Premier League team of the week features Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool stars

The Premier League’s final weekend of action before the September international break certainly didn’t disappoint as 31 goals were scored across the 10 matches, averaging more than three per game.

Aston Villa made it two away wins out of two as they beat the newly-promoted Leicester City 2-1. Clever finishes from Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran sealed an important three points for Unai Emery’s side at King Power Stadium, with Facundo Buonanotte’s goal merely a consolation for the hosts.

Fellow West Midlands side Wolverhampton Wanderers came from behind to draw 1-1 at Nottingham Forest. Chris Wood was left unmarked to head in for an early Forest lead but Jean-Ricner Bellegarde netted a belter to respond almost instantly for the visitors, earning Wanderers their first point of the season.

The standout result elsewhere in the division was AFC Bournemouth’s almighty comeback away at Everton as they went from 2-0 down in the 87th minute to win 3-2 late in stoppage time. Liverpool were headline makers, too, as they recorded a famous 3-0 win against bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Other scorelines across the English top flight included Arsenal 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford 3-1 Southampton, Ipswich Town 1-1 Fulham, West Ham United 1-3 Manchester City, Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace and Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur.

Premier League team of the week (GW3)

Here are the 11 best performers from the weekend of August 31 to September 1 in the Premier League, including players from Villa, Liverpool, Man City, Brentford and Southampton.

GK: Alisson Becker (Liverpool) - 7.87

Alisson made three saves to preserve the clean sheet in the huge 3-0 win away at bitter rivals Manchester United.

RB: Yukinari Sugawara (Southampton) - 8.11

The Japan international was the one shining light for the Saints in their 3-1 loss at Brentford as he had two shots on target, created two chances and made five defensive interventions.

CB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.77

The Dutchman was dominant as he made 11 clearances, two tackles and two interceptions. He also won all four of his aerial duels.

CB: Nathan Collins (Brentford) - 7.38

Collins had no clean sheet to shout about but he was solid to win five aerials duels and make five clearances in the 3-1 victory against Southampton.

LB: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) - 7.54

Digne swung in the cross for Jhon Duran’s crucial headed goal and completed an impressive five tackles in Villa’s 2-1 win away at Leicester City.

CM: Rico Lewis - (Manchester City) - 7.73

Lewis shone in the inverted defensive midfield role in the 3-1 win at West Ham United. He made four tackles and five clearances while maintaining a 93% pass success rate.

CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 8.17

De Bruyne often makes things look seamless and his performance at London Stadium was no exception. Six chances were created in another terrific display.

LW: Luis Díaz (Liverpool) - 8.16

Díaz was clinical to score the first two for Liverpool in their comfortable win at Old Trafford. Both were excellent finishes.

CAM: Bryan Mbuemo (Brentford) - 9.10

Mbuemo scored the first two goals of the game and looked a constant threat against a shaky Southampton defence. He shines without Ivan Toney.

RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 9.28

The Egyptian assisted Díaz’s two goals and netted one for himself, rounding off a masterful display on the right flank.

ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) - 9.53*

Who else? The Norwegian is effectively robotic at this point as he netted a second successive hat-trick, guiding City to their third win of the season.