Hat-trick hero Ronaldo spearheads Premier League Team of the Week
Manchester City lost ground in the title race as they were held at Crystal Palace on Monday night with the gap between themselves and Liverpool now just four points. However, the star man from the weekend's action put in a man of the match performance in Manchester United's 3-2 win over Tottenham as we run through the Premier League team of the week.
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) - 7.62
Arsenal extended their winning run to five games with a 2-0 win over Leicester on Sunday, with Aaron Ramsdale key between the sticks. The Gunners shotstopper made three saves in a clean sheet attaining display that returned a WhoScored rating of 7.62 as Arsenal maintained their push for the top four.
Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) - 7.46
Trevoh Chalobah may have been fortunate not to concede a second half penalty in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday, but even so; the youngster was solid as he deputised well at right-back. The 22-year-old chipped in with five tackles and five clearances to make the best XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.46.
Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) - 8.03
The first of two Brentford players to make the grade, Ethan Pinnock earned a WhoScored rating of 8.03 in the Bees' 2-0 win over Burnley, marking his second best rated Premier League performance in the process. Pinnock won seven aerial duels in the key win over the Clarets and made a whopping 12 clearances to keep the Burnley attack at bay in west London.
Liverpool closed the gap on Manchester City at the top following their 2-0 win at Brighton on Saturday afternoon. Joel Matip had a direct hand in his third league goal of the season in the win at the AMEX as he provided the assist for Luis Diaz's opener on the south coast, while in addition, the Reds defender won four aerial duels, made five clearances and one tackle to partner Pinnock at the back with a WhoScored rating of 7.99.
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 8.46
Manchester City dropped points in the title race as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday night and their lead over Liverpool, who have a game in hand, is now just four points. Joao Cancelo, though, excelled at Selhurst Park once again as he got forward well, completing three dribbles and making two key passes, while an additional five tackles saw him nail down the left-back spot with a WhoScored rating of 8.46.
Cucho Hernandez (Watford) - 8.17
Watford earned a huge three points in their battle to beat the drop as they came away from Southampton with a 2-1 win. Cucho Hernandez was the star man for the Hornets as he earned a WhoScored rating of 8.17 at St. Mary's. The 22-year-old bagged a first half brace, netting with two of three shots, and worked hard off the ball, making two tackles and two clearances.
Thomas Partey (Arsenal) - 8.58
The second Arsenal player in the side, Thomas Partey headed the Gunners ahead with just 11 minutes on the clock on their way to their 2-0 win over Leicester. The 28-year-old didn't give the Foxes midfield a chance to settle either as he made four tackles and two interceptions to help return a WhoScored rating of 8.58, that Partey's best in a Premier League game.
Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) - 8.32
Aston Villa were unable to secure a fourth successive league win as they fell to a 2-1 loss at West Ham on Sunday, but the game marked another solid performance from youngster Jacob Ramsey. The 20-year-old scored his sixth league goal of the season late on, finding a way past Lukasz Fabianski with his only shot at the London Stadium, while four tackles, three key passes and two dribbles capped a solid all-action midfield display from Ramsey.
Like Brentford and Watford, Leeds also secured another huge win in their battle to beat the drop. Joe Gelhardt may have bagged the late winner for the Whites, but Raphinha was the star man in the 2-1 victory over Norwich as he provided the assist for Gelhardt's 94th-minute goal. The Brazilian made four key passes at Elland Road, and completed four dribbles to land the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 8.97.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 9.95
With a WhoScored rating of 9.95, Cristiano Ronaldo is the Premier League player of the week. The Manchester United star scored his first hat-trick since returning to Old Trafford last summer in United's 3-2 win over Tottenham, mustering eight shots in total. Ronaldo's link up play was also solid as he found a teammate with 95% of his 40 attempted passes to cap a superb showing.
Joining Ronaldo on the frontline, Ivan Toney followed up his hat-trick at Norwich last weekend with a brace against Burnley to earn the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 8.78. Toney maximised a strength of 'finishing' on Saturday, hitting the back of the net with both shots on goal on home turf, while an additional three tackles and two clearances saw the Bees star play his part in Brentford's clean sheet victory.
