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Premier League Team of the Week - Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Sadio Mane

Sports Mole selects its Premier League team of the week for matchday two, including three Manchester City players and two from Liverpool.

Gameweek two of the 2018-19 Premier League season supplied 35 goals, the first major shock of the campaign and more early statements from expected title challengers.

Defending champions Manchester City were the biggest winners of the weekend with a 6-1 thrashing of Huddersfield Town, while Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea kept pace at the top with triumphs over Crystal Palace, Fulham and Arsenal respectively.

The Gunners are now one of four teams - alongside Fulham, West Ham United and Huddersfield - to still be without a point after two games, whereas Watford and Bournemouth continue to mix it with more established names on six points courtesy of wins over Burnley and West Ham respectively.

Arguably the biggest story of the weekend came at the Amex Stadium, though, where Brighton & Hove Albion ran out 3-2 winners over Manchester United, scoring all of their goals in the first half.

Elsewhere, Leicester City beat Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton overcame Southampton and Cardiff City survived a late penalty scare to earn a goalless draw with 10-man Newcastle United.

Here, Sports Mole chooses the pick of the bunch from gameweek two.



PL TOTW GW2
Having already made a small slice of history by becoming the first Filipino to play in the Premier League, Cardiff's Neil Etheridge has now saved penalties in each of his two top-flight outings. Saturday's 96th-minute stop against Newcastle was his sixth save of the game, securing a clean sheet and a first point of the season for the Bluebirds.

Tottenham full-back Kieran Trippier was making his first appearance since the World Cup, and the England international repeated his semi-final heroics with a stunning free kick at Wembley as his side beat Fulham. Leicester's Ricardo Pereira deserves a mention after recording another assist, but Trippier's display was one of a man ready to carry his World Cup form into the Premier League.

On the opposite flank, Benjamin Mendy continued his fine start to the season with another assist, also delivering a league-high 12 crosses into the box from open play during Man City's mauling of Huddersfield. Chelsea's attack-minded left-back Marcos Alonso registered a goal and an assist, while Leicester's Ben Chilwell also enjoyed a decent game, but Mendy's contribution to City's five-goal victory is difficult to overlook.

Virgil van Dijk makes it into the team for the second week running following another imperious display to keep Crystal Palace at bay, leaving Liverpool as the only team yet to concede a goal this season. Alongside him this week is Bournemouth's Steve Cook, who provided the assist for his side's equaliser, scored their winner and registered a team-high 11 clearances against West Ham. Shane Duffy and James Tarkowski - both of whom were on the scoresheet for their respective teams - also deserve a mention.

Brighton's victory over Manchester United simply has to be recognised, but it was such a team performance that it is difficult to pick out the star man. Davy Propper repeatedly quelled United attacks, though, making a league-high seven tackles during his side's famous win at the Amex to help his side to an expected three points. Chelsea's Jorginho also enjoyed another fine display, while Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier was tidy in possession.

James Maddison's burgeoning reputation climbed to new heights with his first Premier League goal, earning him a place in the team ahead of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Will Hughes and Pascal Gross, and alongside David Silva. The Spanish playmaker orchestrated his side's 6-1 win in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, notching his first direct free kick goal for Man City to cap off his performance.

Pedro's form at the start of the new season is deemed good enough for Chelsea not to have to rush Eden Hazard back, with the Spaniard making it two from two against Arsenal, while Sadio Mane has also now scored in both matches this term after showing speed, strength and agility to kill off Liverpool's win against Palace late on.

Sergio Aguero is the new joint-leading scorer alongside Mane courtesy of his hat-trick against Huddersfield, making him the star man this weekend and a guaranteed inclusion in this side. Harry Kane ended his August drought, Gabriel Jesus also got on the scoresheet for City, and Callum Wilson scored a superb solo goal for Bournemouth, but there was never any doubt that Aguero would lead the line this week.

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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Sadio Mane nabs the third during the Premier League game between Liverpool and West Ham United on August 12, 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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