Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City pairings earn August team of the month spots
With August having come to an end, at least as far as Premier League action is concerned, we run down the team of the month. Players must have appeared in all three of their clubs respective matches to be considered, with the top six as things stand all represented at least once in the XI below.
Neil Etheridge (Cardiff) - 7.29 WhoScored.com rating
While Cardiff may be the only side yet to score across the top four tiers of English football, their start to the Premier League campaign has been far from disastrous, in no small part due to the heroics of Neil Etheridge. The goalkeeper has kept two clean sheets and became the first stopper since 1992 to save a penalty in each of the first two gameweeks of the season, with the latter save earning a point against Newcastle.
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) - 7.35 WhoScored.com rating
Despite switching back to his former right-back role this season, Azpilicueta has been as reliable as ever, and his understanding with Alvaro Morata has been evident once more. Last season the defender registered an impressive six assists - all of which teed up strikes from his compatriot - and he managed another in the 3-2 victory over Arsenal.
Steve Cook (Bournemouth) - 7.62 WhoScored.com rating
It’s been a strong start to the season for Bournemouth, who won back-to-back games before coming from two down to draw with Everton, and Cook has been a standout performer. With a goal and an assist at West Ham, the centre-back was the match winner, and a total of 26 clearances in August was bettered by only two players.
James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 7.80 WhoScored.com rating
Sitting at the top of the pile for clearances, with 29, Tarkowski has been typically dominant in the air in both boxes and won 21 of his 24 aerial duels last month. He played a crucial role in keeping a clean sheet at Southampton and while neither counted for anything in terms of points, the 25-year-old scored in defeats to Watford and Fulham to earn an England recall.
Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City) - 7.85 WhoScored.com rating
For all their dominance last season, Benjamin Mendy’s return has highlighted that they lacked an overlapping threat on the left and the Frenchman has offered exactly that this season. With three assists to his name he leads the league in that regard after as many matches.
Dele Alli (Tottenham) - 7.69 WhoScored.com rating
If last season was one of regression for Alli, the Spurs star has looked to make a quick start to the current campaign and has impressed in all three of his outings thus far. Off and running with a goal in the opening win over Newcastle, the youngster has been deployed deeper so far this season and his defensive work has been excellent thus far, with ten tackles and seven interceptions.
Roberto Pereyra (Watford) - 7.90 WhoScored.com rating
The surprise package after the first three matches of the season, Watford have picked up maximum points and midfielder Pereyra has undoubtedly stolen the show. The Argentina had shown his ability in all too brief periods prior to this season since moving from Juventus but has three goals in as many games to his name this season, all of which have directly earned the Hornets all three points.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 8.06 WhoScored.com rating
While there weren’t many who predicted Salah would be a one season wonder, the Egyptian has been quick to silence any doubters that might suggest he would struggle to carry the same threat this season. With a direct hand in a goal (two goals, one assist) in each of his three appearances thus far, no player registered more shots in August (16), while last season’s top scorer also created the most chances (12).
Lucas Moura (Tottenham) - 7.87 WhoScored.com rating
If last season was one of integration following his January arrival from PSG, Lucas Moura will hope that this is his real breakthrough campaign in the Premier League, and has certainly set about it the right way. The Brazilian has started all three of Spurs’ matches - already more than last season in the league - and opened his account for the season with a superb strike against Fulham before bagging a match winning brace at Old Trafford, proving a perfect foyle up front for Harry Kane.
Sadio Mane (Liverpool) - 8.00 WhoScored.com rating
With three goals in as many games to start the season, Mane has always made a strong start to the campaign since signing for Liverpool, but this has been his best yet. With a brace in the Reds’ opener with West Ham and a second successive WhoScored.com man of the match award at Palace, any suggestion that the Senegalese may come under threat from the arrival of Xherdan Shaqiri has only fired the winger up.
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) - 8.13 WhoScored.com rating
With the first hat-trick of the Premier League season and, in turn, perfect 10 rating from WhoScored.com, Aguero is our star man for August. The City striker has fired off the joint most attempts alongside Salah (16) and could have added to his three-goal haul substantially having already hit the woodwork three times this season - only two players did so more over the entirety of the previous campaign.
