Premier League Player of the Week: Kane inspires Tottenham to top spot and McCarthy keeps Wolves at bay
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Who gets your vote this week?
Without a huge core of first team players, injury-hit Liverpool produced an impressive display to flex their title credential muscles over challengers Leicester City on Sunday.
There were other notable performances too, as Chelsea dominated Newcastle at St James’ to close the gap at the top, while Jose Mourinho masterminded another win at home to Manchester City to dent their title ambitions.
Elsewhere, Everton stamped their authority over Fulham in the first half to claim another win, before some magic between the sticks helped Southampton to a draw against Wolves at Molineux.
We’ve picked out four standout performers for this week’s Premier League Player of the Week…
Harry Kane
Once Tottenham grabbed the opening goal after just five minutes, it looked like there was no way they were going to let this one get away from them, and nothing showed that more than the fight and determination from Harry Kane.
Although no goals and only one assist may not sound impressive, Kane deservedly picked up the plaudits as he produced one of the most complete number nine displays you’re likely to see.
His constant movement distracted the defenders to create pockets of space for the likes of Son Heung-min to take up, dropping deep and taking defenders with him to get Son in behind for the opener.
The second-half assist he produced was sublime too, picking the ball up in his own half before carrying it deep into the City half, before sliding through Giovanni Lo Celso who slotted home under Ederson.
With that, Kane grabbed his ninth assist in nine matches. Could he be on his way to beat the current Premier League record? And can Spurs follow up that impressive performance with another against Chelsea on Sunday?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
It took only 40 seconds for the Toffees to break the deadlock against a struggling Fulham side, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s clever runs into the box instrumental.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid lost possession to Richarlison on the edge of the Fulham box, and with the Brazilian running through, Calvert-Lewin altered his run and turned home to find the back of the net in a scruffy manner.
But for all that was scruffy in his first goal, there was nothing remotely untidy about the second, with the England frontman powering home a finish on a delightfully aesthetically pleasing move.
Alex Iwobi danced through three challenges before laying it off to James Rodriguez, who played it wide to Lucas Digne to cross first time onto the right boot of Calvert-Lewin, and you knew where it was going from there.
He’s out on his own at the top of the scoring charts, already up to double figures in the Premier League this season, but can he be a contender for the Golden Boot? He’s 6/1 to finish as top scorer.
Diogo Jota
No Mohamed Salah? No problem for Liverpool, as summer signing Diogo Jota continues to impress with his goal against Leicester making history at Anfield.
The Portuguese forward has scored in each of his first four top-flight matches at Anfield, becoming the first player to do so.
Liverpool seemed to have control of the match from the first minute, though that dominance was powered home through an own goal before Jota’s strike emphasised their dominance a little more.
Andy Robertson’s perfectly whipped cross from the left-wing was glanced in past Kasper Schmeichel, who couldn’t get enough on it to keep it out of his net.
He could have had more too, with Schmeichel thwarting attempts from the former Wolves man to put the game to bed in the second half. That win extended Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League run at Anfield to 64 games, a new club record in the top flight.
Alex McCarthy
With all of Wolves’ attacking options, it was either going to take an off night, or something special to stop Nuno Espirito Santo’s side from increasing their goal tally so far this season.
Step forward Alex McCarthy. The 30-year-old shotstopper set the tone for his evening early on, producing a double save to keep the scores level after just six minutes, preventing Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker from finding the net.
But his best save of the night was still yet to come. Daniel Podence was at the center of it, with a delicate flicked header forcing McCarthy into a fine diving save.
After yet another free-flowing attacking move, Podence switched from right foot to left before unleashing a powerful strike, which McCarthy turned wide.
McCarthy ended the night with eight saves to his name, playing a huge role in the Saints picking up yet another point on the road.
We’ve pitched our top four players in the Premier League this week, although it’s worth giving some honourable mentions elsewhere too.
N’Golo Kante was back to his vintage best against Newcastle, with the Frenchman popping up wherever you looked to tackle, intercept and break forward, while Lucas Digne may feel hard done missing out after producing two assists against Fulham.
There’s a quick mention for Andy Robertson too for his assist and clean sheet against the Foxes but let us know what you think. Which of our four will get your vote this week? Let us know on our Twitter poll.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication.
