It’s safe to say there were some standout performers at the weekend, but of course, there were also some equally low-grade displays. So, which players have made the first best and worst XIs of the 2019/20 Premier League season?
Disagree with any of our picks? Let us know in comments!
BEST XI
Goalkeeper: De Gea (Man Utd)
David de Gea made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League’s opening weekend.
Right-back: Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
Ainsley Maitland-Niles put in an excellent performance against Newcastle United. The 21-year-old was strong defensively but also did his bit going forward, beating Jetro Willems before setting up the only goal of the game with a perfect cross.
Centre-back: Maguire (Man Utd)
Another part of United’s defence in our Best XI, Maguire enjoyed a rock-solid debut, causing Tammy Abraham and then Olivier Giroud frustration at Old Trafford. The former Leicester City man was dominant in the air and is already looking like living up to his transfer fee.
Centre-back: Mings (Aston Villa)
The centre-back looked like a superhero, throwing himself in the way of everything aimed at Tom Heaton’s goal, and getting vital clearances out of the box before Tottenham’s attackers could even think of reacting.
Left-back: Pieters (Burnley)
The summer signing was solid in both defence and attack, winning a match-high four tackles and recording two assists.
Right midfielder: Mahrez (Man City)
The winger was involved in all five of Manchester City’s goals at some point, officially recording two assists and winning the penalty from which Sergio Aguero scored.
Central midfielder: Fabinho (Liverpool)
Fabinho was virtually unbeatable sitting just in front of the Liverpool back four, making seven tackles and making two interceptions. The Brazilian has fully arrived.
Central midfielder: De Bruyne (Man City)
De Bruyne was quick to remind everyone what he is capable of against West Ham, with an all-round solid display. De Bruyne set up Sterling’s first goal with a good pass through the defence but also chipped in, winning four tackles.
Left midfielder: Sterling (Man City)
The English winger scored a hat-trick away to West Ham, including a delightful chipped finish for his second and saw an assist chalked after drifting offside by the slimmest of margins.
Raheem Sterling is the first player to score a hat-trick on the Premier League’s opening weekend since Didier Drogba in 2010.
Striker: Kane (Tottenham)
Harry Kane did not have the best start to Tottenham’s win over Aston Villa, wasting chances he otherwise would have been expected to score. But when his side needed him most to get the win late on, Kane reminded spectators of his clinical nature with two well-taken finishes to break Villa hearts.
Striker: Barnes (Burnley)
After a frustrating first half, Barnes scored a brace to put his side in control and remind Southampton of just how good he can be in front of goal.
WORST XI
Goalkeeper: Gunn (Southampton)
No goalkeeper wants to concede three goals on the opening matchweek of the season. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to Angus Gunn, who saw Ashley Barnes bag a brace and Johann Berg Gudmundsson open his account for the campaign.
Right-back: Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
The ever-reliable seasoned Spaniard had an afternoon to forget in the North West as he – along with his teammates – capitulated after the restart in the Blues’ biggest-ever Premier League defeat to Man Utd.
Centre-back: Zouma (Chelsea)
With David Luiz out of the picture and Antonio Rudiger injured, this was the perfect opportunity for Zouma to showcase his worth and illustrate exactly why he should be starting on a consistent basis in west London. But his Old Trafford showing, simply put, demonstrated the reverse.
Centre-back: Vestergaard (Southampton)
No centre-back was dribbled past more times than Vestergaard in the Premier League over the weekend.
Centre-back: Hanley (Norwich)
With seven minutes on the clock, Hanley marked his return to the top flight with a mistimed clearance-cum-own goal, before allowing Divock Origi to spring past him and nod home for the fourth.
Left back: Cresswell (West Ham)
Cresswell would have perhaps been relieved to have seen he was coming up against Riyad Mahrez, as opposed to Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane or Bernardo Silva. However he felt upon seeing the team news matters little. Cresswell was completely outfoxed, outmanoeuvred and outplayed by the Algerian.
Central midfield: Doucoure (Watford)
The 26-year-old struggled to assert his authority in the middle of the park as he registered a underwhelming 75 per cent pass success rate, the second-lowest of any central midfielder on the pitch.
Central midfield: Schneiderlin (Everton)
Unfortunately for the Frenchman, he picked up two bookings in reckless fashion, including one for a petulant outburst, before being sent packing by referee Jonathan Moss.
Right-midfield: Mkhitaryan (Arsenal)
In the first half, Mkhitaryan lacked invention, penetration and an eye for goal, blazing a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock over the bar, before he was ultimately withdrawn before the final whistle.
Left-midfield: Ayoze Perez (Leicester)
Deployed on the wing, but with license to drift infield, the Spaniard lacked a cutting edge going forward and showcased no understanding with what James Maddison and Jamie Vardy were trying to do.
Striker: Andre Gray (Watford)
He often cut an isolated and frustrated figure up top as the Hornets struggled to create any real semblance of an attacking threat going forward.