It was a spectacular start to the season with some headline results that kicked-off the season with a bang. The raging-hot contenders flexed their muscles and some surprises were found in some of the more unexpected winners. We here at tribalfootball look at the top performers from week 1 in the Tribal Football Team Of The Week.
GOALKEEPER - EDERSON
Goalkeepers playing at the top clubs often come under scrutiny, with their ability coming under question as they themselves come less under question from opposition forwards. It is therefore the mark of top goalkeepers at the big clubs, not to necessarily make lots of saves, but rather when called upon, have the focus to be able to switch on and avert the danger.
For Ederson this was the case in City's 5-0 win over West Ham. In the 72nd minute, with the score at 2-0, Ederson made a sublime double-save, the first coming from a close range Chicharito shot, and the second from the subsequent follow up. Terrific reflexes from the Brazilian.
Ederson made a total of 3 saves and 1 claim for the match and operated at a pass accuracy of 93.1%.
In order for City to be the formidable force that they were for the previous two seasons, stability at the back is paramount and the form of Ederson between the sticks is key.
CENTRE-BACK - HARRY MAGUIRE
For the most expensive defender in the world, on his debut at the most popular club in world-football, it would be understandable if the immensity of pressure hampered the Englishmen's first game for the Red Devils.
But for Harry Maguire it was quite simply the opposite. In United's 4-0 win over Chelsea, Maguire already seemed to be exactly what the fans have been looking for at Old Trafford. His calmness and assuredness at the Back both On and Off the ball was already on display on the weekend.
A clean sheet in front of the home support against Chelsea certainly constitutes a performance in keeping with his world-record price-tag.
Maguire won 4 aerial duels, made 4 interceptions, 7 clearances and 2 blocks in defensive duties. He also made 57 passes at 86% accuracy, with 3 accurate long-balls and 1 key pass.
CENTRE-BACK - LEWIS DUNK
In Brighton's terrific 3-0 win over Watford, it is no surprise that the seagulls success was founded on superb form at the back. The ever-reliable centre-back partnership of Duffy and Dunk proved crucial to Potter's plans in maintaining Brighton's sturdy defensive reputation.
If it were possible, both would be in the defensive line-up, however it is Dunk's offensive contributions over Duffy's defensive ones that win him this spot in the team of the week. Brighton clung onto survival last-season off the back of their defensive efforts, so the scoring of 3 goals (along with the clean sheet) a feat that they only managed twice last season, is worth noting.
Dunk along with his clean sheet, 2 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 clearances made his presence felt at both ends of the pitch.
He made 59 passes at 91.5% accuracy, hit 7 accurate long balls and registered a simply sublime long-range assist to teammate Neal Maupay to ice the game.
LEFT-BACK - ERIK PEITERS
An unlikely source of goal-inspiration came in the form of Premier League Veteran Erik Pieters, who was key to Burnley's impressive 3-0 win over Southampton.
The Dutchman was key both defensively strong, as he made 7 tackles (most of any defender), 2 clearances and 2 interceptions in his sides clean sheet, but was instrumental going forward with 5 accurate long-balls, 1 accurate cross and 2 assists.
Pieters connection with Ashley Barnes, which led to 2 goals on the weekend, will be something the clarets will look to as a promising avenue to goal.
Pieters may not be a regular name in the Team of the Week side this season, however his performance on the weekend made him impossible to keep out.
RIGHT-BACK - AARON WAN-BISSAKA
Another successful debut for Man United's forgotten big money signing, who has conveniently slipped under the radar following the world-record signing of Harry Maguire. It has seemed to suit the 21-year-old who has slotted in seamlessly at Right-Back.
With a strong mix of attacking and defensive prowess, it appears Wan-Bissaka has added more stability to the United backline, with his tackling ability and placidity on the ball illuminated in the 4-0 win over Chelsea.
The Englishmen made 6 tackles, the second most of any defender on the weekend, made 3 interceptions and 5 clearances. He won 1 aerial duel along with 1 accurate cross, 1 accurate long ball and 1 key pass. A quality performance in both aspects of the game.
A clean sheet to add certainly capped off a very strong debut from the very strong full-back.
The continued success of Wan-Bissaka and Maguire could heavily change the fortunes at Old Trafford this season.
CENTRE-MIDFIELD - PAUL POGBA
The mercurial Frenchman was back to his best in United's 4-0 win over Chelsea. Much has to be noted of Pogba's start to the season, with despite the rumours linking him to a move away from Old Trafford, has stayed ultra-professional, showing leadership and skill in this young United side.
Ultimately it was Pogba who was key to the win, with his passing range and ability on the ball able to break the game open on numerous occasions.
Pogba won 4 aerial duels, managed 6 accurate-long balls, 4 key passes and 1 accurate cross along with his all-important 2 assists. One assist was with pace and power and the other with an exquisite long rang pass. Certainly an all round midfield contribution.
A deserving spot at Centre-Midfield for Pogba who looks to be key to Solskjaer's plans.
CENTRE-MIDFIELD - MATTEO GUENDOUZI
The 20-year-old Frenchman played a crucial part in Arsenal's steely 1-0 win away at Newcastle. Playing in the heart of one of the most inexperienced Arsenal sides ever to grace the Premier League, Guendouzi played well beyond years, showing leadership in the centre of the pitch.
In a game that seemed bereft of skill and urgency, Guendouzi was the player who kept things ticking, playing admirably against a strong Newcastle midfield. His calmness and quality on the ball was key to Arsenal staying in the game, snatching a winner and eventually holding on for the 3 points.
To win under such circumstances is a huge boost for Emery's men, and he would have Guendouzi largely to thank for such a result.
The Frenchman himself had 69 passes at 85.5% accuracy, registering 4 accurate long balls, made 2 interceptions and 3 clearances, along with 1 key pass.
LEFT-WING - RAHEEM STERLING
Raheem Sterling has hit the ground running after a blistering pre-season that saw him score 5 goals in as many games. It appears that in the Premier League, nothing will be different for Sterling, who despite being pushed back out to his natural position on the left-wing, has hit the back of the net with equal ease.
Sterling's hat-trick was taken with terrific skill and a clinical edge. He even managed an assist to Gabriel Jesus which was chalked off by VAR in one of the more contested decisions of the weekend.
4 shots on goal for 4 shots on target highlights his strikers touch, and the goal where he lifted the ball elegantly over Fabianski is one of the goals of the round.
Man City are certainly the team to beat and Sterling will be one of the key talismans, especially if he continues to find goals so effortlessly.
RIGHT-WING - RIYAD MAHREZ
From the scorer of the goals in Sterling to the creator of them in Riyad Mahrez. Of course in City's star-studded line-up, many players can be credited for the deadly attacking football they produce, however it was Mahrez in particular in their 5-0 thrashing of West Ham who was especially instrumental.
Mahrez was intimately involved in every one of City's five goals, either registering the assist himself or playing the crucial penultimate pass to set-up the attack. Of the goals, he officially assisted two, with one particularly superb chipped cross back into the middle for Raheem Sterling to tuck away.
Mahrez further managed 3 shots on goal, 4 key passes, 2 accurate through-balls, 1 accurate long-ball and 2 successful dribbles. He also operated at a pass accuracy of 83.3%.
The skillful winger highlighted his attacking flair on the weekend and looks to have placed a claim in the hotly-contested City frontline with this outstanding performance.
CENTRE-FORWARD - ASHLEY BARNES
The archetypal Premier-League bigman has started off the campaign in fine-fashion, with many pundits whipping out the standard rhetoric surrounding 'one of the league's most underrated strikers.'
Barnes was the clarets predominant threat to the Southampton goal, whose power and clean finishing worries defences around the country. Barnes' clinical finishing was once again on show at Turf Moor where he had 4 shots on goal, 3 on target and 2 that found the back of the net.
One goal was off the back of terrific creativity from an Erik Pieters long ball, and the other, a ruthless first time finish from a Pieters cross.
Barnes further won 5 aerial duels highlighting his presence in the air, and completed 4 successful dribbles. A truly all round performance from the striker who will be key to Burnley's success this season.
CENTRE-FORWARD - HARRY KANE
Who says Harry Kane doesn't score goals in August? It might of taken the English front-man 70 or so minutes to warm up, but once he did, he certainly sunk his studs thick into Spurs 3-1 triumph over a resilient Aston Villa.
Kane totalled 8 shots on Tom Heaton's goal (either blocked or off-target), however right at the death he managed his first two on target, both finding the back of the net with supreme quality and keeping all 3 points in London.
It is truly the sign of any top striker that they are not deterred by past adversities and are able to continue to take opportunities that come their way.
Kane had a further 2 key passes, won 1 aerial duel and registered 2 accurate long balls.
A strong start for Harry Kane whose 2 goals will start him off well in what will be a hotly contested golden boot award.
MANAGER OF THE WEEK - GRAHAM POTTER
It was probably the shock result of the round with many pundits expecting for Watford at home to comfortably obtain the 3 points on home turf. However the exciting and innovative Graham Potter would be having none of that sentiment in his first match in the Premier League with Brighton.
Not only did Brighton manage to hold the hornets goalless, but they also piled on 3 goals away from home, a feat they did not achieve once last season.
Playing with 5 at the back, the seagulls were typically solid at the back and managed to look threatening on the break with the likes of Solly March and Pascal Gross looking dangerous on the counter.
However it was the inspired substitutions of Florin Andone, and debutant Neal Maupay that cemented Potter as manager of the week, with both players scoring, ensuring all 3 points headed back to the Amex stadium. A superb start for Graham Potter and Brighton.
SUBSTITUTE OF THE WEEK - CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
It's not often that a player who only plays 30 minutes of the game is one of the best players of the week, let alone of the match. However the introduction of playmaker Christian Eriksen in the 63rd minute changed the complexion of the match and was the spark to Tottenham's 3-1 come-from-behind win.
In his short time on the pitch, Eriksen had 3 shots on goal, 8 crosses, 4 long balls and a whopping 3 key passes.
His presence on the field, both with the ball at his feet and passing, brought others into the game and led to the 3 goals scored.
However this impressive cameo is marred by the plethora of transfer rumours that surround the talented dane, with the possibility of him leaving appearing increasingly likely with only a year left on his contract. Judging by that performance spurs will be desperate to hold on to him.
GOAL OF THE WEEK - TANGUY NDOMBELE
Another debutant, this time in the form of spurs midfielder Tanguy Ndombele who claims the initial goal of the week award.
In the 73rd minute, with Spurs under the cosh 0-1 down at home to a defensively stubborn Aston Villa, the ball came out to the powerful Frenchmen, who thundered the ball first-time from outside the box, through a crowd of bodies, curling into Tom Heaton's well protected net. It is a goal that surely endears him to the home support and was the crucial breakthrough for Tottenham.
MOMENT OF THE WEEK - BILLY SHARP
Sometimes you can't script stories as good as these. The Sheffield United local lad, who has been involved with the club ever since he was a boy, has been intricately involved with the Blades recent surge up the rungs of English Football.
Since rejoining the club in 2015, when Sheffield United were in the 3rd division, Sharp has been instrumental to their rise to the Premier League. In that time he has scored 87 goals from 165 appearances.
On the weekend he sat on the bench at age 33, watching as his beloved club plied its trade back in the top flight of English football for the first time since 2008.
In the 81st minute he came off the bench and grabbed the captains armband, his side one nil down.
In the 88th minute, after a goal mouth scrimmage, Sharp managed to poke the ball into the back of the net, claiming a precious point away from home.
A truly special moment for a man who simply lives and breathes Sheffield United.
