Coutinho dazzles while Liverpool pair make Premier League Team of the Week
Premier League title chasing duo Manchester City and Liverpool each secured huge wins in midweek and the pair are represented in the best XI. Arsenal, Leicester, Aston Villa, Southampton, Newcastle and Leeds also have players make the cut on the back of their respective performances following the resumption of the league campaign.
Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester) - 7.50
Kasper Schmeichel may have ended up on the losing side at Liverpool on Thursday, yet Leicester would have been trounced at Anfield were it not for the Dane between the sticks. Indeed, Schmeichel made nine saves in the Liverpool loss to help earn a WhoScored rating of 7.50.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) - 8.39
Kieran Trippier has proven a solid signing for Newcastle and put in his best rated performance for the Magpies in their 3-1 win over Everton on Tuesday night. The right-back scored a decisive free-kick late on to wrap up the three points and he was unfortunate not to add an assist having made four key passes to help return a WhoScored rating of 8.39.
Liverpool have two players make the Premier League team of the week following their 2-0 win over Leicester, with Joel Matip earning a WhoScored rating of 8.24 at Anfield. Matip provided the assist for Diogo Jota's second against Leicester and was solid at the back as he made three clearances, three interceptions and two tackles.
Arsenal's match winner at Wolves joins Matip in the middle of the park. Gabriel bagged his third league goal of the season in the Gunners' 1-0 win at Molineux, but it was the Brazilian's fine work off the ball that caught the eye. Indeed, Gabriel made five clearances, two tackles and one interception to help Arsenal to a clean sheet and the 24-year-old to a WhoScored rating of 8.22.
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 8.43
Rounding off the defence is the first of two Manchester City representatives on the back of their 2-0 win over Brentford. Joao Cancelo may have failed to contribute to a goal in the home win, yet it wasn't for want of trying as he managed six shots. The Portugal international got forward well, completing four dribbles, and was excellent off the ball as he made four tackles and three interceptions to land a WhoScored rating of 8.43.
Rattling in goals number 11 and 12 for the season, Diogo Jota features on the right after a man of the match showing against Leicester. Jota found a way past Kasper Schmeichel either side of half time, netting with two of three shots. In addition, the Portuguese foward made three tackles, two key passes and two dribbles to contribute towards his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 8.94.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 8.20
Having netted in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Brentford, Kevin De Bruyne has now directly contributed to a goal in six of his last seven appearances. De Bruyne found a way past David Raya with his only shot of the game, and he was unfortunate not to add an assist having created three goalscoring chances to feature in the middle of the park with a WhoScored rating of 8.20.
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) - 8.77
Southampton were excellent at Tottenham on Wednesday night and James Ward-Prowse was a worthy winner of the WhoScored man of the match award as he earned an 8.77 rating in Saints' 3-2 win. The south coast skipper provided the second half assists for Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams in the space of three minutes, returning that brace-of-sorts with two of five key passes to join De Bruyne in the middle of the park.
Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) - 8.99
With a rating of 8.99, Aston Villa star Philippe Coutinho is the WhoScored Premier League player of the week. The January arrival directly contributed to all three goals in the Villans' 3-3 draw with Leeds on Wednesday night, netting with one of two shots and providing two assists from two key passes. Two dribbles, one tackle and one interception capped a memorable night for the Brazilian.
Remaining with Aston Villa's 3-3 draw with Leeds, Daniel James doubled his 2021/22 Premier League goal tally at Villa Park in midweek, netting two goals from four shots. James landed a WhoScored rating of 8.59 in Birmingham, marking what was far and away his best performance of the season.
Che Adams (Southampton) - 7.75
Southampton's match winner at Tottenham joins James on the frontline to complete the Premier League best XI. Che Adams headed Saints to all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, finding a way past Hugo Lloris with one of three efforts on goal. In addition, Adams made two key passes to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.75.
