Premier League Team of the Week: Highlights from Gameweek 1

The Premier League kicked off with some eye-catching individual displays over the weekend. Chelsea’s revamped attack shone brightly in a West London Derby that was less intense than expected. The league, known last season for its physicality and set-piece battles, has started fresh with an unpredictable tone after a busy World Cup and numerous managerial changes.

There were plenty of moments from the so-called 'Big Six' clubs and other teams alike as the Premier League made its return. Here is our selection for the Team of the Week from Gameweek 1.

Goalkeeper

• Jordan Pickford (Everton): Pickford stood tall against Crystal Palace, helping Everton to a 2-0 win. Despite Palace’s bright start, his excellent saves, including one remarkable stop denying Eddie Nketiah, kept the clean sheet intact. Only Newcastle’s Lukáš Horniček matched him in preventing goal chances, with Pickford stopping 0.9 expected goals.

Defenders

• Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton): Deployed higher up the pitch, the Belgian was a constant threat in Brighton’s four-goal demolition of Aston Villa. His clever play directly caused an own goal and he doubled the lead with a confident finish, earning him Fantasy Premier League Player of the Week honors with 17 points.
• Nobel Mendy (Hull City): Making a memorable Premier League debut, Mendy helped Hull City upset Manchester United by scoring from a set-piece and clearing 12 balls to preserve a two-goal lead.
• Joško Gvardiol (Man City): After early defensive struggles, Gvardiol scored the winning goal against Bournemouth with a well-timed run and composed finish, highlighting his attacking skills from last season.
• Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford): A consistent threat on the left side, Lewis-Potter opened the scoring against Tottenham and played a key role in Brentford’s dominant win, despite missing a great chance later on.

Midfielders

• Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton): Swapping his number from 13 to 8 signals Brighton's faith in the young midfielder. He scored twice against Aston Villa, showing promise to become a major influence this season.
• Mamadou Sangaré (Brentford): Signed for a club-record fee, Sangaré overwhelmed Tottenham’s midfield in his Premier League debut, assisting the opener and contributing to Brentford’s third goal.

Attackers

• Yoane Wissa (Newcastle): Though not scoring, Wissa drove Newcastle’s strong performance versus Liverpool, setting up Joe Willock’s decisive goal.
• Cole Palmer (Chelsea): Free from injury, Palmer dazzled at Craven Cottage with a goal and an assist, playing a key role in Chelsea’s 3-2 victory over their local rivals.
• João Pedro (Chelsea): Chelsea’s No. 9 wasted no time scoring, continuing his preseason form with a quick strike and linking well with Palmer throughout the match.
• Christos Tzolis (Arsenal): Making an instant impression, the Greek winger replaced Bruno Guimarães’ absence effectively, showing pace and determination in Arsenal’s comfortable win against Coventry City.