Premier League TOTW Gameweek 18-19: Liverpool feature prominently after perfect record | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola once jokingly remarked that Lionel Messi had exhausted all superlatives to describe his talent.

Similarly, the same can now be said of Mohamed Salah, who consistently reasserts his status as the Premier League’s most valuable player and arguably the best footballer in Europe at this time.

Salah has been indomitable this season. He’s either scored or assisted in each of his last 11 league appearances, achieving both in six different matches. On matchdays 18 and 19, he scored against Leicester and West Ham, respectively, and provided two assists in the latter outing.

Liverpool‘s irreplaceable talisman is one of four representatives from the championship leaders in our Team of the Week for gameweeks 18-19. The lineup also includes two Newcastle and Nottingham Forest players following their own impressive perfect records over this period.

We’ve utilised our Squawka Score to determine the eleven selections, based on the statistical leaders in metrics relevant to their positions. As always, we’ve also included an honourable mention XI for additional recognition.

GK: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest)

Player rating: 79%

The festive period brings a flurry of games, prompting managers to rotate their lineups. However, Nottingham Forest’s goalkeeper Matz Sels, who has had a productive season, did not get a break. The 32-year-old was one of only two Premier League goalkeepers—along with Martin Dúbravka—to keep a clean sheet on matchdays 18 and 19, and he certainly worked hard for those shutouts. His total of 1.1 goals prevented is the third-highest during this period, and he made six saves from shots taken inside the box, ranking fourth overall.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Player rating: 82%

Trent Alexander-Arnold is beginning to show his best form. Across his last three appearances before matchday 18, he had created three goals, and in his last two appearances, the England international was the right-back involved in the highest percentage of sequences ending in a shot, averaging 3.75 per 90 minutes. No other right-back completed more passes into the final third, with an impressive average of 15 per 90; the next highest was only 5. He also created the most big chances, averaging 1 per 90 minutes. Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning goal against West Ham and led in open-play crosses as well, averaging 2.5 per 90 minutes.

Honourable mention: Jurriën Timber (72%)

CB: Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth)

Player rating: 75%

Dean Huijsen has been quietly impressive for Bournemouth this season, particularly in his last two matches. No central defender won more tackles per 90 minutes than him, averaging 2.5. Additionally, he ranks second in aerial duels won per 90 minutes, with only Jan Bednarek performing better.

Honourable mention: Fabian Schär (71%)

CB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Player rating: 72%

Remember when some people questioned whether Dutch colossal Virgil van Dijk had seen his best days? Those commentators are now quite silent, as the Breda native embodies the adage: form is temporary, but class is permanent. The Oranje international isn’t resting on his past successes; he is leading Liverpool’s defence with authority.

In Gameweeks 18 and 19, he demonstrated both sides of his immaculate game. Only one central defender, Dan Burn, had a better retention rate (95.26%), while no one in his position completed more take-ons per 90 minutes (1), showcasing Van Dijk’s penchant for marauding from deep. With a 100% ground duel success rate, only two centre-backs successfully managed more offside traps per 90 minutes (1.5) than he did.

Honourable mention: Nathan Aké (71%)

LB: Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolves)

Player rating: 70%

In what has been a challenging season for Wolves, there have been a few bright spots, with Rayan Aït-Nouri among them. Between the second and ninth gameweeks, he registered three goals and created two more.

So far this season, he’s alternated between the traditional left-back role and the left wing-back position. He played a crucial role in Wolves’ clean sheet against Manchester United and contributed to a 2-2 draw with Spurs by creating two goals, helping the visitors take the lead before setting up a late equaliser.

During this period, Aït-Nouri also completed six successful passes into the box, which was twice as many as any other left-back managed. He won three tackles, a total surpassed only by Neco Williams and Emerson among all left-backs.

Honourable mention: Antonee Robinson (69%)

CM: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)

Player rating: 83%

Football is undoubtedly a team sport; sometimes, the most crucial players are those who fly under the radar. Alexis Mac Allister’s importance to Liverpool is well documented. The world champion registered one intentional assist in his last two matches and ranked third among central midfielders for completed passes into the final third. No one in his position won more duels (15) than the combative Argentine.

Honourable mention: Will Hughes (73%)

CM: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)

Player rating: 73%

In gameweek 18 and 19 combined, Newcastle’s utility man recorded more successful passes into the penalty area (6) than any central midfielder except for Martin Ødegaard, who had 9. Additionally, only two players made more tackles than he did, and no one registered more big chances per 90 minutes (1.01). Guimarães also boasted a 100% success rate for passes into the final third; however, he was outperformed by two other midfielders in terms of successful passes into the penalty area.

Honourable mention: Sasa Lukic (71%)

RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Player rating: 82%

As mentioned earlier, Salah is redefining what it means to be a Premier League great. Unfortunately, Leicester and West Ham were the latest teams to experience his excellence, if not wrath. Having scored in both games, a feat matched by teammate Cody Gakpo, no winger registered more intentional assists (2) than Salah. Only Alex Iwobi (6) had more successful take-ons (5) during this period.

Salah also created the second-most chances (6) overall, completed the most passes into the final third (35), and made the greatest number of entries into the penalty area (20). He stood out as the only wide forward with the most shots on target (7). He had the highest non-penalty expected goals on target (2.27), demonstrating his insatiable thirst to punish the opposition.

Honourable mention: Anthony Elanga (76%)

No.10: Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Player rating: 80%

All eyes will be on Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad and whether Morgan Gibbs-White will be included. If he is, it will be interesting to see if he becomes a key player in the highly contested deep-lying forward role. Gibbs-White has certainly made a name for himself with a series of impressive performances for Nottingham Forest, a team that has transformed from battling relegation to qualifying for next season’s Champions League group stage. He seems to thrive under Nuno Espírito Santo, and he appears to be playing with more freedom compared to his time at Wolves.

In his last two appearances for Forest, the ‘number 10’ scored one goal and provided one assist. His non-penalty expected goals on target (0.64) were surpassed only by Cole Palmer (0.94), with whom he will likely compete for the attacking midfield position on the international stage. In addition to his offensive contributions, Gibbs-White also works hard defensively. Leading from the front, he recorded 11 ball recoveries during this time, ranking him second in this metric.

Honourable mention: Cole Palmer (79%)

LW: Savinho (Man City)

Player rating: 83%

Perhaps now is the time for Savinho to shine. As the champions continue to struggle, the Brazilian forward has started to re-emerge. During his loan spell at Girona last season, he was favourably compared to the legendary Garrincha, but his flamboyant style has been inconsistent, largely due to limited playing time.

However, things could change after his impressive performances against Everton and Leicester. Although these teams are currently near the bottom of the league, Savinho managed to score a goal and provide an assist against the Foxes, as well as win a penalty that Erling Haaland failed to convert against the Toffees.

ST: Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

Player rating: 77%

It has been mandated that at any point this season, the league’s premier marksman must have Scandinavian roots. Erling Haaland is slowly rediscovering his scoring touch after a quiet period, but while struggling, Alexander Isak sneaked up from behind and snatched the Norwegian’s crown.

There isn’t a Premier League centre-forward in better form, and Isak shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Aston Villa and Manchester United were his latest victims, during a run in which he scored two goals, more than any other striker.

He boasted the highest non-penalty expected goals (1.76) and non-penalty expected goals on target (2.05). While only Haaland registered more touches in the opposition box, Isak proved to be the superior teammate, completing nine lay-off passes—more than any centre-forward across gameweeks 18 and 19 combined.