.After each team plays in the Premier League, BBC football expert Garth Crooks gathers his thoughts and gives you his team of the week.
Ederson (Manchester City): He’s at it again: winning games for Manchester City. Ederson’s save from Kurt Zouma, in perhaps the most crucial moment of the match against West Ham, was a match-winning save if I ever saw one.
Zouma couldn’t have done more with that head. His jump was magnificent and was only surpassed by the power and direction of the head.
West Ham’s Alphonse Areola made maybe nine saves throughout the match, but West Ham couldn’t win the match.
Ederson’s performance earned City three more valuable away points and therefore City will challenge for the title again at the end of the season.
Kyle Walker (Manchester City): He played – and scored – for England in the 1-1 draw against Ukraine in Poland and played the entire match against Scotland at Hampden Park three days later. Walker then returned to his club and put in an excellent performance at the London Stadium.
There was even a moment in the game where Walker’s speed on the right made Zouma feel like he was walking in syrup.
The England full-back is currently playing the best football of his career and for the best team in Europe.
If he continues to play like this, he will have to be named Footballer of the Year very soon.
William Saliba (Arsenal):
There was a moment in the first half at Goodison Park on Sunday when Beto tried to bring William Saliba down his left side for a shot on goal.
Well, the Everton striker should never have worried about that.
Saliba dropped Beto and the ball out of play so easily it was like taking candy from a child.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen an Arsenal centre-back so comfortable under pressure. Saliba is also smart enough to know when to retreat from tackles that he can’t win cleanly in the penalty area.
There could only be one winner here and that was Arsenal. As for Everton, it’s going to be another tough season – but luckily I can think of three teams who are worse.
Andy Robertson (Liverpool): It’s been a while since Robertson was included in my squad, but I think his overall contribution to Liverpool’s win against Wolves was well worth his selection.
The international break obviously had an impact on Liverpool’s excellent form in the league, particularly in the first half.
Robertson’s role as captain of club and country seems to suit him, although I thought he could have done more to block Hwang Hee-chan’s shot, which allowed the hosts to take the lead.
Nonetheless, the Scotland international made a decisive contribution to Liverpool’s winning streak continuing with a successful goal.
Things are looking good for Liverpool, while retaining Mohamed Salah is crucial. All the honor goes to Jürgen Klopp and the club.
Few would have turned down such a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League.
Pascal Gross (Brighton & Hove Albion): I don’t think I’ve seen a Manchester United team defend like that in years.
Victor Lindelof looked unrecognizable compared to the player I saw in last season’s FA Cup semi-final and don’t even get me started on Lisandro Martinez.
However, this was an impressive win at Old Trafford for Brighton, who swept across United in similar fashion to what Wolves did earlier in the season, except they didn’t get the result.
Pascal Gross was the better player and seemed to fill the gaps left by Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo with remarkable ease.
Any attempt to attribute United’s recent poor performances to the Glazers’ inability to sell the club is absolutely nonsensical.
Whatever activity takes place in the boardroom has nothing to do with a professional footballer once he crosses the white line.
Rodri (Manchester City):
Arguably the most important member of City’s squad, Rodri is a regular in Pep Guardiola’s team. He is venturing forward and becoming more creative with each game.
West Ham barely saw the ball in the second half as Rodri was in charge and City controlled the game.
They have taken maximum points from five games and Kevin de Bruyne hasn’t featured in the last four games – no one even mentioned him, let alone said he was missing.
At this rate, City can take their time with the injured De Bruyne and wait until he is fully fit before considering his return.
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa): I thought Crystal Palace assistant manager Paddy McCarthy’s analysis of Villa’s penalty was accurate.
Any referee who takes five minutes to make a decision must have enough doubts, but that didn’t stop Darren England from furthering his error of judgment.
All I can say in his defense is that it was his fault and his alone. Defender Chris Richards’ tackle was fantastic and makes me question whether Mr England knows the difference between a good challenge and a bad one.
The penalty was a great moment and a turning point. Douglas Luiz is part of my team not only because he converted the penalty so emphatically, but also because of his performance, which was absolutely professional at all times.
His calm, steady and consistent approach has helped transform Villa since the arrival of Unai Emery.
Leandro Trossard (Arsenal): Here
There aren’t many teams that have the opportunity to lose a top player to injury and replace him with another.
Arsenal had to bring on Gabriel Martinelli after just 22 minutes at Goodison Park, but had the luxury of bringing on Trossard.
The Belgium international made an immediate impact, moving past Jordan Pickford as part of the most excellent move I’ve seen from Arsenal in some time.
Trossard is unfortunate not to be in the Gunners’ starting line-up as the selection process for Mikel Arteta is becoming a bit problematic.
Arsenal host PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday and Spurs in the north London derby four days later.
The best players want to play in the biggest games. If Aaron Ramsdale is dropped for David Raya, with the England goalkeeper not putting a foot wrong, he could come home to bite Arteta.
The Arsenal manager must approach this situation with great sensitivity.
Richarlison (Tottenham): A goal and an assist from a player who has clearly struggled to find form since joining Spurs changed the game against Sheffield United.
Richarlison’s move to head the equalizer was quite brilliant, but it was his unselfishness and ability to collect the pass for Dejan Kulusevski to score once inside the penalty area that won Tottenham the match.
This is a player I have already criticized in the past. I found his antics in the past rather childish.
The fact that he played for his country during the week, that he returned in time to play for his club amid suggestions about his mental health, that he came on as a substitute and that he had such an impact on the match speaks volumes on the strength and courage of the players.
Brazilian. Long may he continue. Jeremy Doku (Manchester City): How interesting is it that City manager Pep Guardiola, having given up the services of Raheem Sterling at the age of 27 and more recently Riyad Mahrez at the age of 32, has sold both players for a combined sum that was more than Doku’s price.
The 21-year-old looked good against West Ham and City now have another player who can regularly beat full-backs like Sterling and Mahrez did.
Doku created two golden chances for Erling Haaland in the first half before scoring the best goal past a stranded Areola.
Hammers full-back Vladimir Coufal did his best to contain Doku, but the winger was simply too good that day.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): He may not be scoring buckets of goals anymore, but Salah is playing the best team football I’ve seen him play since he arrived at Anfield.
He was excellent again against Wolves and hasn’t missed a beat since the Saudis tried to lure him to the Pro League for staggering fees.
All thanks to the Egyptian superstar, who behaved in a dignified and respectful manner towards the club that made him a world-class player. A model professional.
I felt compelled to respond to Luton Town manager Rob Edwards, who said my comments last week about not being able to take the Hatters seriously and the team being absent at Christmas were “disrespectful”.
They’re worth a little context. I must admit that my comments were certainly not intended as a compliment, but rather as a warning of what awaits the newcomer.
Luton Town Football Club prides itself on producing some of the best players in the country and putting much bigger clubs in their place.
When I first played at Kenilworth Road, Ricky Hill was a talented young player who went on to play for England.
He was followed by Brian and Mark Stein and a young John Hartson; Forwards capable of scoring against any opponent.
So many goal threats, and that’s before we even mention Malcolm Macdonald. Paul Walsh left Luton for Liverpool after producing some of his best football for the Bedfordshire club, supported by outstanding defenders such as Paul Price, Mal Donaghy, Paul Elliott and Steve Foster.
And David Pleat and Mick Harford deserve lifetime achievement awards for their contributions to the club.
However, my problem with the current regime is that I see a club in the Premier League but have no serious intention of staying there.
To compete in the toughest and most successful league in the world, significant investments in player recruitment and infrastructure are required.
When I look at the summer signings from Kenilworth Road and Luton, it’s clear that this was just the bare minimum. returns to conquer the emotional Davi
