Pogba and Saka join Man City quintet in Premier League team of the month
Manchester City won all six matches in January, netting 16 and conceding just the once as Pep Guardiola's side soared back to the top of the table. The Premier League title favourites dominate the team of the month as a result, boasting five players, and are joined by Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham stars.
The goalkeeper in the Premier League team of the month is the sole Burnley representative in the XI. Nick Pope made more saves (29) than any other player in January, with his man of the match display in a 1-0 win over defending champions Liverpool a standout display. All in all, Pope's performances saw him secure a place in the XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.32.
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 7.76
Joao Cancelo is the first of five Manchester City players in the Premier League team of the month. City won all six games in January with Cancelo impressing from full-back. The Portuguese star put in his best rated Premier League performance last month, shining in the 5-0 win over West Brom. Only one defender completed more dribbles than the 26-year-old who garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.76 in January.
John Stones (Manchester City) - 7.33
Having been handed the opportunity to consolidate a first team spot under Pep Guardiola once more, John Stones has not wasted the chance to nail down a regular place in the starting XI. The England international returned a WhoScored rating of 7.33 last month in a City backline that conceded just one league goal and excelled when playing out from the back as he made the fifth most accurate passes (393).
Ruben Dias (Manchester City) - 7.58
Stones' partner in crime in the Manchester City defence, Ruben Dias made more accurate passes (491) than any other Premier League player in January. The centre-back's pass success rate didn't drop below 90% last month, while off the ball, 23 tackles and interceptions was more than any other centre-back as he earned a WhoScored rating of 7.58.
Matt Targett (Aston Villa) - 7.27
Matt Targett registered his first Premier League assist of the season in January, that coming in a 3-2 defeat at Burnley. However, it was the left-back's good work out of possession that helped the Aston Villa man secure a place in the WhoScored team of the month with a rating of 7.27. Indeed, only one player made more tackles than Targett (18) in January to feature.
Mikel Arteta struck goal when he moved Bukayo Saka to the right flank with the Arsenal youngster featuring on the right in the Premier League team of the month. Three of the five league goals Saka has scored this season came in January as the teenager netted in wins over West Brom, Newcastle and Southampton. An additional assist saw the 19-year-old yield a WhoScored rating of 7.91.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 8.08
With a WhoScored rating of 8.08, Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne is the Premier League player of the month. The Belgian had a direct hand in a goal in three of his four league outings, scoring one and providing three assists from 16 shots and 12 key passes, respectively, while no player created more clear-cut chances than De Bruyne (3) who excelled in January.
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) - 7.92
Partnering De Bruyne in the middle of the park is the final Manchester City representative in the XI. Ilkay Gundogan was in superb form for Pep Guardiola's side last month, scoring more goals (5) than any other player. Only Bruno Fernandes (22) had more shots than the German (17) in January, which contributed towards his WhoScored rating of 7.92.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 7.66
Rounding off the midfield is Manchester United man Paul Pogba. Two of the three league goals the Frenchman has scored this season came in January as Pogba bagged crucial goals in narrow wins over Burnley and Fulham, earning United an additional four points. The 27-year-old was one of six players to win multiple man of the match awards as the United man returned a WhoScored rating of 7.66.
Harry Kane was another to win multiple WhoScored man of the match gongs in January as he scored three times and provided one assist in wins over Leeds and Sheffield United, and a draw with Fulham. The Tottenham star also completed more dribbles (10) than any other centre forward in January to garner a WhoScored rating of 7.82.
Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) - 7.52
The second Arsenal player to make the Premier League team of the month is striker Alexandre Lacazette. Only Ilkay Gundogan (5) had a direct hand in more goals than the Gunners frontman (4) in England's top tier last month, with Lacazette netting three times in all. Six key passes and six successful dribbles helped the Arsenal striker to a WhoScored rating of 7.52 in January to partner Kane in this XI.
