Premier League Team of the Week – De Bruyne, Barnes, Palmer

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15-04-2025

Premier League Team of the Week – De Bruyne, Barnes, Palmer
Our Premier League Team of the Week from the weekend's action, featuring names from Manchester City, Newcastle and Ipswich.
Goalkeeper: Alex Palmer – Ipswich Town
Ipswich might be going down but at least they're going down fighting. Kieran McKenna's side dented Chelsea's hopes of Champions League football with a draw at Stamford Bridge and Palmer stood tall amid a second-half storm. The goalkeeper made eight stops, including point-blank saves from Noni Madueke and Enzo Fernandez. The latter was one of the saves of the season.
Right-back: Conor Bradley – Liverpool
Impressed on his return to the Liverpool side in a performance that could help ease the anxiety around Trent Alexander-Arnold's seemingly imminent exit. Bradley does not possess the creativity of his soon-to-be out-of-contract teammate, but he adds thrust down the flank and tenacity in his defensive work. Bradley won 6/8 defensive duels and four tackles against West Ham.
Centre-back: Sepp van den Berg – Brentford
A wall as Brentford battled to a point at Arsenal. Van den Berg led his teammates for clearances (9), duels won (8) and aerial duels won (5), while no Brentford player made more tackles (3) than the Dutch defender. He won 100% of his duels and tackles in a solid showing at the Emirates.
Centre-back: Jarrad Branthwaite – Everton
A monstrous aerial presence for Everton, who earned arguably the result of the weekend with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. Branthwaite became the first player in the Premier League to record 9+ aerial duels with a 100% success rate this season, as the centre-back headed away from danger time and time again. He's taken last month's England omission personally. Thomas Tuchel can not overlook the 22-year-old in this form.
Left-back: Rayan Ait-Nouri – Wolves
Rayan Ait-Nouri was at the heart of another Wolves win as Vitor Pereira's team preyed on a struggling Spurs side. The Algerian volleyed Wolves ahead after just 85 seconds at Molineux, before turning provider. Ait-Nouri robbed Cristian Romero of possession and unselfishly squared for Jorgen Strand Larsen to tap home the third.
Midfield: Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa
Aston Villa's chief conductor was at it again as Unai Emery's side eased past Southampton. Tielemans released Marcus Rashford with an early pass in behind, before carving up the opener sublimely. A delicate lifted pass picked out Ollie Watkins to break the deadlock, an important moment for Villa and their chase for Champions League football.
Midfield: Sandro Tonali – Newcastle
Absolutely everywhere. Tonali fired Newcastle in front against Manchester United with a fabulous finish and covered every blade of grass. The Italian is full of powerful drive and technical quality, emerging as the heartbeat of this Newcastle team. One of his best performances for the Magpies as Tonali ran over a meek Manchester United side.
Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
The farewell tour has begun for Kevin De Bruyne and the Belgian is keen to ensure there are still some of his greatest hits played on the way out. Manchester City were in real trouble at 2-0 down to Crystal Palace but De Bruyne dragged his side back into the game.
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De Bruyne halved the deficit with a free-kick whipped inside Dean Henderson's post, before heading back across goal to assist Omar Marmoush's equaliser. At the centre of it all for City, this was a throwback performance from the soon-to-be leaving midfielder.
Right-wing: Ben Johnson – Ipswich Town
Pushed forward into a more advanced role and seemed to revel in the added freedom. Johnson charged past Marc Cucurella to set up Ipswich's opener against Chelsea, before arriving unmarked at the back post to double the lead from Julio Enciso's cross. He had recorded just one goal contribution all season before Sunday, before tripling his tally in one afternoon at Stamford Bridge.
Left-wing: Harvey Barnes – Newcastle
A clinical second-half showing from Barnes who put Manchester United to the sword. He burst into the box to turn home Jacob Murphy's centre and restore Newcastle's lead, after Alejandro Garnacho had cancelled out Sandro Tonali's opener.
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The best was yet to come, as Barnes capitalised on a mistake from Noussair Mazraoui and set off toward goal. Barnes charged through a retreating backline to smash in his second at St James' Park. It's now 11 goal involvements for Barnes this season, who has started just 10 league games. He's made his case for a more prominent role.
Forward: Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
Off the bench to score what could be a crucial goal in Aston Villa's season. Watkins wonderfully converted from Youri Tielemans' floated pass to open the scoring at Southampton, just when it appeared the relegated Saints were in danger of stifling the visitors.
It was an exceptional finish from Watkins, who must start Tuesday's tie with Paris Saint-Germain. With Villa in need of goals, there's no more reliable source available to Unai Emery.
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