Premier League Team of the Week: Abraham, Mane and Luiz feature

EPL best XI for matchweek eight, featuring Tammy Abraham, Sadio Mane and David Luiz.

Sadio Mane and James Milner combined to keep Liverpool’s Premier League title momentum going during a 2-1 win over Leicester City on Saturday. They make the team of the week and should happily make room for Adama Traore, whose two goals helped Wolves shock Manchester City and ensured Liverpool take a healthy eight-point lead into the international break.

Wolves played spoiler on Sunday at the same time Tammy Abraham was scoring yet another goal to continue Chelsea’s revival. The Blues put four past Southampton, with Abraham and fellow academy graduate Mason Mount once gain delivering the goods for Frank Lampard.

Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal couldn’t turn on the style in the same way, but the Gunners did keep a rare clean sheet in a win over Bournemouth. David Luiz was the surprising solid citizen at the Emirates Stadium.

Find out who else joins Luiz, Abraham and Mane in the latest team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson, Sheffield United

Dean Henderson arrived at Vicarage Road looking for redemption when Sheffield United met bottom-of-the-table Watford on Saturday. Henderson was still stung by letting Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot squirm through his hands when the Blades lost to Liverpool last time out.

Fortunately for United, Henderson has a short memory. The 22-year-old stood tall to deny Danny Welbeck a goal for the Hornets early in the second half.

Henderson was also at his best to turn away a close-range header from Craig Dawson. Those saves ensured the Blades picked up a useful point on their travels.

On-loan Manchester United stopper Henderson is a big reason why the Blades boast the joint-second stingiest defense in England’s top flight.

Defender: Patrick van Aanholt, Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace fans might want to petition the Premier League to let the club play all its games away from home. Something transforms for Roy Hodgson’s team whenever the group takes to the road.

Saturday saw the Eagles win again away from Selhurst Park, this time beating West Ham 2-1 at the London Stadium. Victory was inspired by Patrick van Aanholt, the closest thing Palace have to a model of consistency.

The buccaneering left-back stepped up to score from the penalty spot in the absence of regular taker, suspended midfielder Luka Milivojevic. Not only did Van Aanholt hold his nerve from 12 yards, he also stayed efficient in possession and active in defense:

Van Aanholt has been a quietly solid performer for years. It’s time the 29-year-old received more props for his enduring brilliance.

Defender: Willy Boly, Wolves

Traore was the goalscoring hero, but Willy Boly was the rock Wolves’ memorable upset of City was built on. The bruising center-back followed scoring his team’s winner away to Besiktas in the Europa League with an imperious display against the English champions.

Boly bullied Sergio Aguero, denied Raheem Sterling running room and snuffed out any hint of danger. The Frenchman was responsible for a whopping 12 clearances inside his own box, according to Sky Sports.

Of all the astute signings Wolves have made in recent years, including striker Raul Jimenez and playmaker Joao Moutinho, the £10 million deal to snap up Boly from Porto in 2018 looks like the best of the lot.

Defender: David Luiz, Arsenal

Giving away penalties against Liverpool and Watford made Arsenal’s flier to sign Luiz from Chelsea look like an unusual act of self-harm, even for a club that’s specialised in implosion in recent years.

Luiz may be turning the corner after his match-winning performance against the Cherries. His ninth-minute header accounted for the only goal, but it was all Arsenal needed thanks to the Brazilian leading a rare rearguard action.

The Gunners frustrated Bournemouth’s efforts to play through the lines, with Luiz making a few interceptions. Arsenal also stayed strong in the air against a team deadly from set pieces so far this season.

Luiz was signed to lend his experience to anchoring a suspect Arsenal defense. While he’ll never shed the accident-prone label, he’s a serial winner who can encourage a few more resolute displays from the Gunners.

Midfielder: Aaron Connolly, Brighton

Graham Potter has been quietly overhauling a squad gone stale at Brighton. The process has involved turning to younger or previously seldom-used players such as center-back Dan Burn, 21-year-old playmaker Steven Alzate and winger Aaron Connolly.

It was Connolly who proved the catalyst for Saturday’s 3-0 win over a Tottenham team rotting on the vine. The 19-year-old bagged a pair of goals after adding the pace and perceptive movement the Seagulls have lacked in attack for years:

Connolly’s emergence can help redefine Brighton on the watch of progressive Potter. Expect more to come from this box of tricks as the Seagulls more toward a more expansive style of play.

Midfielder: James Milner, Liverpool

Milner has been something of a forgotten man in recent seasons, but there is still some tread left on the 33-year-old’s tyres. Liverpool needed the veteran midfield workhorse to help drag them over the line against a tough Leicester team at Anfield.

Milner’s industry proved crucial in helping the Reds seize the initiative. They outran the Foxes and maintained a strong press at both ends of the pitch, with Milner often leading the way.

There was more than graft to his performance. It was Milner’s technique and vision that helped send Mane clear to score the opener.

Milner was coolness personified when tasked with sticking away the 95th-minute penalty to keep Liverpool’s winning run going. Of course Milner delivered, he’s dependability itself and also the Reds’ lucky horse shoe when it comes to the league:

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Contributions from key squad players like Milner will prove decisive once the title race heats up.

Midfielder: Conor Hourihane, Aston Villa

Like Milner, Conor Hourihane matched hard work with keen skill when Villa thrashed Norwich 5-1 at Carrow Road. Hourihane showcased his eye for a pass when he assisted Wesley to score Villa’s second.

The assist was part of a smart and efficient game in possession from Hourihane. He distributed the ball neatly and quickly and usually made the right decisions.

Those qualities helped the visitors make more of possession than the pass-happy Canaries. Yet as good as Villa were on the ball, the rout was about how ruthless Hourihane and Co. were when chances came their way.

The 28-year-old curled in a brilliant fourth goal to sum up Villa’s quality from shooting opportunities.

With Hourihane, Jack Grealish and John McGinn in midfield, Dean Smith’s team will at least be entertaining to watch in the battle to beat the drop.

Midfielder: Adama Traore, Wolves

Mercurial is the polite way to described Traore, an awesome natural talent who can lay dormant for three quarters of a season. When he’s on form, the former Barcelona flop can elevate any game to the realm of magic.

Traore chose a trip to the home of the champions as one of his “on” moments. It meant two goals thanks to a breathtaking fusion of pace, power and intelligent movement.

Having Traore spring from deep was at the heart of the counter-attacking clinic Wolves put on in the sky blue half of Manchester. Both of his goals came at the end of rapid breaks when he provided a target for Jimenez.

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If Wolves can somehow keep Traore switched on, they will have one of the most dangerous weapons in the division at their disposal.

Striker: Sadio Mane, Liverpool

There wasn’t much Mane didn’t do against Leicester. He got Liverpool off the mark with a typically sweet finish in the 40th minute.

The landmark goal was further proof of the major strides Mane has made as a finisher. Such improvement is proved by the spread of his half-century of league goals since joining the Reds in 2016:

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Mane is a player trending upwards, one capable of maintaining Liverpool’s edge over City as the scrap for the title reaches its later stages.

Striker: Wesley, Aston Villa

Hourihane and Grealish pulled the strings brilliantly against Norwich, but their ingenuity had the ideal focal point in the form of two-goal striker Wesley.

The bullish target man was a menace in the air and quick enough across the deck to beat Norwich defenders to pull-backs. He was in the right place at the right time to turn in Anwar El Ghazi’s cross and start the Villa goal rush.

Wesley also sensed where the optimum position was when he tapped in Hourihane’s precise delivery. These were the instinctive, close-range finishes of a true No. 9 with more goals in him.

The scoring potential of Villa’s record signing is one reason why the Midlands club can eventually steer clear of relegation worries.

Striker: Tammy Abraham, Chelsea

It’s already gotten to the stage where it’s a shock if Abraham doesn’t get on the scoresheet. His start to life in the Premier League has been so fast and prolific.

Abraham netted his eighth goal after a cheeky lob to open the scoring against the Saints:

The improvised piece of skill revealed the growing confidence in Chelsea’s main man up top. Still just 22, he’s already believing nothing is beyond him.

Such bravado is a good trait in a young player but essential in a striker tasked with leading the line for a member of the top six.