Premier League Team of the Week: Matchweek 2

After two hat-tricks and a record-breaking 44 goals, it is fair to say the second round of Premier League fixtures provided high entertainment value.

But with all 20 teams in action and a number of impressive performances, who were the standout players?

Despite encountering several selection headaches, we’ve had a go at choosing our best XI for matchweek 2.

GK: Emiliano Martinez

As goalkeeper debuts go, a penalty save and a clean sheet is about as good as it gets. Emiliano Martinez did exactly that in Aston Villa’s 1-0 win against Sheffield United, just five days after his £16million move to Villa Park from Arsenal.

DF: Tariq Lamptey

In Tariq Lamptey, Brighton have one of the most exciting youngsters in the Premier League. The 19-year-old England Under-21 international received plenty of plaudits in the Seagulls’ 3-0 win at Newcastle for his performance in the wing-back role. He dealt superbly with tricky winger Allan Saint-Maximin to the extent where Steve Bruce switched the Frenchman to the opposite flank.

DF: Ezri Konsa

Former Brentford man Ezri Konsa scored only his second Premier League goal to give Aston Villa a crucial 1-0 home win against Sheffield United. The 22-year-old’s 63rd minute header means the Villans start the campaign with a win, after escaping relegation last season by a single point.

DF: Lewis Dunk

Only three sides managed to keep a clean sheet during matchweek two, so we had limited options when choosing our centre-back pairing. Brighton & Hove Albion captain Lewis Dunk, however, kept his side’s backline solid and well-organised during their 3-0 win away at Newcastle. It cannot be easy dealing with 6ft 4in Andy Carroll, but the striker was well-handled by the Seagulls’ defensive trio as he was taken off at half-time.

DF: James Justin

Leicester City have a habit of finding new stars to fill the boots of high-profile departures. Caglar Soyuncu for Harry Maguire and James Maddison for Riyad Mahrez are just two examples of the Foxes reacting well to losing key players. Having sold Ben Chilwell to Chelsea over the summer, Leicester look to have a ready-made replacement in James Justin. The 22-year-old full-back scored in his side’s 4-2 win against Burnley and looks to have a promising second season ahead of him.

MF: Kevin De Bruyne

We’re running out of superlatives to describe Kevin De Bruyne. The PFA Player of the Year 2020 picked up where he left off at the end of the 2019/20 campaign with a goal and an assist in Manchester City’s 3-1 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers. If you do not have him in your fantasy team, why not?

MF: James Rodriguez

The Colombian playmaker finds himself in our best XI for the second week running after registering a goal and an assist in Everton’s 5-2 demolition of West Brom. The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich man could provide the catalyst for Everton to finish in the top-six for the first time in over seven years.

MF: Helder Costa

Helder Costa’s two goals against Fulham helped Leeds United to their first top-flight victory in over 16 years. The Portugal international made his loan from Wolves a permanent deal over the summer after playing 40 games for the promoted Whites last season.

FW: Son Heung-min

After scoring four goals against Southampton, Son Heung-Min became only the second ever Asian player to register a Premier League hat-trick. The South Korean had four shots in the game at St. Mary’s and found the net with each. Clinical.

FW: Wilfried Zaha

Having scored twice against his old club, we simply had to find a spot for Wilfried Zaha in our XI. The Ivory Coast international’s brace in Crystal Palace’s impressive 3-1 win at Old Trafford were his first in 10 Premier League appearances against the Red Devils, since leaving Manchester permanently in 2015.

FW: Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The focal point of this week’s attacking trio is Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored his first professional hat-trick as the Toffees smashed West Brom 5-2. The 23-year-old also notched the winner last week in the opening-day 1-0 victory away against Tottenham Hotspur. He managed 13 league goals last season and, if he can maintain such a prolific rate, will hope to reach the elusive 20 this campaign.