Ice-Cole Palmer one of two Chelsea players in Premier League Best XI
As the Premier League heads for a brief pause with FA Cup action set to take place this coming weekend, we’ve taken a look at the division’s best performers from gameweek 20. The likes of Newcastle, Wolves, Brighton, Chelsea, Liverpool, Luton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham are all represented.
Martin Dubravka (Newcastle) - 8.78
In his sixth successive league start since injury to number one Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka put in his best ever rated performance, and at Anfield no less. Despite Newcastle eventually falling to a 4-2 defeat to the league leaders, Dubravka will argue he did all he could to deny Mohamed Salah and co. The Slovakian stopper denied Salah from the spot after just 22 minutes, and would go on to make a total of 10 saves, a figure that no goalkeeper can better in a Premier League match this season.
Wolves defender Max Kilman found the back of the net for the first time this season when he put Wolves ahead against Everton on Saturday afternoon. Additionally, Kilman made three clearances, five accurate long balls and one successful dribble to return a WhoScored rating of 7.89.
Joining defensive partner Kilman in this week’s best XI is 33-year-old centre-back Craig Dawson, who also netted his first goal of the season in the victory over Everton. Dawson instinctively latched onto a Matheus Cunha effort, to send Jordan Pickford the wrong way and seal all three points for the hosts, while he also contributed defensively, making three tackles, three interceptions and seven clearances.
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton) - 7.34
In the final match of gameweek 20, Brighton finally kept their first clean sheet of the Premier League season in a goalless draw away to West Ham. In the absence of club captain and first-choice centre-back partner Lewis Dunk, 23-year-old Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke put in a strong defensive display, winning three aerial duels, while also making one tackle, two interceptions and four clearances to record a WhoScored rating of 7.34.
After coming from the bench to score a late winner against Crystal Palace, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke was in from the start at Luton on Saturday, and the 21-year-old shone. Madueke doubled Chelsea’s early lead in the first half with a stunning finish into the roof of the net, while he also provided three key passes and completed four successful dribbles to land a WhoScored rating of 8.87.
Joining Madueke in this week’s best XI is Chelsea teammate Cole Palmer, who stole the show at Kenilworth Road at the weekend. Palmer gave the visitors the lead with a brilliant finish, before setting up Madueke’s goal shortly before half time. Palmer then added a third for Chelsea, displaying exceptional composure to roll the ball past Thomas Kaminski, before tapping home into an empty net. In addition to his goal contributions, Palmer made two key passes and two successful dribbles to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.82.
Curtis Jones (Liverpool) - 8.55
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones returned to the starting XI against Newcastle on Monday evening, having featured from the bench at Burnley on Boxing Day. The 22-year-old certainly looks to have nailed down a spot in Jurgen Klopp’s preferred midfield, and made a total of two tackles, two key passes and two successful dribbles in a 4-2 victory. After Alexander Isak cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s opener, it was Jones who put the hosts back ahead after 74 minutes to send them on their way to all three points.
Despite eventual defeat at the hands of Chelsea, Luton came close to completing a late comeback at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, and it was wing-back Alfie Doughty who got things moving, providing the assist for Ross Barkley to pull one back with 80 minutes on the clock. That assist marks Doughty’s fourth of the season, while he also made three tackles, two interceptions, four key passes and one successful dribble against the Blues to pick up a WhoScored rating of 7.88.
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) - 9.96
With a WhoScored rating of 9.96, Crystal Palace star Michael Olise is the Premier League player of the week for gameweek 20. Olise made it four successive matches with a direct goal involvement, finding the net twice in impressive fashion as the Eagles came from behind to take all three points against Brentford. As well as his contributions in front of goal, Olise made two key passes and completed five successful dribbles, to post his third highest rated performance on record.
Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha continued his sparkling form as Gary O’Neil’s side made it three wins in a row when Everton visited Molineux on Saturday. Cunha found the net after 53 minutes to double the hosts’ lead, before providing defender Craig Dawson with an assist just eight minutes later, while he also made two key passes and two successful dribbles to register a WhoScored rating of 8.63.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) - 8.16
Tottenham captain Son Heung-Min signed off before the Asian Cup in style, finding the net with a brilliant finish to help Ange Postecoglou’s side to all three points at home to Bournemouth. Son also made two tackles and two key passes on his way to a WhoScored rating of 8.16.
