Man City star De Bruyne joins Chelsea trio in Premier League Team of the Week
Manchester City secured the bragging rights in Manchester with a resounding 4-1 derby win on Sunday and the defending champions are rightly represented in the Premier League team of the week. However, it is Chelsea who dominate the XI, with players from Leicester, Newcastle, Watford, Tottenham and Aston Villa also featuring.
Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester) - 8.48
Leicester earned back-to-back league wins for just the second time this season as they followed up a 2-0 win at Burnley with a 1-0 victory over Leeds on Saturday. However, while Leeds have been in poor form of late, the Foxes needed the heroics of Kasper Schmeichel to wrap up all three points. Indeed, the Dane made four saves and four successful high claims to earn the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 8.48.
The first of three Chelsea players to make the cut, Reece James excelled on his first league start since December as the Blues romped to a 4-0 win at Burnley, having a direct hand in two of their four goals at Turf Moor. James fired Chelsea ahead shortly after the restart, and followed that up with the assist for Kai Havertz's second of the afternoon, those coming from respective returns of two shots and one key pass, to help the youngster to a WhoScored rating of 9.06.
Fabian Schar (Newcastle) - 8.14
After providing his first assist of the season at Brentford last week, Fabian Schar bagged his second league goal of the campaign in a man of the match performance against Brighton. The Swiss centre-back earned a WhoScored rating of 8.14 against the Seagulls to extend the Magpies' fine unbeaten start to 2022. To go with his goal, Schar also made six clearances, three interceptions and two tackles to claim his spot in the backline.
Partnering Schar at the heart of the defence is the experienced Thiago Silva. The Brazilian was influential in Chelsea's dominant display at Turf Moor as he found a teammate with 95.5% of his 112 passes at Burnley, while four clearances and four aerial duels won meant the Clarets were restricted to just one shot on target as Silva returned a WhoScored rating of 7.92.
Hassane Kamara (Watford) - 8.15
Hassane Kamara may have been on the losing side as Watford crashed to a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in Sunday's early kick off, but the left-back did all he could to help the Hornets to a positive result. The 28-year-old got forward well, making one key pass and completing one dribble, and worked his socks off out of possession as he made seven interceptions, five tackles and two clearances to land a WhoScored rating of 8.15.
Matt Doherty (Tottenham) - 9.54
Tottenham tore Everton to shreds on Monday night, smashing the Toffees 5-0, with Matt Doherty a key player in the win. Doherty has struggled to nail down a first team spot following his arrival from Wolves, but appears to have won the battle with Emerson Royal for the starting right wing-back spot in Antonio Conte's side. He followed up his goal and assist at Leeds last week with a brace of assists against Everton, those coming from four key passes. The 30-year-old also made three accurate through balls to help land a WhoScored rating of 9.54.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 9.87
With a WhoScored rating of 9.87, Kevin De Bruyne is the Premier League player of the week. The Belgian was influential for Manchester City in their 4-1 Manchester Derby win, having a direct hand in three goals. De Bruyne bagged a first half brace and then provided the assist for the first of Riyad Mahrez's two goals. Those came from respective returns of six shots and five key passes. What's more, the 30-year-old found a teammate with 93% of his 43 passes to cap a stunning display.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) - 8.83
Joining Manchester City teammate De Bruyne in the middle of the park is Bernardo Silva. Silva provided the assist for the first of De Bruyne's two goals against Manchester United, that coming from one of three key passes, while the Portugal international was difficult to stop when he gained a head of steam, completing five dribbles, to secure a spot in the side with a WhoScored rating of 8.83.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) - 9.09
The third and final Chelsea player in the side is Christian Pulisic. Like teammate James, Pulisic also had a direct hand in two goals in the Blues' 4-0 win at Burnley, providing the assist for Kai Havertz's first goal at Turf Moor and following that up with his fourth league goal of the campaign with 20 minutes to play. Five dribbles, two shots and one key pass was enough for Pulisic to nail down the left wing spot with a WhoScored rating of 9.09.
Harry Kane moved to within 84 goals of Alan Shearer's Premier League goal record with a brace against Everton on Monday night. Kane found a way past compatriot Jordan Pickford with two of four shots at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and was unfortunate not to grab an assist having made one key pass. With one dribble and one tackle to his name, the striker joins Tottenham teammate Doherty in the XI with a Whocored rating of 9.59.
Danny Ings (Aston Villa) - 8.96
Aston Villa smashed Southampton 4-0 on Saturday afternoon with Danny Ings putting in a man of the match display on the Villans frontline. Ings provided the assist for Ollie Watkins' opener with nine minutes on the clock, and followed that up with his second assist of the game seven minutes into the second half. The 29-year-old then got his name on the scoresheet, his goal and pair of assists coming from two shots and two key passes, as Ings landed a WhoScored rating of 8.96 to partner Kane in attack.
