TOTW 17 Predicted Starting XI
The Premier League dominates TOTW once again with seven inclusions. Headlining the side, we have Bellingham, Haaland, Pajor, and Gyokeres, while Kerkez's SIF looks set to be one of the best LBs around.
GK: Lucas Perri (Lyon) - 78 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Ligue 1 was one of the main divisions in action this week, so I would expect a few players to be included from the division. The keeper is often a popular choice for EA, so with Perri making six saves in a hard-fought 1-0 win, I have him down as the favourite.
LB: Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth) - 77 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Kerkez looks to be getting ever closer to a move to league leaders Liverpool, but the Hungarian is still putting in superb performances week after week for the Cherries. His latest performance saw him claim MOTM after providing the assist for the only goal of the game during a 1-0 win over Everton.
CB: Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Most people were expecting a comfortable win for Liverpool here, with both sides in contrasting form, but what played out was anything but, with United being unfortunate not to snatch it late on. Martinez scored the first of United's two goals as they claimed a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
CB: Robin Propper (Rangers) - 76 OVR -> 83 OVR:
While Celtic are dominating the division this season, this match is still huge for bragging rights. Rangers came out on top, winning quite comfortably 3-0. Propper scored one of those three goals from the back, putting him high in the pecking order for an IF.
LM: Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid) - 79 OVR -> 86 OVR:
The gap between the top few sides is colossal in this division, so when they end up playing, the results end up defining the season. Real Madrid recorded a 2-1 away win over Atletico, with Caicedo scoring the opening goal and going on to receive MOTM.
CM: Ross Barkley (Aston Villa) - 78 OVR -> 86 OVR:
The Premier League often gets preferential treatment during these weeks when fewer games are taking place. We are inevitably going to see a few players get in for a singular goal, and Barkley seems to be the best choice for this with his goal during Villa's 2-1 win over Leicester.
CM: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) - 90 OVR -> 92 OVR:
Real Madrid were in serious danger of dropping points to Valencia this week. That was before a Bellingham masterclass played out late on, with an assist in the 85th minute before scoring the winner in the 96th.
RW: Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) - 80 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Mbeumo is back on form with two goals and an assist, helping Brentford towards a convincing 5-0 win away at Southampton. It takes the Brentford winger up to 13 goals and 3 assists for the season, showing how crucial he has been for them throughout.
ST: Erling Haaland (Man City) - 91 OVR -> 93 OVR:
The City slump was always going to come to an end at some point, and with back-to-back wins, they will be hoping to continue this form and reclaim some positions in the division. Haaland scored twice during a 4-1 win over West Ham this weekend, with Savinho also shining again.
ST: Ewa Pajor (Barcelona) - 87 OVR -> 89 OVR:
Barcelona got straight back to business on the resumption of their season with a 6-0 away win over Sociedad. There were a couple of IF candidates from the match, but Pajor is difficult to ignore with three goals and an assist.
ST: Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting) - 84 OVR -> 88 OVR:
Although Sporting failed to get the win during an evenly split eight-goal thriller with Vitória, Gyökeres has still done enough individually to obtain an IF this week. With three goals to his name his SIF is just around the corner.
TOTW 17 Predicted Subs & Reserves
GK: Zion Suzuki (Parma) - 71 OVR -> 83 OVR:
There were a few Serie A goalkeeper options to select from this week, but Suzuki claimed the highest match rating of the lot with a 7.5. Stopping a total of 1.8 xG, he pulled off some seriously impressive stops to keep the scores level.
RB: Nadir Zortea (Cagliarli) - 70 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Another Serie A silver now with Zortea. The Italian was named MOTM after scoring one of Cagliari's two during a well-needed 2-1 win.
RM: Alexis Saelemaekers (Roma) - 78 OVR -> 84 OVR:
The Lazio-Roma derby is one which often gets recognition from EA, and with an easy option from the match with Saelemaekers scoring once and assisting another, I see this being no different.
RW: David Neres (Napoli) - 80 OVR -> 84 OVR:
The final in a streak of four Serie A players comes with Neres. The Brazilian was named MOTM with a 7.5 from Gazzetta for his goal during Napoli's comfortable 3-0 away win over Fiorentina.
CM: Valentin Rongier (Marseille) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Ligue 1 Player of the Week went to Rongier after he scored once during Marseille's 5-1 win. Several other Marseille players made L'Équipe's TOTW, but none matched the 8 that Rongier received.
RM: Evann Guessand (Nice) - 74 OVR -> 83 OVR:
I have opted to include numerous non-gold options on the bench this week due to limited options elsewhere. One who should be nailed on is Guessand. He received an 8/10 from L'Équipe after scoring once and assisting another during Nice's 3-2 win.
ST: Raul Jimenez (Fulham) - 74 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Ipswich once again threw away points late on, this time with Fulham capitalising. Jimenez scored his second, both of which were penalties, in the 91st minute to secure Fulham a point.
CB: Evan Weir (Wallsall) - 60 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Walsall continue to dominate League 2, and their seventh consecutive league win came this week via a 2-1 victory over Notts County. They could now receive back-to-back IFs as a result, with Weir providing both assists from CB.
RM: Jed Drew (Macarthur) - 62 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Last week was extremely difficult to select the reserves, and it proved to be the same for EA, with several random names included. Unfortunately, it looks to be the same again here. I have taken a punt on several players with two goals, the first being Jed Drew, who scored twice during a 3-2 away win over WSW.
CAM: Carlo Holse (Samsunspor) - 70 OVR -> 83 OVR:
One player I am confident will make the reserves is Holse. Turkey often receives an IF per week, and he is the strongest option this week after his double from CAM.
RW: Augustine Boakye (St Etienne) - 69 OVR -> 83 OVR:
St. Etienne escaped the relegation zone this weekend with a 3-1 home win over Reims. Boakye scored two of those three, making his way into L'Equipe's TOTW for doing so.
ST: Amankwah Forson (Norwich) - 69 OVR -> 83 OVR:
With Norwich chasing the match late on, they turned to Forson in the 84th minute. It was a decision that paid off, with goals in both the 91st and 95th minutes turning the game on its head.
That concludes this week's Team of the Week predictions! What do you make of these predictions? Is there anyone else who should have made the TOTW? Let us know below!
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