Players from both Manchester clubs, the Merseyside duo as well as Crystal Palace and West Brom feature.
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring their first goal
This summer’s transfer window was the most extravagant yet, with over £1bn spent on players as the new television deal kicked into effect and over half of the Premier League teams broke their transfer record.
With another frustratingly timed international break coming up, now is a chance to reflect on the early signs regarding how well that staggering amount of money has been spent. Which clubs have bought well, and who needs to see an improvement from their new additions?
Manchester City’s John Stones
The opening seven games suggest that the Merseyside duo of Liverpool and Everton have strengthened successfully, while Crystal Palace have made a couple of shrewd signings. The lack of any players from Sunderland or West Ham, meanwhile, is no surprise given their respective poor starts.
The team below is slightly Garth Crooks-esque in terms of its attacking outlook, but that can be put down to the fact that no Premier League team has signed a standout full-back – besides, the two in the centre of midfield would keep things solid.
Goalkeeper – Steve Mandanda
The Frenchman was signed on a free transfer from Marseille this summer, and has made a real difference in the Eagles goal. While last season saw Wayne Hennessey and Alex McCarthy flatter to deceive, the vastly experienced Mandanda has made the position his own and is yet to taste defeat in his first five league games for the club.
Steve Mandanda
The goalkeeper has been capped 24 times for his country, and has impressed Palace supporters with his handling, command of the area and distribution. It is no coincidence that the upturn in fortunes for Alan Pardew’s side has coincided with Mandanda’s introduction between the sticks.
Centre-back – John Stones
The pressure was on the England international after he made the big-money switch to the Etihad, but so far he is proving the difference that good coaching can make to a player. Roberto Martinez’s lax approach to defending at Everton didn’t do Stones any favours, but with Pep Guardiola calling the shots at his new club the 22-year-old has excelled.
Capable of starting attacks for his side with runs into midfield while also keeping things tight at the back, Stones has appeared in every fixture across all competitions under the new regime, showing the esteem in which he is held by Guardiola. He has taken a slightly more no-nonsense approach to getting out of tight situations but retains the confidence to play his way out of trouble; if he continues in this manner, he will make the central defensive spot his own for club and country.
Centre-back – Eric Bailly
Manchester United’s Eric Bailly in action with Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy
Eyebrows were raised at the £30m fee, as reported by the BBC, that Manchester United paid for a player who had just 40 La Liga games under his belt for Espanyol and Villarreal. Eric Bailly’s performances so far this season have silenced the doubters, however, with the Frenchman adapting quickly to life in the Premier League.
His pace is a great asset and has eased his transition into the English game, which is notorious for being played at a higher tempo than other European leagues. He has partnered Daley Blind and Chris Smalling successfully and has already established himself as a key player under Jose Mourinho. United fans still pine for the days of Vidic and Ferdinand, neither of whom have ever been fully replaced, but the young Frenchman looks as if he has the potential to be their long overdue successor.
Centre-back – Joel Matip
Liverpool’s signing of Joel Matip was actually sealed back in February on a pre-contract agreement, but the German-born Cameroon international only joined his new teammates over the summer and has slotted in effortlessly to the Reds back four.
Burton Albion’s Calum Butcher in action with Liverpool’s Joel Matip
The only defeat Jurgen Klopp’s side have suffered this season came in Matip’s absence, which tells its own story. His composure on the ball has made him a popular figure in his fledgling Anfield career to date, and he has forged a solid partnership with the much-improved Dejan Lovren.
Right midfield – Sadio Mane
Matip isn’t the only impressive addition to Liverpool’s starting XI this season, with Sadio Mane making a flying start to his Reds career on the wing. The latest to take the well trodden path from Southampton to Anfield, a thumping strike on his debut at Arsenal set the tone and the 24-year-old followed that up with further goals against Leicester and Hull.
The Senegal international is a key part of Klopp’s revolution at Liverpool, providing the attacking impetus from the flank and holding width while the likes of Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino work their magic from more central positions. Having found the net 21 times in two Premier League seasons with Southampton, Mane will be aiming for double figures again in what is shaping up to be an exciting season on Merseyside.
Central midfield – Victor Wanyama
Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama in action with Liverpool’s Adam Lallana
Another to have departed St Mary’s this summer, Wanyama has added steel and solidity to the Tottenham midfield whilst also improving his disciplinary record. The Kenyan midfielder was sent off three times for Southampton last season, and though he has picked up several yellow cards for his new side he is yet to see red.
The performance against Manchester City this weekend showed why Mauricio Pochettino brought him in to his ever-improving Tottenham set up. Wanyama refused to give City’s array of attacking talents any time on the ball, snapping into challenges and breaking up play excellently. He has quality on the ball as well, and netted a crucial winner against Crystal Palace in August.
Central midfield – Idrissa Gueye
Aston Villa’s non-performance in the Premier League last season would have made it easy to ignore any of the players that turned out in claret and blue, but Ronald Koeman saw something in Idrissa Gueye and brought the midfielder to Goodison Park. That has turned out to be an inspired decision, with the 27-year-old playing a starring role in Everton’s impressive start to the season.
Everton’s Idrissa Gueye in action with Middlesbrough’s Adam Forshaw
The Senegal man has simply been everywhere in the Toffees opening games, with his boundless energy complimenting the experience of Gareth Barry in the Everton engine room. Prior to this weekend he had made 34 tackles in the Premier League, eight more than anyone else, and if this form continues Gueye could turn out to be this season’s Ngolo Kante.
Left midfield – Nacer Chadli
So far at least, the Egyptian winger looks like a player thriving on the responsibility of being a big fish in a small pond. The 27-year-old has scored three goals in his first three appearances for West Brom, already equalling the tally he managed for Tottenham last season.
His brace against West Ham helped the Baggies to an impressive 4-2 win that was integral to improving what had threatened to become a toxic atmosphere at the Hawthorns. Albion fans are still frustrated with the lack of excitement on offer from their side, but exciting players like Chadli could help Tony Pulis win over his doubters in the West Midlands whilst also helping the club achieve a comfortable survival.
West Bromwich Albion’s Nacer Chadli celebrates scoring their first goal
Attacking midfield – Nathan Redmond
Redmond was signed as a winger when he arrived at Southampton from Norwich this summer, but has reinvented himself in a central role under Claude Puel. The England u-21 international has been Saints main attacking threat for large parts of this season, scoring on his debut against Watford and linking up well with Charlie Austin and Dusan Tadic.
Southampton’s Nathan Redmond celebrates scoring their first goal
Southampton have picked up in recent weeks after an indifferent start, and are now setting their sights on another top half finish. With European football to contend with and the squad tested to its limit, Redmond continuing his fine start to the season will be crucial if Puel is to carry on the good work of his predecessor Ronald Koeman.
Striker – Christian Benteke
Following a difficult season at Liverpool, Christian Benteke has found life at Crystal Palace much more to his liking. Now with a team who will play to his strengths, the big Belgian has found the net with three headers in his first five Eagles games and played a key role in Palace’s recent improvement.
With Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon all available to provide the service, this should be a profitable season for Benteke. Palace may have had to spend big to get him, but early evidence suggests it was money well spent as Alan Pardew looks to lead his side to a successful campaign.
Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke gestures to their fans after the match
Striker – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Wherever he goes, he guarantees goals, and the start to this season has been business as usual for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede started with a bang, scoring three times in his first two Premier League games, and netted a fine goal in what turned out to be a losing cause in September’s Manchester derby.
Ibrahimovic is without a goal in three league games – considered somewhat of a drought for a player of such quality – but provides an invaluable focal point for United’s attack. The impact he will have on the game of young guns Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford will also be crucial, and if he can start linking up with fellow marquee signing Paul Pogba then opposition defences are in for a difficult time against Jose Mourinho’s side.
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action
Of course, this is still very much early days, and an end of season XI made up of the best signings will undoubtedly look very different. So far, however, it is the above players that have made the biggest mark for their new clubs.
Do you agree? Who should be included, and which of the above are lucky to have made it? Leave your comments below.
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