The Premier League returned after another international break with another frenetic weekend of action in Gameweek 8.
Liverpool suffered a fourth loss in a row in all competitions as Manchester United won 2-1 at Anfield, while Arsenal edged another 1-0 victory to give them an advantage in the title race.
Meanwhile, Sunderland and Burnley picked up crucial wins over relegation candidates Wolves and Leeds United respectively.
Here is our team of the week for Gameweek 8.
Goalkeeper – Senne Lammers (Manchester United)
Burnley’s Martin Dubravka may feel a little aggrieved to have not been given the nod, but Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammers was instrumental in their first win at Anfield since 2016, making five crucial saves.
Alexander Isak was denied by the Belgian keeper at a crucial point in the first half and that laid the groundwork for the Red Devils’ success.
Defender – Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland)
Nordi Mukiele looks one of many shrewd summer additions at Sunderland and he was key to their 2-0 win over strugglers Wolves, scoring a first-half header and playing a key role in the hosts’ clean sheet.
The centre-back won nine of his ten aerial duels and made three tackles in the win.
Defender – Gabriel (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s central defensive partnership is the best in the Premier League and they showed that once again on Saturday, helping hold Fulham at bay in the Gunners’ 1-0 win.
It is not just in the defensive area that the two contribute however and it was Gabriel who popped up with a flicked header for Leandro Trossard to finish, securing the win for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Brazilian also won six of his nine aerial duels and made nine clearances in an all-around display.
Defender – Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Harry Maguire has often been maligned at Manchester United, but he has been a key goalscorer under Ruben Amorim and he popped up with another crucial header as the Red Devils beat rivals Liverpool 2-1.
The England centre-back also put in a solid defensive shift and was a key leader for the Red Devils amid the cauldron of an atmosphere at Anfield.
Defender – Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)
Daniel Munoz has long been one of the most productive defenders in the Premier League and he showed that once again in Crystal Palace’s 3-3 draw, setting up two of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s three goals in their wild comeback against Bournemouth.
The Colombian also made five tackles, four blocks and five clearances in an all-action performance for the Eagles.
Midfielder – Lesley Ugochukwu (Burnley)
Burnley picked up a crucial 2-0 win over Leeds this weekend, with midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu scoring the opening goal for the Clarets with a tidy header.
He did plenty of the dirty work in Scott Parker’s midfield too, with three interceptions and a block.
The 21-year-old will be crucial to Burnley’s chances of staying in the top-flight this season, as will their home form, so this win was a ringing endorsement of both.
Midfielder – Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa)
Aston Villa have recovered very well from their wobble earlier in the season and have now won five games in a row after their competitive 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
While Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia stole the spotlight with their long-range finishes, it was Boubacar Kamara’s hard work in midfield which was crucial to their win.
The Frenchman won 14 of his 17 duels in the game, setting the foundation for Unai Emery’s team to win.
Midfielder – Yehor Yarmoliuk (Brentford)
Picking up a crucial away win was massive for Brentford this week, even if it was against strugglers West Ham.
Yehor Yarmoliuk was vital in the Bees’ midfield, with three tackles, three blocks and an interception, as well as 86.9 per cent passing completion.
The Ukrainian showed many of the attributes that the Hammers’ midfield is currently lacking.
Striker – Danny Welbeck (Brighton)
Some things get better with age and it would appear that Brighton’s Danny Welbeck is one of them.
The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker scored 10 Premier League goals in a season for the first time last term and his brace against Newcastle United this weekend means he has four goals in just five starts this campaign.
Striker – Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
After another brace on Saturday against Everton, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has now scored 11 goals in eight Premier League games this season, which is more than 10 teams in the league have managed.
It is now 10 games in a row for club and country that the Norwegian has found the net and if he keeps it up and plays every game, he is on track to score 52 Premier League goals this season.
Striker – Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Jean-Philippe Mateta has had quite a week, scoring his first goal for France and then bagging a hat-trick in Crystal Palace’s frenetic 3-3 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.
The striker even missed a gilt-edged opportunity to net a fourth and win the game in the 99th minute, so could have had an even better return.
Nevertheless, the Eagles striker remains one of the best players outside of the top six and is crucial to the success of his team this season.
