Welcome back to the second season of the Premier League Ones to Watch column, a weekly piece that highlights the most notable performance of the previous matchday, as well as predicting a top performer for the weekend ahead. This column is made for West Coast fans in particular, as I help you decide which games you should wake up for by identifying the players who are worth the price of admission, so to speak.
Igor Thiago shone yet again this week with a brace against Newcastle.
He scored two crucial goals in Brentford’s 3-1 victory, bringing his season tally to eight goals in only 11 appearances. Following concerns over Brentford’s attack after losing Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and Yoanne Wissa to Newcastle United, Thiago has brought it back to life.
Jeremy Doku had an assist in Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool, and his overall performance came from more than just goal contribution: he completed seven dribbles along with 11 duels in the matchup, both of which were a game high.
With Doku’s performance, City has an even better chance of returning as the juggernaut they were not long ago. With City now in second place and only four points behind Arsenal, they are not far from reclaiming their spot on the Premier League throne.
The last performance of note came from Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentinian winger had two assists in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Wolves. With a pair of assists, he has now reached four goal contributions in his last four appearances.
Following a tough spell at Manchester United to start his career, Garnacho needs to take the next step with his new club. His recent performances are only an example of the player he is capable of becoming.
Looking ahead to the next round of fixtures following the international break, the One to Watch is Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United. The Cameroonian has been a revelation for the Red Devils with five goals and an assist in his first 11 games, which would have been enough for him to be the fourth-highest scorer on the team last season.
With Cameroon freshly knocked out of World Cup contention, Mbeumo can carry his club side to success instead. With United’s success at home this season, a match against Everton at Old Trafford bodes well for Mbeumo’s chances.
Mohamed Salah is another player to keep an eye on. Despite Salah’s drop off this season relative to his standards, he still has four goals and two assists. A home match against an improving Nottingham Forest side sets up for a big performance from Salah.
The last player to watch for is Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth. A large reason for the squad’s top-half position is due to Semenyo’s six goals and three assists in 11 games. Semenyo is consistently one of the Cherrie’s best, and he should continue his form in their upcoming matches.
From last week’s predictions, the matchup between Manchester United and Spurs was an absolute thriller. While the game between Manchester City and Liverpool didn’t meet the same standard, it was still an impressive game. The player selected to do well, Joao Pedro, recorded a goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 win, making last week’s predictions spot on.