Premier League Team of the Week: Villa trio force way into Man City dominant XI
No prizes for guessing the dominant side in the Premier League team of the week. Manchester City were rutheless against Leeds on Tuesday night, romping to a 7-0 win to reinforce their title credentials. Players from Aston Villa, Everton and Wolves also make the cut in a COVID-hit midweek best XI.
Jordan Pickford (Everton) - 8.40
Everton held Chelsea to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night with Jordan Pickford playing a starring role for the Toffees. The England number one made nine saves in the stalemate - no goalkeeper has made more in a Premier League match this season - to kick off the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.40.
John Stones (Manchester City) - 8.56
The first of six Manchester City players to make the cut after their 7-0 mauling of Leeds on Tuesday, John Stones featured at right-back in the victory and impressed as noted by a WhoScored rating of 8.56. Stones scored his first league goal of the season at the Etihad, and defended solidly where needed, making three clearances, two interceptions and one tackle to cap a fine fourth league start of 2021/22.
Romain Saiss bagged his second league goal of the campaign in Wolves' 1-0 at Brighton on Wednesday night, and continued his record of netting in December for the fifth year running. The Moroccan's winner came from one of two shots at the AMEX and he worked hard to ensure all the spoils for Wolves, making nine clearances and five interceptions to yield a WhoScored rating of 8.75.
Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) - 7.44
The first of three Aston Villa players in the side joins Saiss at the heart of the defence. Tyrone Mings put in one of his best rated performances of 2021/22 in Villa's 2-0 win at Norwich on Tuesday night, coming away from the game with a WhoScored rating of 7.44. Mings made eight clearances and two interceptions to secure the Villans a clean sheet and a spot in the team of the week.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City) - 7.79
Oleksandr Zinchenko did his starting chances no harm with his best rated display of the season in Manchester City's 7-0 win over Leeds. The Ukrainian left-back got forward well when needed, completing two dribbles, and did what he needed defensively as he made four tackles, three clearances and one interception to lock down the left-back spot in the team with a WhoScored rating of 7.79.
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) - 10.0
There are three perfect 10s in the Premier League team of the week this week, with Riyad Mahrez the one to land the player of the week award. Mahrez was superb for Manchester City against Leeds on Tuesday night as he had a direct hand in two of their seven goals, hitting the back of the net with one of five shots and providing the assist for Jack Grealish early in the first half, that coming from one of four key passes. Five dribbles and two interceptions marked an excellent evening for the Algerian.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 10.0
Kevin De Bruyne made his first league start in over a month against Leeds on Tuesday night and celebrated his return to the starting XI with a perfect 10 performance. The Belgian bagged a brace against the Whites, including a wonderful second half thunderbolt, from nine shots and he was unfortunate not to add an assist as he made four key passes in a stunning showing.
Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) - 8.28
Ensuring the midfield is not completely dominated by Manchester City, Jacob Ramsey joins De Bruyne in the middle of the park. The 20-year-old scored his second goal of the season in Aston Villa's 2-0 win at Norwich on Tuesday night, finishing a superb solo effort with aplomb. Two key passes and two tackles saw Ramsey return a WhoScored rating of 8.28, enough to make the cut from the midweek games.
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) - 8.87
Rounding off the midfield is Jack Grealish, who landed a WhoScored rating of 8.87 at the Etihad Stadium in midweek. Grealish scored Manchester City's second of the night after just 13 minutes, beating Illan Meslier with one of three shots, and was a thorn in the side of the Leeds defence, completing four dribbles. In addition, the 26-year-old found a teammate with 95.3% of 43 attempted passes to help secure his place on the left.
Phil Foden (Manchester City) - 10.0
The sixth and final Manchester City player, and third perfect 10 rated player in the XI, Phil Foden bagged his fourth goal and provided his third assist of the season in Tuesday's 7-0 win over Leeds, those coming from respective returns of six shots and five key passes. Three dribbles, one interception and one clearance helped Foden to such a fine WhoScored rating.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) - 8.60
Joining Foden on the frontline is Aston Villa hitman Ollie Watkins, who was on hand to score his fifth goal and register his first assist of the season in their 2-0 win at Norwich. Watkins beat Tim Krul with one of six shots, while his assist for Jacob Ramsey's goal came from one of three goalscoring chances created. The striker worked hard off the ball, too, as he made two clearances, one tackle and one interception to come away from Carrow Road with a WhoScored rating of 8.60.
