Week 15 of the 2025/26 Premier League season still has a fixture to play as Wolves host Manchester United on Monday, but there were plenty of standout showings on Saturday and Sunday.
Another fine round of Premier League fixtures will be completed on Monday evening when Manchester United head to Wolves.
Aston Villa burnished their potential title chances by beating leaders Arsenal 2-1, while Manchester City continued their winning run with dominant 3-0 win over Sunderland.
There were also standout showings in Leeds and Liverpool’s 3-3 draw, with a player from each side included in our team of the week for Gameweek 15.
Goalkeeper: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
Emi Martinez missed Wednesday’s 4-3 win at Brighton, but he returned to face his former club Arsenal on Saturday and produced a trademark performance.
Martinez made seven saves, but also excelled with his distribution, getting the Villans on the front foot and helping to extend their run to nine wins in 10 in the league.
Defender: Matty Cash (Aston Villa)
After scoring the winner in October’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, Matty Cash also opened the scoring on Saturday.
Villa’s system, with natural central players like John McGinn and Morgan Rogers nominally featuring as wingers, puts extra emphasis on their full-backs to attack.
Cash relishes the challenge and, as well as his goal, produced four crosses at the weekend.
Defender: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Ruben Dias opened the scoring in Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland with a piledriver from distance.
There was a hint of a deflection, but Dias’ strike was reminiscent of Vincent Kompany’s against Leicester in 2019, while he also recorded a team-high 85 per cent pass success rate.
Defender – Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
Pep Guardiola insists that Nico O’Reilly is a midfielder, not a defender, but the youngster is doing a fine impression of one.
O’Reilly succeeded with four tackles against the Black Cats and his driving runs resulted in him being fouled three times.
Still only 20, the Mancunian is already a star.
Midfielder: Anton Stach (Leeds)
Leeds’ switch to a 3-5-2 has opened up space in midfield and Anton Stach is thriving, with the rangy German able to push forward, as he did to score his team’s second goal in their 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
With two interceptions, Stach also passed to Wilfried Gnonto before he was fouled by Ibrahima Konate for Leeds’ penalty, while his corner also caused the chaos that led to Ao Tanaka’s late equaliser.
Midfielder: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton)
After his lost season at Chelsea, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is thriving at Everton.
On Saturday, his second-minute cross deflected in off Nikola Milenkovic to open the scoring, before the 27-year-old completed the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a fine drilled effort.
Dewsbury-Hall also hit the post in a fine performance.
Midfielder: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Included for his rabona assist alone to help Phil Foden net for the fifth time in three games, Rayan Cherki was also credited with an assist for his square pass to Dias, who slammed home from distance in City’s 3-0 win over Sunderland.
Cherki is arguably the most two-footed player in the Premier League and is quickly becoming a key part of City’s set-up.
Midfielder: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
A goal and an assist, Phil Foden’s form keeps getting better.
After braces against Leeds and Fulham, Foden’s corner was headed home by Josko Gvardiol before the homegrown hero nodded in off the bar from Cherki’s assist.
After a tough year, Foden’s recent figures suggest he is returning to form.
Midfielder: Xavi Simons (Tottenham)
Tottenham’s first home win since August was highlighted by Xavi Simons, who assisted Richarlison’s opener before winning the ball in midfield, driving 50 yards and rolling home as his team ran out 2-0 winners over Brentford.
Saturday’s game was Simons’ first Premier League start and his midfield invention could transform his team’s season.
Forward: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
West Ham would be in big trouble were it not for captain Jarrod Bowen, who remains able to carry the team’s stuttering attack.
The England forward scored his team’s goal in Sunday’s 1-1 at Brighton and continues to impress in a struggling Hammers’ side.
Forward: Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
The focus may have been elsewhere post-match at Elland Road, but on the field Hugo Ekitike continues to look the best fit for the Liverpool frontline.
The Frenchman scored twice in West Yorkshire, the first a smart finish after reading a mis-placed pass, before again being in the right place to convert Conor Bradley’s cross.
Ekitike has now scored nine times for the Reds and clearly deserves to keep his starting spot.
