Premier League football was thankfully back this past weekend, with gameweek four providing some much needed relief from the international break.
The action proved to be some of the most enthralling of the 2024/25 season so far too. There were individual masterclasses, shock results, and a whole host of seemingly miraculous comebacks.
And after all of that fun, here’s the top eight players of the week – ranked, of course.
Everton may have fallen to their fourth defeat in four games this past weekend, but Dwight McNeil isn’t to blame for that torrid run of results.
In fact, on Saturday, McNeil did all he possibly could to try and get the Toffees their first points of the season.
The wide midfielder was in fantastic form, scoring a great first goal before setting up his team’s second. It’s a pity that it wasn’t enough as his side collapased in the second half, conceding three goals.
We’d have been remiss not to have a Nottingham Forest player in these rankings after their shock win over Liverpool at Anfield.
The Forest player most deserving of a mention is goalkeeper Matz Sels, who managed a clean sheet in the 1-0 win thanks to his five saves. Nice one.
After a season stunted by injuries in 2023/24, Harvey Barnes is back to full fitness and re-found his best form at the start of the current campaign.
The wide forward was key to turning Newcastle United’s clash with Wolves in his side’s favour. Having come off the bench at half-time, Barnes fired a stunning 25 yard effort into the top right corner of the net to make it 2-1 and earn Newcastle all three points.
It’s fair to say that, if it wasn’t for Arijanet Muric, Ipswich may have suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Brighton.
Thanks to Muric, his six saves, his prevention of an xGOT of 2.45 and his clean sheet, Ipswich were able to bag their second point of the season.
At the end of the 2024/25 season, there probably wasn’t a more in-form player in the Premier Lague than Jean-Philippe Mateta.
And, after a few slow weeks in August, Mateta re-found that form in the draw with Leicester on Saturday.
The France forward was devastatingly clinical in front of goal, scoring to a brace to salvage a point for Palace after they went 2-0 down.
The north London derby hero, Gabriel did a bit of everything for Arsenal in their 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
His most crucial contribution was his headed goal, but his 13 defensive actions – which included a whopping eight clearances – were something to behold too. A top, top performance all round.
Aston Villa’s star man came up trumps once again on Saturday.
With his side 2-0 down at home to Everton, Ollie Watkins essentially went Super Saiyan to claw Villa back into the game by netting two key goals, before substitute Jhon Duran secured the three points.
Four games played = nine goals scored.
Yes, you read that right.
Erling Haaland scored another two in the win over Brentford at the weekend.
He is a freak of nature.
