Deeneys

Donyell Malen (Aston Villa): A weird start to his Aston Villa career – he came in from Borussia Dortmund and it looked like he would be helping them in the Champions League but he didn’t make the squad because of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. Then he was a bit-part player, did OK but didn’t look like he had the confidence. Against Burnley he got a start and scored twice. I think he’s someone who needs to start and build into the game, he’s better starting than coming off the bench. The two finishes were magnificent.

Mason Mount (Man Utd): This is a bit of a wildcard but he was excellent against Sunderland. Has struggled with injuries and left Chelsea for United under a bit of a cloud. He hasn’t really hit the ground running because of the injuries but looked back to his best. Calm, composed, worked hard for the team and got his goal. When he came off after 65 minutes the game lost its rhythm – he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth): I’m running out of words for this guy – he just keeps scoring. He was relatively quiet against Fulham but somehow he goes from strength to strength. We didn’t see much of him for 70 minutes but all of a sudden he’s got two goals – running at players with pace and intent. He’s developed into a top player that top clubs must be looking at. He has signed a new deal at Bournemouth but I can see the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea being interested.

Erling Haaland (Man City): He is just the man. We’re in a world where people want to look at everything that players are doing, but he just scores goals – he’s a throwback. He bullied two centre-backs and had no right to score that goal at Brentford, but it has kept Manchester City on a forward trajectory. Everyone was speaking about Yoane Wissa and Alexander Isak in the summer and we all forgot about the big man. He is letting everyone know the guvnor’s back in town.

Sean Longstaff (Leeds)

A last-gasp Bournemouth equaliser on Saturday may have been painful for the Elland Road faithful but the performance of Sean Longstaff gives Daniel Farke and co much hope for the rest of the season.

In a standout display, the former Newcastle United man both scored and assisted in an English league game for just the second time in his career, after also doing so for Blackpool v Doncaster Rovers in August 2017 in League One, to give the hosts a share of the spoils.

On top of that, Longstaff also created seven goalscoring chances for team-mates, the most by any player in a top-flight game this season and the joint-most by a Leeds player on record (since 2003-04).

Igor Thiago (Brentford)

The post-Thomas Frank era at Brentford was never going to be easy, but under the tutelage of former set-piece coach Keith Andrews the Bees are finding their feet, with Saturday’s 3-1 win over Manchester United the highlight so far.

Igor Thiago was the star of the show at Gtech Community Stadium, becoming just the second player to score twice in the opening 20 minutes of a top-flight game against United, after Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal in October 2015.

The Brazilian, who has big Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo-shaped boots to fill, secured his double from three shots in the game, with the London side’s hitman netting four of Brentford’s nine goals in the Premier League this season.

Robin Roefs (Sunderland)

Sunderland’s superb start to their first Premier League campaign since 2016-17 continued at the weekend, courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

The visitors had goalkeeper Robin Roefs to thank with the Dutchman making six saves, a joint-high at the weekend, while he also created two goalscoring chances, with only one goalkeeper on record (Wayne Hennessey with three for Burnley v Manchester United in 2021) registering more in a Premier League game since 2003-04.

Overall, Roefs has now kept three clean sheets in six Premier League appearances this season, a haul only Newcastle United’s Nick Pope can better, with four, while his tally of 20 saves gives him a top-three ranking in the division.

Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace): He was excellent in the win over West Ham, not only his goal – which was a wonderful finish – but also his ability to go up and down the pitch for 90 minutes and never stop, never complain. Arguably one of the best one-on-one defenders in the country. Really impressive.

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth): Both of my centre-backs get in because they are from the only teams who kept clean sheets this week. Senesi is developing into a wonderful player, especially when we look at who Bournemouth sold this summer. There was a lot of talk about their defenders who moved on to Real Madrid, PSG and Liverpool for £150m-odd combined – and then Senesi who was there last season steps up and is a massively important player for them.

Sven Botman (Newcastle): I was at Newcastle’s game against Barcelona and Botman looked frustrated and a bit disenfranchised when he didn’t come on. However, to get a start in the next game, play 90 minutes, and get a clean sheet with the amount of injuries he’s had was a massive show of character. He’s Newcastle’s best centre-half, he just struggles to stay fit.

Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest): Yes he scored but I also think under Ange Postecoglou – with a more attacking style and flair – we’re going to see another level to his game. He had a couple of shots that Dubravka saved. He could be one to keep an eye on going forward.