Premier League Team of the Week: Silva, Vardy shine

Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy and David Silva all make it into the Team of the Week from the opening games of the 2017-18 Premier League season.

Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy and David Silva are the familiar faces in the first team of the week of the 2017-18 Premier League season. Meanwhile, Burnley striker Sam Vokes heads a group of more unlikely names who make the grade after the first week.

Here’s the best XI from the first round of matches:

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford, Everton

A first clean sheet on his debut was an excellent introduction to life at Everton for Jordan Pickford. The former Sunderland stopper was imperious during a 1-0 win over Stoke at Goodison Park.

Pickford arrived on Merseyside with a lot to live up to. As a £30 million import, Pickford broke Everton’s transfer record. The fee almost made him the most expensive British goalkeeper ever.

Fortunately for the Toffees, Pickford justified at least part of the price tag against Stoke. The 23-year-old kept the Potters out with a commanding display. His highlight was an acrobatic stop to deny Xherdan Shaqiri late on.

Pickford and fellow new signing, center-back Michael Keane, will be key to Everton’s defensive solidity this season. Manager Ronald Koeman’s teams are usually stingy at the back, making Pickford’s strong first showing all the more encouraging.

Left-back: Ben Davies, Tottenham

Meet Ben Davies, the silver lining to Tottenham’s dilemma regarding Danny Rose. The latter took a public shot at Spurs’ spending policy last week, indicated he wanted to leave and eventually apologized.

If Rose’s sorry came too late, Spurs can at least take comfort from having a ready-made replacement in Davies. The former Swansea left-back scored Tottenham’s second in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Newcastle.

His goal capped an assured performance. The 24-year-old raided forward with pace and confidence, while staying smart and disciplined at the back.

Spurs had the meanest defense in the league last season. It will take replacements such as Davies to keep it that way.

Right-back: Kyle Walker, Manchester City

Kyle Walker cost an eye-watering £50 million when he made the jump from Tottenham to Manchester City earlier this summer. Walker didn’t quite justify the hefty fee during City’s 2-0 away win over Brighton, but he did still impress.

Specifically, the England international full-back looked a great fit for City manager Pep Guardiola’s tactics. Walker is an athletic marvel who can press, stay comfortable on the ball and use his recovery pace to track back.

Walker did all those things against newly-promoted Brighton. He will play a key role in helping Guardiola’s ideas take hold during the manager’s second season in England.

Center-back: Michael Keane, Everton

Everton made a number of moves in this summer’s transfer market. But one of the best was signing Michael Keane from Burnley.

The 24-year-old center-back looked every inch a defensive leader on his Toffees debut. He was all commitment and bravery as he flew into challenges, contested everything in the air and led by example against Stoke.

If this is the kind of gutsy display Keane will deliver weekly, Everton will have the talisman at the back all successful teams crave.

Center-back: Ahmed Hegazy, West Brom

When West Brom manager Tony Pulis buys a center-back, you can be sure he’s going to be big, aggressive and a major threat from set pieces. So it proved for Ahmed Hegazy, as the Egyptian scored on his debut, heading in a free-kick to beat Bournemouth 1-0.

Finding the net wasn’t the only standout moment of Hegazy’s Baggies debut, though. He was strong, savvy and dominant at the back.

Thanks to Hegazy, West Brom were able to thwart Bournemouth’s fluid and attacking football.

Pulis needed to refresh things at the heart of defense this summer. He looks like he has a gem in Hegazy.

Midfield: David Silva, Manchester City

A new haircut was the only thing different about David Silva on the opening day of his seventh Premier League season. The pocket-edition playmaker still pulls the strings in the City midfield.

His touch, control, technique, vision and speed of thought are still without equal in England’s top flight. Silva conducted a spell that left Brighton’s midfielders and defenders frozen.

The 31-year-old effortlessly roamed between the midfield and forward lines. His deft, thoughtful passing created a legion of chances.

Silva’s best ball was the one Sergio Aguero turned into the net to put the Citizens into the lead.

No matter what changes at City, no matter which big-name manager is in charge, no matter how much money is spent on transfers, Silva remains the one influential constant.

Midfield: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool debut could hardly have gone better. The winger won a penalty Roberto Firmino converted, while also scoring his first goal for the Reds.

Those contributions weren’t enough for Liverpool to beat Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday. But Salah’s part in the 3-3 draw did at least showcase the threat he will add to an already dynamic attack.

The Egypt international’s pace and perceptive movement kept the Hornets’ defense permanently stretched. Salah was always menacing, no matter which positions he darted into in the final third.

Whenever he broke in behind, the ex-Roma and Chelsea ace didn’t waste a second going for goal, per Squawka Football:

Salah came off both flanks, spent time through the middle and was always willing to run beyond the defense.

His combination with Sadio Mane and Firmino will make Liverpool the most exciting team to watch this season.

Midfield: Dele Alli, Tottenham

Tottenham haven’t spent a penny in this summer’s transfer market. But maybe you don’t have to when you have Dele Alli.

The gifted attacking midfielder got Spurs rolling against the Magpies. Alli’s goal showed he has lost none of his timing and instincts for getting forward. Those qualities regularly add a flourish to Tottenham’s approach play.

He ran Newcastle ragged so often, Jonjo Shlevey earned a red card for stepping on his ankle.

Still just 21, Alli gets better every season. Spurs have a lot of good players, but Alli is the special talent in their ranks.

Forward: Jamie Vardy, Leicester

Jamie Vardy reminded everyone why Arsenal wanted to sign him last summer. Vardy scored twice against the Gunners, even though the Foxes eventually lost 4-3.

Despite the defeat, Vardy showed just what makes him an outstanding striker. Usually known for his pace, the 30-year-old used it to terrorize Arsenal’s makeshift back three all night.

Vardy routinely played on the last shoulder and raced in behind to meet precise passes over the top. Yet there is much more to Vardy’s game than pace on the break.

He proved as much by scoring twice from close range. Both goals showcased the England international’s keen instincts in the box.

Like most of the Leicester team, Vardy’s form dipped somewhat last season. But he already looks ready to return to the form common when the Foxes won the league in 2015-16.

Forward: Sam Vokes, Burnley

Selling Andre Gray a whisker away from the start of the season should have blunted Burnley’s attack. But Sam Vokes made sure the Clarets were anything but blunt in their shock 3-2 win over defending champions Chelsea.

Vokes scored twice at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. He was mobile and strong, a force in the air and linked well playing with his back to goal.

Vokes’ performance was a how-to for all would-be target men in the Premier League. The Wales international isn’t the most cultured striker, but he’s the perfect fit for Burnley’s direct style of play.

Forward: Steve Mounie, Huddersfield

There’s often a surprise during the opening weekend. Steve Mounie was it, as he bagged a brace to help Huddersfield win big on their return to the top flight.

The newly-promoted club won 3-0 at Crystal Palace, thanks largely to the way Mounie thrived. His pace, power and timing kept Palace unsettled at the back.

Former Montpellier attacker Mounie has the look of a player who will continue finding the net and surprising defenders this season.