Premier League Team of the Week: Manchester City stars dominate

Premier League best XI for Week 6, featuring three Manchester City stars, including Kevin De Bruyne.

If Liverpool needed a warning about getting over-confident in the Premier League title race, Manchester City sent one to remember on Saturday.

The Citizens were looking more than merely vulnerable after losing to Norwich last time out. In fact, the champions appeared downright fragile amid a shock defeat and dealing with longterm injuries to center-backs Aymeric Laporte and John Stones.

However, any hint of a changing of the guard was emphatically dispelled when City beat Watford 8-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Kevin De Bruyne predictably pulled the creative strings, while Bernardo Silva helped himself to a hat-trick to prove strength in the middle is what counts in title races.

Silva and De Bruyne were aided by yet another masterclass in wing play from Riyad Mahrez. The former Leicester City attacking talisman never lets this team down when he’s given a chance.

Find out who else joins City’s three midfield maestros in the latest team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Mat Ryan, Brighton

Brighton are a functional team lacking frightening pace up top or world-class playmakers in the middle. Those deficiencies exaggerate the importance of a solid presence between the sticks.

Fortunately for the Seagulls, Mat Ryan is exactly that. The Australian stopper was the busier of the two goalkeepers during Saturday’s dour 0-0 draw with Newcastle.

Ryan answered the call to action whenever he was needed. He notably made two saves to deny Miguel Almiron at crucial moments in the match.

Playing for Brighton means Ryan is denied fanfare, but the 27-year-old is one of the better players outside the division’s top six.

Defender: Fabian Schar, Newcastle

Ryan may have stayed active to keep Brighton on level terms, but the best save of the match was actually made by a Newcastle defender.

It came from Fabian Schar, who stretched to get a toe to substitute Aaron Connolly’s effort with Magpies ‘Keeper Martin Dubravka well beaten.

The brilliantly improvised last-ditch intervention was the signature moment of another composed display from Schar. He timed his tackles impeccably and routinely showcased the kind of quality on the ball most central defenders can only dream of possessing.

Schar is a player who would surely saunter into most of the squads in the top six. Pep Guardiola would be wise to have a City bid readied for the winter.

Defender: John Egan, Sheffield United

Dogged defending is the main reason Sheffield United have settled so quickly back in the top flight. The Blades’ rearguard was unbreakable during a 2-0 win over tepid Everton at Goodison Park.

John Egan held the group together as the man in the middle. The 26-year-old made a season’s worth of blocks, sliding tackles and interceptions in a single afternoon.

Egan’s positional discipline and sense of timing afforded freedom for those around him to push forward when opportunities arose. The Blades love to let their center-backs off the leash, and Jack O’Connell and Chris Basham didn’t need a second invitation to join attacks, safe in the knowledge Egan would hold down the fort.

Defender: Nathan Ake, Bournemouth

Bournemouth hadn’t won at Southampton before Friday’s 3-1 victory. The historic result owed a lot to the brawn and artistry of defensive linchpin Nathan Ake.

He sent the Cherries on the way to a win when he met Diego Rico’s corner with a powerful header in the 10th minute. Posing a consistent threat in the air is just one of the features of the Dutchman’s game.

Ake is also an above-average playmaker from deep. He has the technique and vision to dictate passing from the back, and the 24-year-old regularly got Bournemouth moving against the Saints.

When it came to protecting a 2-0 lead, Ake was the leader of a stubborn second-half siege. His commitment to putting himself between danger and the ball is a big reason why the Cherries are tougher to break down this season.

Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

De Bruyne is obviously still upset about the way injuries derailed him last season. He’s making up for lost time with a vengeance, collecting his fifth and sixth assists during the beat-down of the Hornets.

It was De Bruyne’s cross finding David Silva to start the goal rush in the first minute. Ever the provider, the Belgian also played the pass to make sure Bernardo got his hat-trick.

Just to show he can think of himself first, De Bruyne struck an 85th-minute goal. The quality finish aside, his performance was still more about what he did for others.

De Bruyne’s radar is locked in enough to guide City all the way to yet another title.

Midfielder: James Maddison, Leicester

England haven’t been winners on the international stage in over five decades largely because the nation usually makes little room for a player like James Maddison.

He’s a classy no. 10 in the mold of De Bruyne or Mesut Ozil. To some that means languid or a luxury.

Maddison is neither of those things, though. Instead, he’s the creative heartbeat of an enterprising Leicester team.

Tottenham thought they had the Foxes beat thanks to Harry Kane’s goal at the King Power Stadium, only for Maddison to take over.

He owned the spaces between the midfield and forward lines. Perceptive movement, deft touches and quick, first-time passes were the keys Maddison used to unlock the Tottenham defense.

Ultimately, Maddison knew to go direct when his guile wasn’t proving decisive. His low drive five minutes from time settled things in Leicester’s favor and provided a flourish to a standout display.

Gareth Southgate shouldn’t waste any more time making Maddison the fulcrum for the Three Lions.

Midfielder: Bernardo Silva, Manchester City

De Bruyne, David Silva and Sergio Aguero still producing the goods make it easy to forget how good Bernardo Silva is becoming in a City shirt.

He was a breakout player last season and has started this campaign in even finer fettle. The former Monaco star was imperious in every phase of the game against Watford, relentlessly pressing and winning possession high up the pitch, as well as taking care of the ball once he won it.

Defending from the front and artfully conducting City’s passing game have become routine for Silva. So it should scare defenses the 25-year-old is starting to add more goals to his game.

Silva’s hat-trick took his tally to four goals, just three shy of his total in the league last season. His latest goals also matched the efforts of his illustrious Portugal international team-mate:

SIlva will become the complete player in City’s midfield if his scoring run continues.

Midfielder: Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City

Pep Guardiola should know by now good things happen if he starts Mahrez. The winger scored and assisted during Wednesday’s 3-0 win away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and repeated the feat against Watford.

Mahrez won the penalty Aguero converted in the 12th minute after a typically clever and well-timed run in behind. Few players manipulate angles between the flanks and central areas as well as Mahrez.

While his range of movement baffles defenses, it’s his wand of a left foot opponents fear. Mahrez’s familiar weapon yielded a goal when his free kick hit Tom Cleverley on the way in.

There was still time for Mahrez to feed the ball to De Bruyne for the Belgian’s late strike. The message is clear: when Mahrez starts, City win big.

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Striker: Chris Wood, Burnley

It’s taken him a little longer than usual, but Chris Wood finally opened his account this season with a brace against Norwich.

The Burnley target man took both goals well. He was dominant in the air when meeting Ashley Westwood’s corner after 10 minutes.

Wood was quicker than the rest getting across his marker to turn in Dwight McNeil’s cross four minutes later.

There is no better focal point for Burnley’s direct game than the bullish New Zealand international. Wood’s partnership with the equally aggressive Ashley Barnes will keep the Clarets punching above their weight.

Striker: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal

Unai Emery must thank his lucky stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang never tires of bailing Arsenal out. Emery’s Gunners were again a shambles defensively while falling behind 2-1 at home to Aston Villa and losing Ainsley Maitland-Niles to a pair of yellow cards.

While Arsenal can never be trusted to be mistake-free in defense, Aubameyang can be relied upon to find the net. The 30-year-old did so from a free kick six minutes from time to help the undermanned Gunners complete a remarkable comeback and somehow escape with a 3-2 win.

Aubameyang’s consistency is the one bright spot of Arsenal’s otherwise erratic post-Arsene Wenger era:

It would be a tragedy for the Gunners’ comedy of errors to ultimately waste one of the best finishers of his generation.

Striker: Roberto Firmino, Liverpool

Roberto Firmino is making a strong case for being more important to Liverpool’s title hopes than either Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane. The Brazilian has been typically inventive as the creative fulcrum of the Reds’ front thee.

Yet aside from assists and moments of improvised flair, Firmino is tallying up the goals. He headed in what proved to be the winner during Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

It was a rare expression of power from one of the most artful forwards in the game. The finish was also a reminder of how often Firmino thrives in both phases of Liverpool’s attacking play:

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Firmino in this kind of form can inspire the Reds to get the better of City this time around.