Premier League TOTW using PFF FC Grades and Metrics - GW4 📊
Welcome to the PFF FC Team of the Week series. Our analysis team selects an XI using PFF FC event data, physical metrics, and our unique grading system. To read more about how we grade players, click here.
GK: Arijanet Muric, Ipswich Town
Muric kept his first Premier League clean sheet to help earn Ipswich’s second point of the season. The Kosovar international received an 89.8 shot-stopping grade, which ranks as the best individual shot-stopping performance in the Premier League this season. It included an excellent double save, denying Georgino Rutter before throwing himself across the goal to stop Mitoma from following up on the rebound.
LB: Tyrick Mitchell, Crystal Palace
Tyrick Mitchell finds himself in back-to-back TOTWs after a strong performance to help Palace earn a point against Leicester City. Mitchell helped ignite the comeback with a lovely driven cross to Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 47th minute. To go along with this assist, Mitchell also had 3 key passes. This helped Mitchell earn a crossing grade of 82.6 (4th among FBs, 7th overall). He was also an asset in defence, winning 3 of 4 aerial duels and generating an aerial duel grade of 75.1 (1st among FBs and 8th overall).
CB: Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United
Martinez and United returned to winning ways against Southampton, beating them 3-0. He received 3 PFF FC grades over 80, across clearances, passing and defending dribbles. He has the 3rd highest defending dribbles grade among centre-backs so far this season (82.7).
CB: Jan Paul van Hecke, Brighton & Hove Albion
The Brighton player had the second-highest passing grade recorded in a game this season (99.5) with only Kevin De Bruyne receiving a higher grade so far, also versus Ipswich (99.7). The Dutchman completed 19 of 20 attempted line-breaking passes and 16% of his passes received positive grades while just 2% received negative grades.
RB: Ola Aina, Nottingham Forest
Aina was solid down the right-hand side as Forest dug in to defeat Arne Slot’s high-flying Liverpool. He recorded an 88.2 tackling grade, a 77.1 defending dribbles grade, and a 78.1 passing grade during Saturday’s game. He won all his tackles and was unbeaten when dribbled against, an impressive feat when going up against Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.
CM: João Gomes, Wolves
Despite the loss to Newcastle, Gomes delivered for Wolverhampton. Gomes completed 94% of his passes enroute to an 81.9 passing grade. Gomes was also good off the ball, producing a tackling grade of 79.5 (1st among CMs, 6th overall).
CM: Carlos Baleba, Brighton & Hove Albion
Baleba finds himself in our week 4 TOTW after a standout performance against Ipswich Town. He was the only player to receive five grades of 70+ this week. His ability on and off the ball was on full display, receiving a 76.4 grade for defending dribbles (4th among CMs, 10th overall) and a 90.7 dribbling grade (1st among all players). Baleba rounded out his outstanding performance registering a passing grade of 85.8, shooting grade of 81.3, and a tackling grade of 71.0 (4th, 1st, and 9th among CMs).
CAM: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
The Belgian Maestro narrowly missed out on leading the league in passing grade for three straight weeks, after topping the charts in Weeks 2 & 3, his 93.4 passing grade was only good enough for 3rd amongst all players. He tied for 2nd amongst all players in both through balls completed & defensive line-breaking passes. Through 4 weeks, his 99.8 passing grade is more than 5 points clear of 2nd place & he leads the league in Chances Created. De Bruyne is possibly the best passer in the history of the league.
LW: Harvey Barnes, Newcastle United
Barnes truly was an impact sub for Newcastle, with his wonderfully curled finish being the difference between 1 & 3 points for the Toon, leading him to an 80.2 overall shooting grade. He showed out well in other areas too, with his 79.8 dribbling grade ranking 2nd amongst Wingers. He was one of only eight players from the weekend’s action to complete 100% of his dribbles while attempting more than one.
RW: John McGinn, Aston Villa
A strong all-around showing from the versatile Scotsman, the only Winger or Attacking midfielder this week to post four 70+ grades (Crossing, Dribbling, Passing & Tackle Resistance). His Passing Grade specifically (82.4), was good enough for the Top 5 amongst his position group (with 2 key passes). He also joined Barnes in the group of 8 that completed 100% of their dribbles.
CF: Erling Haaland, Manchester City
A disappointing week by Haaland’s standards, with only 2 goals this week after back-to-back hat tricks. On the bright side, he led all players in shooting grade; an Elite 90.4, making him the only player this week to break 90.
Four games into the season, he has 3x the goals of anyone else, leads all players in % of possessions in the penalty area, and must be eyeing becoming the first player in Premier League history to break the 40-goal barrier.
PFF FC's Premier League Team of the Week for Gameweek 4.