Premier League Team of the Week I

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Right-Midfield: Robert Snodgrass (Hull City)

The Scottish wide-man was a thorn in the side of Leicester City throughout Hull’s opening day win at the KC Stadium and always sought to unsettle goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, very nearly catching him out with a clever free-kick toward the near post in the second half.

His display was tireless and he gave everything for the cause at a time when his club and manager needed it the most, and he took his winning goal with aplomb, striking the ball first-time with a left foot shot that crashed past Kasper Schmeichel and into the back of the net to put the gloss on an excellent individual performance and a fantastic team effort from a depleted Hull side.

Centre-Attacking Midfield (Free Role): Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

Liverpool’s opening 45 minutes at the Emirates against Arsenal were nothing short of woeful, and they deservedly trailed 1-0 to Theo Walcott’s strike for the Gunners. Cue Philippe Coutinho, who rifled in a sumptuous free-kick into Petr Cech’s top right-hand corner to drag Liverpool back into the game.

From that point on, the Reds and Coutinho never looked back, and he showed further genius to set Georginio Wijnaldum free for Liverpool’s second before completing his brace to make it 3-1. Liverpool began to capitulate after Coutinho was withdrawn by Jurgen Klopp, and if the Anfield outfit are to be near the top four this season, it will be down to the genius, creativity and masterclass of the Brazilian if he can continue to stand up and be counted.

Left-Midfield: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

It was a shaky opening performance from Manchester City in Pep Guardiola’s first game in charge as the Citizens laboured to a 2-1 opening day victory over Sunderland. Sterling was the source of much of Manchester City’s creativity and spark, winning a penalty which led to Sergio Aguero’s opening goal and attempting nine dribbles as he showed the adventure to take on his full-back.

The Kingston-born England international cut the figure of a man desperate to atone for his poor showing in national colours at Euro 2016, and he reminded the world of what he is capable of producing in a hard-working performance where he ran himself into the ground to get up and down the flank for his team.

He started well last season for City however before he eventually faded, and it is early days this time round too. If he is to justify his hefty price tag following his transfer from Liverpool in 2015, he will need to maintain his consistency throughout the season this time round, and that may just prove vital for City in the title race.

Right-Forward: Sadio Mané (Liverpool)

With his transfer to Anfield over the summer, Mané finally got the big move he’d dreamt of during his stint with Southampton, and the £34million transfer fee seemed a staggering one. On his debut showing however, he may well be worth every penny to Liverpool.

The Reds have been desperate for width and pace on the right-flank in seasons gone by and Mané showed that he may well be the answer to their prayers, troubling Arsenal throughout a cracker of a game at the Emirates and capping off his performance with a fantastic solo goal, picking the ball up on the flank and running at the Arsenal defence before unleashing a precise effort to beat veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech and give Liverpool a three-goal cushion. It would also eventually prove the match winner, after the Gunners pulled two goals back through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers, also both formerly of Southampton.