Premier League Team of the Week: Forest trio lead the way after Liverpool thumping

Forest's players celebrate at Anfield
Forest's players celebrate at AnfieldBradley Ormesher / News Licensing / Profimedia

The Premier League returned after the final international break of 2025 last weekend, with several standout performances and high scores in Flashscore's player ratings.

Arsenal thrashed rivals Tottenham 4-1 in the North London derby, while Nottingham Forest shocked the league with a 3-0 win at Anfield against Liverpool.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth secured a comeback 2-2 draw against West Ham and Crystal Palace defeated struggling Wolves 2-0.

Here, Flashscore selects its Premier League Team of the Week - based on our player ratings.

Premier League Team of the Week
Premier League Team of the WeekFlashscore

Goalkeeper

Alphonse Areola (West Ham) - 9.1

Areola put in a superb performance in West Ham's draw with Bournemouth, making a staggering 10 saves to ensure his side held on to a valuable point.

The goalkeeper even provided an assist for the opening goal after spraying the ball forward for Callum Wilson to control and fire home.

Areola v Bournemouth
Areola v BournemouthOpta by StatsPerform (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP)

Defenders

Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest) - 8.9

The first of three Forest players to make our side, Williams played a crucial role in his side's win against his former club Liverpool.

The Welsh international provided an assist to complement an exceptional defensive showing - winning 20 duels while also making four clearances and three interceptions.

Murillo (Nottingham Forest) - 9.1

Like his teammate Williams, Murillo excelled in Forest's win over Liverpool and managed to get on the scoresheet with a well-placed finish after the ball fell to him from a set-piece.

Murillo also shone defensively by winning all of his ground and aerial duels and making 13 clearances.

Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace) - 8.1

Crystal Palace have enjoyed a fantastic campaign so far and continued their good form with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Wolves.

Lacroix was key to the victory and clean sheet with a top performance at the back and even provided the assist for the Eagles' opening goal.

Midfielders

Yankuba Minteh (Brighton) - 8.2

Brighton battled from a goal down to defeat Brentford 2-1 on Saturday, with Minteh playing a starring role at the AMEX Stadium.

The winger provided both assists in the Seagulls' comeback to take his total to four for the season so far - the joint-most in the entire division.

Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) - 9.9

Eze bagged a hat-trick in Arsenal's victory against rivals Spurs, becoming the first player to do so in that fixture in the Premier League era.

His performances earned him a 9.9 Flashscore player rating - making Eze our Player of the Week.

That rating is the second-highest recorded in the Premier League all season, only behind Jurrien Timber's perfect 10 in the Gunners ' 5-0 win over Leeds.

Eze v Spurs
Eze v SpursOpta by StatsPerform / Marc Aspland / News Licensing / Profimedia

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) - 8.3

Our final Forest entry, Anderson, was on top form during the win at Anfield.

The midfielder was central to his side's success and had a strong influence at both ends of the pitch - maintaining an 89 per cent pass accuracy with nine of those going into the final third, while also making two clearances and two interceptions.

Harvey Barnes (Newcastle) - 8.1

Newcastle got back to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-1 win against high-flying Manchester City.

Winger Barnes was crucial to the Magpies' win, with two goals in the second half to send St. James' Park wild and earn his side a first Premier League victory in almost a month.

Forwards

Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace) - 8.2

Pino netted his first Premier League goal in Palace's win over Wolves, curling a wonderful effort into the top corner after some nice control on the edge of the box.

The Spaniard is starting to settle in England and will look to use his goal as a foundation to build on during the busy winter period.

Callum Wilson (West Ham) - 8.7

West Ham striker Wilson scored twice against former club Bournemouth at the weekend, first firing home from outside the area before then showing superb instincts to turn and volley home from close range.

Wilson was struggling for form during the early weeks of the campaign but now has three goals in his last two games and is turning into an important factor in the Hammers' gradual rise up the table.

Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham) - 9.0

Chukwueze came off the bench to help Fulham to a 1-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday afternoon, providing a perfect cross for Raul Jimenez's late winner.

The forward changed the game after being introduced, completing two successful dribbles and creating two big chances in an impactful cameo.