Premier League Team of the Week XI

Our Premier League team of the week returns for the third time in eight days. It has been a relentless schedule for players in England’s top division and they won’t be getting a break any time soon.

With teams such as Arsenal, Newcastle United and Aston Villa, who stood out the most after gameweek 20 had concluded?

GK: Bart Verbruggen

This wasn’t a great week for goalkeepers – we picked Bart Verburggen, purely on the basis that he was one of just three ‘keepers who managed to keep a clean sheet.

He didn’t have much to do – the Dutch international only needed to make two saves to keep a lacklustre Burnley at bay.

RB: Conor Bradley

Conor Bradley could be a star in the making if he is managed correctly, The Northern Ireland international showed both defensive grit and a desire to get forward against Fulham.

He made a charging run forward to find Florian Wirtz for Liverpool’s first goal of the game – additionally, he could nothing about the two goals they conceded.

CB: Malick Thiaw

The 2025/26 season has brought mixed fortunes for Newcastle, but Malick Thiaw has been a constant source of inspiration.

The towering defender both scored and kept a clean sheet against Crystal Palace as the Eagles slumped to their fourth defeat in five games.

CB: Jan Paul van Hecke

Jan Paul van Hecke has matured a lot since he joined Brighton. His defensive work was excellent against Burnley, effectively shutting out the Clarets.

He won all of his aerial duels and dealt with anything that came his way – a big money move could be on the horizon.

LB: Hugo Bueno

Wolves, for all their woes this season, were outstanding in their 3-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.

Hugo Bueno put in some excellent defending and gave the Hammers trouble down the left flank all game – he registered an assist along the way.

RCM: John McGinn

Is it fair to call John McGinn an Aston Villa legend? For us, he’s up there with the likes of Peter Withe, Paul McGrath and Charlie Aitken.

The Scottish International scored twice against Nottingham Forest – he has been a driving force behind their excellent run.

CM: Declan Rice

Declan Rice is probably the best player that Thomas Tuchel can call upon for England right now. He is untouchable in the middle of the park – he might be the best midfielder in the world at the time of writing.

His brace against Bournemouth certainly lends credence to this argument. The £105 million Arsenal paid for him is starting to look like a bit of a bargain.

LCM: Vitaly Janelt

Vitaly Janelt has long been an unsung hero at Brentford. He proved his worth once again against Everton, notching up a pair of assists at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He has been at Brentford for over five years now, making well over 150 Premier League appearances in that time – he is well on his way to becoming a true icon of the Bees’ tapestry.

AM: Youri Tielemans

What a season Youri Tielemans is having. Ever since Unai Emery trusted him to play in a more advanced role, he has repaid his faith in spades.

He played an oustanding ball to John McGinn for Villa’s first goal of the game – he is a creative infleunce that shouldn’t be underestimated.

AM: Mateus Mane

Wolves have been utterly woeful this season, but Mateus Mane showed that there are certainly some diamonds in the rough when he gave West Ham United the runaround.

He bamboozled their defenders with his silky dribbling and clever passing – at just 18 years of age, this young man has a very bright future in football.

ST: Igor Thiago

After a season like this, Igor Thiago could be a shoe-in for the Brazil squad at the 2026 World Cup. He scored a hattrick against Everton, punishing any mistake made by the Toffees.

His performances have buoyed Brentford up to 7th in the Premier League table – no one saw this coming at the start of the season.