Premier League TOTW Gameweek 17: Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle represented after strong wins | OneFootball

Dominik Szoboszlai is really coming into his own at Liverpool this season.

When it comes to improving Liverpool midfielders, a lot of attention has rightly been directed to Ryan Gravenberch. But Szoboszlai has also grown under Arne Slot and had probably his best Liverpool game against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

The Hungarian has moved from a No.8 role to a No.10, often playing ahead of the starting striker. This season he has two goals and two assists in the Premier League, just one goal involvement behind his tally for 2023/24. He’s been hitting the target more often (0.72 per 90 to 0.64) and creating more big chances (0.48 to 0.3).

Szoboszlai is one of two Liverpool players in Squawka’s Team of the Week for Gameweek 17. The Reds aren’t the only team with two players in this week, joined by Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

We’ve used our Squawka Score to determine the 11 picks, based on the statistical leaders for metrics relevant to their positions. And as ever, we’ve thrown an honourable mention XI for good measure.

GK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)

Just a few days on from being named as the Best Men’s Goalkeeper once again, Emiliano Martinez put in a performance worthy of the title. Although he conceded late on, Martinez still managed five saves, preventing 0.49 goals. He also commanded his box well with one cross caught and one punched clearance.

Honourable mention: Matz Sels (77%)

RB: Trent Alexander Arnold (Liverpool)

Trent Alexander-Arnold was on top form against Tottenham. Although his Score is hurt by the fact that Liverpool conceded three goals, that won’t take away from the Englishman’s performance. Alexander-Arnold created three big chances against Tottenham, recording one intentional assist. He also completed four crosses, more than any player in the Premier League this weekend, alongside nine penalty area entries. And he continues to show his defensive growth, with three interceptions retaining possession and seven clearances.

Honourable mention: Ola Aina (70%)

CB: Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth)

Bournemouth kept a clean sheet against Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Illia Zabarnyi the Cherries’ best-performing defender. The centre-back made five clearances and six ball recoveries, keeping Man United’s attack at bay. He made one block, one interception in his own box and had a 100% duel success rate. Zabarnyi also completed six long passes, helping to push Bournemouth up the pitch to counter.

Honourable mention: Tosin Adarabioyo (75%)

CB: Murillo (Nottingham Forest)

Another centre-back with a clean sheet, this time Nottingham Forest‘s Murillo. The Brazilian helped shut out Brentford with nine clearances, the second-most in the Premier League this season. He was great at winning the ball back with three interceptions retaining possession and five ball recoveries, alongside three aerial duels. And when Murillo had the ball, he did well to keep it, with a retention rate of 92.31%.

Honourable mention: Nathan Wood (75%)

LB: Lewis Hall (Newcastle)

Completing the defence is Lewis Hall, who continues to impress at left-back for Newcastle. The 20-year-old was part of a defence that kept a clean sheet against Ipswich Town and faced just two shots on target. Hall himself made three clearances and two effective crosses blocked, the most of any player in the Premier League this weekend. He also completed two take-ons and won possession five times in the defensive third, proving tough to get past.

Honourable mention: Neco Williams (71%)

CM: Carlos Baleba (Brighton)

Brighton were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United at the weekend, but Carlos Baleba was an absolute machine at the base of their midfield. He won 10 duels, eight ball recoveries and won possession five times in the middle third and three times in the defensive third. Alongside one interception retaining possession, there was no beating Baleba. When on the ball, the Cameroonian completed 11 passes into the final third and had an open-play passing accuracy of 92.86% alongside a 92.98% retention rate.

Honourable mention: Christian Norgaard (74%)

CM: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)

Another midfielder to thrive despite a draw, Moises Caicedo was on top form once again in Chelsea‘s draw with Everton. The Ecuadorian midfielder won possession five times in the middle third, won eight duels and made six ball recoveries. He also made one interception retaining possession and, of course, ended the game with a clean sheet. On the ball, Caicedo continues to impress and improve. He completed nine passes into the final third with an open-play passing accuracy of 92.77%. He also had a retention rate of 92%.

Honourable mention: Bruno Guimaraes (73%)

RW: Jacob Murphy (Newcastle)

Our second Newcastle representative, Jacob Murphy put in a very good showing to help the Magpies blow Ipswich away. He had a goal and an intentional assist, with the latter a lovely backheel to Alexander Isak. Murphy created three big chances in total alongside four penalty area entries and four touches in the opposition box. The Newcastle man was very involved in the game, which certainly helped him be the top-scoring right-winger.

Honourable mention: Mohamed Salah (74%)

No.10: Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)

Half of Dominik Szoboszlai’s direct goal involvements in the Premier League this season came in Liverpool’s 6-3 win over Tottenham. The Hungarian scored one goal and provided an intentional assist. While all assists do count, an intentional assist can give us a bit more clarification to a player’s creativity as they meant to pass to a teammate. Szoboszlai also completed 15 final third passes, two crosses and had 13 touches in the opposition box. He was key to winning the ball back high up the pitch too, with five ball recoveries.

Honourable mention: Matheus Cunha (75%)

LW: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Morgan Rogers put in a big performance against his former club Manchester City. The Villa man scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for the first time in his career. He also had five penalty area entries, one big chance created and three completed take-ons. This was a solid display for Rogers and Villa.

Honourable mention: Gabriel Martinelli (71%)

ST: Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)

Gabriel Jesus will hope he can play Crystal Palace every week. After his EFL Cup hat-trick, the Brazilian scored two goals against the Eagles in the Premier League this weekend. He led Arsenal for shots with five and also had three shots on target, another high for his team. Jesus was clinical with his finishing, with an xG over-performance of 1.27. The Brazilian was also strong in the air with four aerial duels won and six touches in the opposition box in total. A fine performance.

Honourable mention: Alexander Isak (79%)