MY ACCOUNT
Manchester City’s defeat at Liverpool rounded off a busy weekend of Premier League action which saw Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the table with three points at Leeds.
Goals were at a premium with two goalless draws and three games decided by a solitary strike, but that does not mean there was a lack of excitement.
We have picked out five players who stood out on Matchday 11 in the English top flight.
Ivan Toney
If Brighton were lucky enough to have Ivan Toney in their side, it may not be just Newcastle looking to break into the top six this term.
But unfortunately for the Seagulls, he is Brentford’s star man and his brace helped the Bees to a big 2-0 win on Friday night.
While the visitors had the better of the chances, Toney’s class in the penalty box proved the difference.
His first was a masterclass in movement as he darted in front of Adam Webster before deftly guiding the ball beyond Robert Sanchez.
And it was his presence that forced Joel Veltman into a silly challenge in the box at 1-0 and allowed him to convert his 20th penalty in a row for the West Londoners.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
When Graham Potter was appointed Chelsea manager, a change between the sticks seemed unlikely.
But Edouard Mendy’s injury handed Kepa Arrizabalaga a chance and boy has he taken it.
He made seven saves at Aston Villa on Sunday, including a fantastic double stop to deny John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey before somehow tipping a point-blank Danny Ings header over the bar.
“We lost our way a little bit and we needed Kepa to make some fantastic saves,” Potter said.
“He is contributing to us with clean sheets, how we are trying to play and the environment around the place. Kepa found a fantastic level, he made brilliant saves which kept us in the game.”
Mason Mount
While Kepa took the headlines at one end of the pitch, it was the Mason Mount show at the other.
Mount, 23, showed great composure to calmly slot the ball past Emiliano Martinez to put Chelsea 1-0 up after Tyrone Mings’ wayward header.
He then fooled Martinez with a free-kick after the break to put the Blues two up after some heavy pressure from Villa.
They were his first Premier League goals of the season after notching two assists in wins against both AC Milan and Wolves.
Mount is thriving under Potter as the only outfield player to start all six games he has managed and his form is a real positive for England boss Gareth Southgate ahead of the World Cup.
Joe Gomez
There is no doubting that Manchester City fans would have been licking their lips when the team news came out.
Joe Gomez was starting at centre-back for the fifth time in the league this term and James Milner had to be deployed alongside him at right-back.
Milner was his usual reliable self, while Gomez, 25, produced a man-of-the-match display and a reminder why he was once first choice alongside Virgil van Dijk before injury problems in recent years.
An 11-cap international, you suspect Southgate is currently monitoring his return to the side with great interest.
After naming him man of the match, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said: “I’m sure City were looking to target him before the game but he’s covered behind Milner, he’s made some brilliant interceptions himself.”
Mohamed Salah
It is no surprise that Mohamed Salah stepped up to make the difference when Liverpool needed him most.
Full of confidence after his record-breaking hat-trick at Rangers in the week, the Egyptian was the match-winner again.
He showed his strength to turn Joao Cancelo before racing away and stroking the ball past Ederson to send Anfield wild.
A player desperate to be challenging for the Premier League and Champions League, Salah then reminded his team-mates their attention must turn to the next game immediately.
He said: “We just need to focus on each game and take one game at a time. We don’t have to think about the title at the moment.”
