Premier League Team of the Week: Jones, De Gea and Sane feature

Phil Jones, David De Gea and Leroy Sane all feature in the team of the week after matchday 6 of the 2017-18 Premier League season.

Both Manchester clubs feature prominently in the Premier League’s standout XI this week. The two sides level on points at the top each have two representatives in the week’s best team.

United’s defensive resolve is saluted after their gritty 1-0 win at Southampton on Saturday. Meanwhile, City’s attacking depth showed after two fringe midfielders helped dominate struggling Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere, surprise package Watford also have two players involved in the team of the week. The Hornets went sixth after winning 2-1 in Swansea, with a summer signing proving the match-winner.

Read on for the full best XI from this week’s Premier League action:

Goalkeeper: David De Gea, Manchester United

De Gea has kept five clean sheets in six league matches, despite United often appearing jittery at the back. The Red Devils have only conceded twice this season, but have surrendered a host of chances in every game they’ve played.

United have usually had De Gea to thank for keeping the door shut. The pattern repeated itself against the Saints, who went inches close to equalising on several occasions.

A combination of poor finishing and De Gea staying alert preserved United’s win. Whether it was plucking a Dusan Tadic cross out of the air one-handed or smothering a low drive from Nathan Redmond, De Gea refused to yield.

The Spanish stopper is the best keeper in the division and the true rock United’s defensive resolve will be built on this season.

Defender: Phil Jones, Manchester United

If De Gea held things together at Southampton, Phil Jones led by example. The burly center-back was outstanding in denying numerous Saints attacks.

Jones was like a magnet to the ball. He was always in position to deflect a cross, intercept a pull-back or head clear.

This was a true all-action display from an uncompromising defender who has been too brittle during his United career. At the moment though, the former Blackburn Rovers ace is injury free and comfortably keeping £31 million summer recruit Victor Lindelof out of the United lineup.

Defender: Christian Kabasele, Watford

Watford owe their surprising rise to sixth to many things. Manager Marco Silva has added versatility to the tactics, while the midfield is brimming with goalscorers.

One underrated factor behind Watford’s fast start has been a useful defence. One week removed from being walloped 6-0 by City, the Hornets went to Swansea and frustrated the hosts, thanks largely to Christian Kabasele.

Like Jones for United, Kabasele constantly put himself between the ball and goal. Numbers from Squawka Football accurately summed up the 26-year-old’s committed and no-nonsense display:

https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/911715804231503872

Watford have been turned over by the big boys twice this season. There was the 3-3 draw with Liverpool on opening day and last week’s 6-0 thumping from City.

However, the latter result was a little deceptive. For one thing, the Hornets were without any natural center-backs. Secondly, City’s first and third goals both appeared to be scored from offside positions.

Watford have conceded just once in their other league games, thanks in no small part to Kabasele’s contributions.

Defender: Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea

Two assists in one game isn’t a bad day’s work for a defender. It’s what Cesar Azpilicueta delivered to help Chelsea beat Stoke 4-0 at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

The converted full-back, who was Chelsea’s best central defender last season, showed off his creative touch in the Potteries. One long ball from the back teed up Alvaro Morata to open the scoring. Later, a deftly played chest touch again released Morata to score.

Azpilicueta is still solid at the back. He remains the Blues’ most accomplished defender, timing his tackles expertly and rarely getting caught out of position.

Showing a habit for picking a pass only adds one more sting to the bow of a defender Chelsea cannot afford to be without.

Midfielder: Leroy Sane, Manchester City

Few players in the league have as much potential for stardom as Leroy Sane. The 21-year-old is outrageously gifted technically, boasts awesome acceleration and has a keen eye for goal.

Sane showed off all those qualities during the 5-0 rout of Palace at the Etihad Stadium. He opened the scoring and routinely ran the visitors ragged.

There was perception in the way he exploited space between the lines to drag markers out of position. Sane also tricked, danced and slalomed his way past defenders on the flanks.

His cross from the left allowed Sergio Aguero to head in City’s fourth. Sane had also teed up Raheem Sterling for the home side’s second goal.

There was little doubt about the way Sane had lit up this game, according to WhoScored.com:

Performances like this will make it close to impossible for manager Pep Guardiola not to include burgeoning star Sane in his starting XI every week.

Midfielder: Richarlison, Watford

Watford spent £11.5 million to sign Richarlison from Fluminense this summer. It already looks like money well spent after the Brazil Under-20 ace proved the match-winner at Swansea.

He pounced on a mistake from Roque Mesa to slot in the winner in the final minute in Wales. It was Richarlison’s second of the season and proof he is growing into a key role for Silva’s men.

The Brazilian is being tasked with playing furthest forward in an underrated midfield underpinned by Nathaniel Chalobah and Abdoulaye Doucoure. This strong double-act gives Richarlison the platform to roam between the midfield and forward lines and use his flair and scoring touch to punish opponents.

It’s a task the 20-year-old is starting to enjoy.

Midfielder: Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool

Nobody could argue with Philiippe Coutinho’s talent, even as his commitment to Liverpool was called into question after he submitted a transfer request on the eve of the new season.

Coutinho didn’t get his move to Barcelona, but did appear committed enough to the Liverpool cause this weekend. The number 10 inspired the Reds to a crucial 3-2 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Coutinho’s vision and technique both appeared undiminished when his pinpoint cross found Mohamed Salah to head in at the back post. Then it was time for the Brazilian’s feared prowess from set-piece situations to reappear.

A fiercely struck free-kick doubled Liverpool’s lead against the Foxes. It also reminded everyone Coutinho is still the maestro the Reds count on for inspiration.

Such inspiration wasn’t in short supply when Coutinho ran things in the final third at Leicester, per Sky Sports PL:

More performances as good as this will keep Coutinho in the shop window. In the meantime, Liverpool supporters should just enjoy their most talented player.

Midfielder: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City

Sane wasn’t the only fringe midfielder who took his chance for City. Sterling also made the most of a rare league start.

The jet-heeled winger bagged a brace against Palace. With a mite more composure in front of goal, Sterling would have finished with a hat-trick.

Composure in front of goal is the one elusive quality preventing Sterling from being a top player. The 22-year-old possesses the pace to menace any defence. Meanwhile, his runs off the ball are some of the most astute in England’s top flight.

It’s no wonder Guardiola has been quick to quash any talk of Sterling leaving for Arsenal in the January transfer window, per James Robson of the Manchester Evening News:

"Raz is staying here.The club trust him – that is why we have invested a lot of money in him.The players we have are going to stay. If they want to leave they are going to leave, but he wants to stay.If players want to leave they have to ask the chairman, but there is no chance of that, he is going nowhere."

Having attackers as gifted as Sterling and Sane to supplement Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne is why City are beginning to look like title favourites.

Striker: Harry Kane, Tottenham

Harry Kane is wasting nothing at the moment. He won’t waste even a half chance in front of goal or any opportunity to shoot.

Kane was at his unerring best as Tottenham beat West Ham 3-2 on Saturday. Tottenham’s talisman up top led from the front, scoring twice.

It marked the second time this month Kane has scored twice away from home in the same game. The prolific No. 10 also bagged a brace in the 3-0 win at Everton.

Next: Greater support is making Harry Kane better

Four goals in three matches so far in September proves last season’s top scorer is not about to slow down. In fact, Kane could be even more free-scoring this season, thanks to the way Spurs are offering him greater support.

In particular, Moussa Sissoko’s runs from midfield and Christian Eriksen operating further forward are giving Kane more space in the final third. He’s making the most of the extra room.

Striker: Oumar Niasse, Everton

Ronald Koeman should thank his lucky stars for Oumar Niasse. The former Hull striker eased the considerable pressure mounting on Koeman by coming off the bench to score twice in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

In the process, Niasse went straight to the top of the scoring charts for the goal-shy Toffees, per BBC Match of the Day:

The fact Niasse has been this prolific makes a mockery of Koeman’s desire to dump the striker last season. It’s something Niasse has forgiven his manager for, per Sky Sports:

"He (Koeman) just said this was a new opportunity for me. I didn’t want to go over the past with him. There is nothing to say about that.He said (last year) I wasn’t ready and maybe I wasn’t ready. I went away, I learned and I have come back stronger."

If Niasse can keep proving his doubters wrong, he’ll become the true centre-forward Koeman craved and failed to land this summer.

Striker: Alavaro Morata, Chelsea

It’s impossible not to be wowed by Alvaro Morata’s fast start to life with Chelsea. The Spain international has instantly taken to the Premier League and made fans forget about missing out on Romelu Lukaku this summer.

Morata is now level with United frontman Lukaku on six goals after netting a hat-trick at Stoke. His aerial prowess is causing teams multiple problems, but the 24-year-old is also proving adept on the deck.

Under the watchful eye of Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, Morata is becoming more efficient in the final third. He is finishing with more confidence and developing into the kind of fluid mover and creative link player Atletico Madrid-bound Diego Costa was for last season’s champions.