Premier League team of the week: Gameweek 17, Kudus takes the Left Wing Position
For many, Gameweek 17 of the 2023/24 Premier League season was sullied by an utterly dire game between Manchester United and Liverpool.
The 0-0- on Sunday bored everyone who watched it to tears, with neither side looking remotely capable of scoring a goal ever again.
That dour draw aside though, it was actually a pretty decent weekend of Premier League football.
Here’s 90min’s top performers from the weekend.
Premier League team of the week: Gameweek 17
GK: Andre Onana (Manchester United)
Onana bagged a well-deserved clean sheet / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages
Last week was a real Jekyll and Hyde week for Andre Onana.
After conceding a record-breaking 15th goal in the Champions League in midweek, the Manchester United goalkeeper kept a joint-league best sixth clean sheet of the season so far against high-flying Liverpool on Sunday.
His eight saves were key for the Red Devils.
RB: Alex Moreno (Aston Villa)
Moreno scored his second goal for Villa / Nigel French/Allstar/GettyImages
Alex Moreno deputised for the suspended Lucas Digne at the weekend, and did a bloody good job doing so.
The 30-year-old was in fantastic form during the win over Brentford on Sunday, scoring the equaliser in Villa’s eventual 2-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.
CB: Michael Keane (Everton)
It was a solid outing from Keane / Stewart Kendall/Allstar/GettyImages
Everton are the in-form team in the Premier League right now, and that is in large part thanks to their stout backline.
As well as keeping a crucial clean sheet at the weekend, Everton’s main man in defence Michael Keane also popped up with a crucial goal to earn his side a 2-0 win over Burnley.
CB: Raphael Varane (Manchester United)
Varane came back into the fold superbly at Anfield / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages
After a spell out in the wilderness at Man Utd, Raphael Varane got himself firmly back in Erik ten Hag’s good books with his performance in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
The France defender won 100% of his duels and made a quite frankly ridiculous 15 clearances to keep the Reds at bay at Anfield.
LB: Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
Big Dan Burn got on the scoresheet / Stu Forster/GettyImages
The Premier League’s tallest left-back was at his best once again at the weekend.
Equally effective in the defensive third as the opposition box, big Dan Burn chipped in with a goal, four interceptions and eight duels won.
CM: Amadou Onana (Everton)
A first goal of the season for Onana / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
Two Onanas in the team of the week, and for very good reason.
Amadou, like Andre, was brilliant at the weekend, scoring his first goal of the season and putting in a commanding midfield performance against Burnley.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United)
Guimaraes was on top of his game against Fulham / Stu Forster/GettyImages
Bruno Guimaraes ran the show against Fulham at St James’ Park.
His assist, 106 completed passes, nine duels won and five ball recoveries tell you all you need to know about what was a top-class outing from a top-class player.
CM: Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United)
Paqueta contributed a hat-trick of assists against Wolves / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
A lot of pressure was put on Lucas Paqueta to become West Ham’s main man after Declan Rice’s departure in the summer – and boy has he delivered.
The Brazilian was mesmeric in the win over Wolves, bagging three assists in the emphatic victory at London Stadium.
RW: Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham Hotspur)
Kulusevski delivered a match-winning performance / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
Where would Tottenham Hotspur be without Dejan Kulusevski? Hurtling towards mid-table mediocrity, arguably.
With him, however, they’re gunning for a top-four berth. The Swede provided a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win on Friday night to keep Spurs within touching distance of UEFA Champions League qualification.
ST: Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Great outing / James Gill – Danehouse/GettyImages
Put simply, Crystal Palace do not draw 2-2 with City without Jean-Philippe Mateta leading their offensive line.
The forward scored a goal of his own and then won a penalty which Michael Olise scored to secure the draw.
LW: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United)
Another brace / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
We’ll never know how Erik ten Hag and Man Utd thought it was a good idea to sign Antony instead of Mohammed Kudus.
West Ham capitalised on United’s error of judgement in the summer and, in doing so, signed one of the most exciting players in the division.
Kudus was utterly fantastic once again at the weekend, bagging another two goals to continue his hot streak in front of goal.
Source: 90mins
