Premier League Team of the Week: David Silva, Benjamin Mendy feature

Manchester City duo David Silva and Benjamin Mendy feature in the best XI from matchweek 3 of the 2017-18 Premier League.

David Silva still runs the show for Manchester City, while summer signing Benjamin Mendy looks like he might justify being the world’s most expensive defender.

Silva is the creative engine at City, but nobody has been a more prolific provider through three weeks of the Premier League season than Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Find out who makes the full XI for the third team of the week of the new season:

Goalkeeper: Tom Heaton, Burnley

Tom Heaton may have been beaten by Dele Alli, but he was as responsible as anyone else for Burnley taking a point off Tottenham at Wembley Stadium. Heaton consistently frustrated Spurs striker Harry Kane on Sunday, keeping the Clarets in the game until Chris Wood equalized in stoppage time.

Frustrating some of the division’s big boys has become a habit for Heaton in recent years. The 31-year-old stopper rebuffed a lifetime’s worth of shots to hold United to a goalless draw at Old Trafford last season.

Burnley know how to set up to grind out results, but they also have one of the league’s best and most under-appreciated ‘keepers in Heaton.

Left-Back: Benjamin Mendy, Manchester City

When you spend £52 million on a full-back you expect consistent all-action displays. It’s just what City got from Mendy on his debut.

The former Monaco star was terrific during Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 win at Bournemouth. He raided forward relentlessly, overlapping smartly and always making himself available to be played in behind the Cherries’ defense.

Defensively, Mendy took his time getting used to the speed of the game. However, he did exhibit the recovery pace and willingness to press high sure to serve City well this season.

Centre-Back: Christopher Schindler, Huddersfield

Christopher Schindler makes a second-straight appearance in the team of the week after helping Huddersfield keep a third clean sheet in a row. The towering German has been the bedrock of the Terriers’ stingy back line.

Schindler stayed tight to Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini during Saturday’s 0-0 stalemate. He was also quick out of the box to force winger Nathan Redmond into rushing his shots.

Schindler did what he has been doing since the season started. He led by example from the back, making life difficult for anyone who ventured close to or inside the Huddersfield box.

Centre-Back: Alfie Mawson, Swansea

The Swans heaped yet more misery on Frank de Boer and Crystal Palace, thanks largely to Alfie Mawson. He put in a commanding display at the back during the 2-0 win at Selhurst Park.

A physically formidable central defender, Mawson’s aggressive style often belies his quality on the ball. He used his height and muscle to keep Palace target man Christian Benteke under wraps, while making sure Swansea didn’t waste possession when playing out from deep.

Still only 23, Mawson already looks like a star in the making.

Next: Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal: Highlights and recap

Right-Back: Allan Nyom, West Brom

West Brom may have dropped points for this first time this season, but Allan Nyom still stood out against Stoke. The right-back consistently stretched the Potters on the flanks and provided the cross Jay Rodriguez turned in to open the scoring for the Baggies.

Not even a Stoke equaliser could take the gleam off Nyom’s quality display.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis isn’t usually fond of letting his full-backs venture too high up the pitch. Yet in Nyom he has a useful and underrated attacking outlet, one a manager who loves width should exploit more often.

Midfielder: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Of all the Liverpool players who dominated for Liverpool in the 4-0 win over Arsenal, Mohamed Salah may have been the best. The Egyptian winger toyed with a feeble Gunners defense afforded no protection by a midfield missing in action at Anfield on Sunday.

Salah scored Liverpool’s third, after showcasing the pace on the break to make the Reds a major threat against anybody this season. He also supplied the cross for Daniel Sturridge to net the fourth.

Sky Sports Statto summed up how effectively Salah took Arsenal apart:

Numbers like those make Salah worth every penny of the hefty £34 million the Reds paid Roma to sign him this summer.

He already delivered a goal and an assist combo in the 3-3 draw with Watford to start the season, now Salah is making Liverpool the most dynamic attacking force in England’s top flight.

Midfielder: David Silva, Manchester City

Time hasn’t diminished Silva’s knack for quick thinking and technical quality in possession. The 31-year-old playmaker was imperious on the ball and between the lines against Bournemouth.

Silva’s smart and perfectly weighted pass created the equaliser for Gabriel Jesus at the Vitality Stadium. Aside from the assist, the Spaniard seamlessly kept things ticking over for City.

In the process, he gave summer signing Bernardo Silva, making his first league start, a lesson in what’s expected. Manager Pep Guardiola wants his team to boss the ball against anybody, so he should be thankful the elder Silva is still as good as ever.

Midfielder: Georginio Wijnaldum, Liverpool

Those wanting a simple reason why Liverpool outclassed Arsenal so emphatically should look no further than Georginio Wijnaldum. The unfashionable and woefully underrated Netherlands international summed up the difference between the two sides.

There’s nothing spectacular about Wijnaldum. Nobody’s going to mistake him for a Xavi or a Patrick Vieira.

Yet Wijnaldum does all the simple things well. He passes the ball quickly and efficiently. He tracks runners out of possession, presses high and tackles when needed.

In other words, Wijnaldum does all the basics Arsenal’s midfielders don’t, won’t or can’t do.

Squawka Football detailed how busy Wijnaldum was at both ends of the pitch against the Gunners:

Put a couple of skilled workers like Wijnaldum in Arsenal’s midfield, and many of the north London side’s problems would soon be solved.

Midfielder: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Manchester United

There is nothing more impressive about United’s perfect start to the season than Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s superb form. The Armenia international is creating chances and goals at a prolific, record-equalling rate for the league leaders.

One more assist in the 2-0 win over Leicester gave Mkhitaryan five through three games. In the process, Mkhitaryan equalled the record for most assists after three weeks in league history, a mark originally set by Ruel Fox in 1994, per OptaJoe.

Mkhitaryan is supplying goals because of how often he’s creating chances. Nobody is fashioning more, according to WhoScored.com:

Playing in the No. 10 role has liberated Mkhitaryan following an uneven first season with the Red Devils. He’s now essential to United’s title bid.

Striker: Joselu, Newcastle

Newcastle returned to the Premier League needing a more credible striker. The Magpies looked to have found one in summer signing Joselu.

The former Stoke attacker was the catalyst for the 3-0 win over West Ham. He scored the opener to send Newcastle on the way to a first win of the season.

As important as his goals, Joselu’s link play was outstanding. The Spaniard produced some wonderful touches to set runners away. His technique and ability to play with his back to goal helped Newcastle conjure some excellent combinations in the final third.

Next: 25 best club soccer teams of all time

Striker: Alvaro Morata, Chelsea

Goals and stylish link play have also been common in Alvaro Morata’s start to life at Chelsea. He was the best player on the pitch as last season’s champions beat Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Morata assisted Cesc Fabregas to help the latter open the scoring. He then sealed the win with Chelsea’s second.

By repeating what he did in the season-opening defeat to Burnley at the Bridge, Morata made league history, per OptaJoe:

Many thought Chelsea had lost out when United pipped them to Romelu Lukaku. But Morata was no consolation prize.

Instead, the ex-Real Madrid and Juventus frontman already looks like one of the buys of the summer.