Premier League Team of the Week as Palmer returns to form | OneFootball

Our Premier League Team of the Week from the weekend’s action, featuring names from Chelsea, Bournemouth and Brighton.

Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen – Brighton

Bart Verbruggen has had his critics this season but the Dutchman is a young goalkeeper still learning his trade. This was one of his better afternoons against Newcastle, making a brilliant last-gasp save from Callum Wilson to earn Brighton a point. Verbruggen was cruelly denied the glory of an even better save, with Newcastle awarded a penalty for the events prior to another stunning stop from Wilson.

Right-back: Michael Kayode – Brentford

After taking some time to settle, Michael Kayode produced his best Brentford performance to date on his third league start. Kayode led his teammates for touches (70), duels won (10), possession won (7), successful dribbles (5), interceptions (2) and chances created (2). Involved in Brentford’s second of the game with some nice interplay down the wing, he turned provider for the fourth with an unselfish square pass for Yoane Wissa.

Centre-back: Dean Huijsen – Bournemouth

Dean Huijsen’s stock continues to rise. The Spaniard was superb again as Bournemouth continued their push for European football with an upset of Arsenal at the Emirates. A fantastic flicked header from Antoine Semenyo’s long throw equalised for the Cherries, with no defender having scored more headed goals than Huijsen (3) in the Premier League this season.

Centre-back: Josko Gvardiol – Manchester City

An accomplished performance from Gvardiol to keep City’s chase for the Champions League alive. The Croatian won 100% of his defensive duels and completed 7/9 long balls with some raking distribution. A super goal-line block from Rayan Ait-Nouri ensured a 1-0 win for the home side.

Left-back: Marc Cucurella – Chelsea

Combatting Mohamed Salah has been a task few have succeeded at this season. Marc Cucurella, however, is one of them. The Spaniard restricted Salah’s impact against Liverpool with the latter largely anonymous at Stamford Bridge.

Midfield: Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa

Youri Tielemans deserves huge credit for his turnaround at Aston Villa. The Belgian struggled to earn a regular role last season but has been the hub of the side in 2024/25. Intelligent in his positioning and probing with his passing, Tielemans has played more games than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

This weekend, a bullet header earned Villa a 1-0 win over Fulham and showed another string to his bow. He’s been the Player of the Season at Villa Park.

Midfield: Romeo Lavia – Chelsea

Chelsea have only seen agonising glimpses of Romeo Lavia’s best but this was evidence of the huge potential he has. Against Liverpool, the side he spurned in favour of Chelsea, Lavia was fantastic. He started the move that led to Enzo Fernandez’s opener, won four duels, and failed to misplace a single pass (23/23). Received a standing ovation on his withdrawal.

Midfield: Cole Palmer – Chelsea

Back in his usual groove after a recent dip. Palmer was central to the opening goal as Chelsea took control against Liverpool and led the touches for chances created (4), duels won (5), shots (5) and touches inside the opposition box (8).

He got a deserved goal and his first since mid-January with a perfectly placed penalty in stoppage time.

Right-wing: Yankuba Minteh – Brighton

For the second time this season, Yankuba Minteh proved a point against his former side. The Gambian was a casualty of Newcastle’s need to remain PSR compliant last summer but has been a great addition for Brighton.

A wonderful goal opened the scoring this weekend, as Minteh jinked inside Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali before finding the far corner. Full of energy and driving runs all afternoon, he’s now reached 10 goals and assists in the Premier League this season. No other player aged 21 or under can match that feat.

Left-wing: Kevin Schade – Brentford

Brentford are still pushing for Europe and beat Manchester United in an entertaining seven-goal clash at the Gtech. Kevin Schade scored twice for the Bees, rising magnificently to equalise after nodding in Christian Norgaard’s inviting cross. A second header put Brentford 3-1 ahead as he arrived unmarked to meet Bryan Mbeumo’s deep delivery.

After struggling for goals and games across his first two seasons, Schade has reached 10 for the season in the Premier League this time around.

Forward: Evanilson – Bournemouth

Bournemouth will be grateful Evanilson’s red card last weekend was rescinded with the forward a menace at Arsenal. After a couple of sighters, the Brazilian got his just reward with a winner at the Emirates as he bundled in from close range.

It continued his good form, as Evanilson made it five goals in his last eight league appearances. An international recall could be on the radar.

Read – Harrydinho, Natasha Bedingfield at Burnley, referee Jamie Vardy

See more – Midfield Magicians: Cesc Fabregas, a Catalan creative genius

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