bruyne has more Premier League assists than the Liverpool right-back since the start of the 2018/19 season.

Midfielder: Harvey Elliott - Liverpool

The question was asked of Jurgen Klopp whether Harvey Elliott would go out on loan again this season following his impressive spell at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship to which the Liverpool boss said the youngster was part of his first-team plans.

Elliott's first Premier League start proved exactly why.

He was given rough treatment by Burnley on Saturday but refused to shy away as he not only played his part in the 2-0 win but also stood out. We talk a lot about potential but this lad has the tools to succeed.

Striker: Danny Ings - Aston Villa

Danny Ings was a certainty for my TOTW before Antonio turned it on against Leicester so an honourable mention will have to do for one of my favourite strikers in the division.

Aston Villa knew they were getting a guaranteed goalscorer in the 29-year-old whose second strike in Claret and Blue is simply spectacular.

He created space for himself to fire Mings' flick into the corner with a brilliant bicycle-kick finish and the Villa faithful have a new darling already.