On the Premier League’s return to motion, Manchester Metropolis had been thrashed by Tottenham at residence, Rúben Amorim lastly made his Manchester United bow and Liverpool received a thriller.
However which participant was the standout?
James Maddison (Tottenham)
📸 Naomi Baker – 2024 Getty Photos
It was a packed discipline this week for the honour of Participant of the Week.
Matheus Cunha continued his sensational kind with a ruthless displaying for Wolves at Fulham, Bukayo Saka tortured Nottingham Forest, Enzo Fernández is displaying huge indicators of enchancment and Mo Salah despatched out a message (in additional methods than one).
So when it got here to deciding on somebody, Spurs midfielder Maddison will get the deciding vote by advantage of his excellent efficiency in his aspect’s 4-0 win over Manchester Metropolis on the Etihad Stadium – and the truth that he did so on his twenty eighth birthday.
How may we rule towards a birthday boy?
Maddison was the architect of Metropolis’s fifth straight defeat and was accountable greater than another particular person on the sector for the ending of the Premier League champions’ 52-game unbeaten run at residence.
He scored twice within the opening 20 minutes to get Tottenham going and from there, neither he nor his team-mates regarded again.
His first got here when he ghosted in on the again to steer residence from a deep cross, earlier than a deft chip double their benefit.
As well as, the previous Leicester man received 100% of his tackles and take-ons, 9 duels and 5 fouls in addition to delivering on the defensive aspect of his sport by recovering the ball 5 occasions and offering two clearances in an all-action outing.
“He was actually good for us earlier within the 12 months after which there was a lean spell with a few flat video games however the entire group had that and I imagine there may be extra in Madders,” his coach Ange Postecoglou stated afterwards in reward of the playmaker.
“He was excellent and it’s important to be towards Metropolis. I’ve by no means doubted his potential. I assumed the type of sport we had been anticipating would go well with him.
“We wanted his potential to maintain the ball in tight midfield areas and he did that. He was nice.”
Even when he dropped in at left-back, Metropolis by no means acquired a deal with on easy methods to take care of him and it’s a efficiency that can certainly catch the attention of England boss Thomas Tuchel too.
Maddison made no secret of his heartbreak at lacking out on England’s Euro 2024 squad and has additionally been notably absent from Lee Carsley’s interim sides too, however a recent face in cost and a resurgence in kind may lead to a return to the fold.
Ought to that decision come?
📸 PAUL ELLIS – AFP or licensors