Goalkeeper: Nick Pope - Newcastle United

A game in which Newcastle were considered heavy favorites quickly shifted after a rash red card for defender Fabian Schär. This gave Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton Díaz plenty of opportunities to test the Newcastle goal. Nick Pope, however, stood firm, most notably tipping a second-half strike from Armstrong—headed for the top left corner—around the post. Pope's heroics helped Newcastle secure a strong start to the campaign.

Defender: Trent Alexander-Arnold: - Liverpool

Many were excited for Liverpool’s first Premier League game under Arne Slot this weekend. Liverpool proved too much for Ipswich in a strong 2-0 win, with Trent Alexander-Arnold playing a key role. The Liverpool full-back was ever-present in their attack, creating the joint-most chances in the game (3), with two of them deserving assists. The first was a delicate touch through to Díaz inside the box, which he subsequently fired over. The second was a beautifully whipped cross to Jota, who headed wide. Alexander-Arnold was finally involved in a goal just a minute later with a lovely through ball to Salah, who squared it for Jota to put Liverpool ahead.

Defender: Rúben Dias: - Manchester City

Manchester City continued their imperious form from last season with a strong win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Rúben Dias gave Chelsea very few opportunities to test Ederson, limiting them to just three shots on target. Dias delivered a much-improved performance compared to the last time he faced Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where he conceded a penalty and four goals in a 4-4 draw. His ability to learn from past mistakes and adapt his game demonstrates why Rúben Dias is one of the first names on Pep Guardiola's teamsheet.

Defender: Josko Gvardiol: - Manchester City

Like his defensive partner Dias, Gvardiol locked down his area of the pitch, successfully battling against the recently announced PFA Young Player of the Year, Cole Palmer. Additionally, Gvardiol provided an attacking outlet at times, progressing the ball into Chelsea’s half. Chelsea's counterattacks were their most dangerous route to goal, but Gvardiol's defensive acumen thwarted any real momentum, helping City secure a perfect start to the season with a win and a clean sheet.

Right Midfielder: Bukayo Saka: - Arsenal

Arsenal’s forwards, Saka and Havertz, dominated Wolves at the Emirates, linking up for both goals in a commanding 2-0 win. Bukayo Saka was undoubtedly the star of the match, creating the most chances (5), including a teasing inswinging cross in the first half that found the head of Kai Havertz. Saka’s performance wasn't just about his attacking prowess; his defensive work, winning the ball in the attacking third, allowed Arsenal to create numerous opportunities. Saka capped off his performance with a stunning near-post finish to secure the win for the Gunners.

Central Midfielder: Amadou Onana: - Aston Villa

Onana’s first game for the Villains was one to remember. He played the full ninety minutes in their 2-1 win against West Ham at the London Stadium. Onana started brightly, scoring an early goal with a towering header following a corner. This gave him plenty of confidence for the rest of the game as he controlled the midfield with his superb passing range, completing 30 out of 31 attempted passes. It was a dominant debut for the Belgian

Central Midfielder: Mateo Kovačić: - Manchester City

Mateo Kovačić was arguably the star of the show in Manchester City’s win over Chelsea. City lined up without their midfield anchor, Rodri, leaving questions about who would fill that void. Kovačić stepped up, excelling in both the defensive and attacking aspects of the game. The Croatian led the team with four tackles and scored a stunning goal, running past the £200+ million duo brought in to replace him, Fernández and Caicedo, before firing past Robert Sánchez at the near post to secure the match for the Citizens.

Left Midfielder: Abdul Fatawu - Leicester City

In a game where Leicester was mostly out of possession and on the back foot, Abdul Fatawu still managed to steal the show. His high-stakes battle with Spurs full-back Destiny Udogie was thrilling to watch. Fatawu’s statistics were outstanding—he won the most duels in the game (13) and drew the most fouls (3). It wasn’t just his mazy dribbling that impressed; his defensive work was exceptional, leading the game with six tackles and keeping one of the league’s most free-scoring teams at bay. To cap off his performance, Fatawu delivered a pinpoint cross to Vardy, who equalized for the Foxes

Right Winger: Mohamed Salah - Liverpool

Mo Salah broke yet another record in his last game, becoming the highest goalscorer in Matchweek 1 history with his second-half strike against Ipswich. Salah consistently made forward runs between Ipswich’s left center-back and left-back, which ultimately led to his goal, securing Liverpool's first Premier League win under Arne Slot. In addition to his goal, Salah provided an assist for Liverpool’s opener, unselfishly squaring the ball to Diogo Jota.

Striker: Yoanne Wissa - Brentford

With Ivan Toney left out of the Brentford matchday squad due to transfer rumors, Wissa stepped into the starting XI as the central striker at home to Crystal Palace. Wissa stole the show, constantly troubling the Palace defenders and drawing the most fouls in the game with four. He provided an assist for Brentford's opener and then scored the winner, securing the Bees' first victory of the season; an all-round perfect opening performance.

Left Winger: Kaoru Mitoma - Brighton & Hove Albion

Last season, Mitoma was unable to showcase his mazy dribbling and superb finishing due to injury problems. However, in the first game of this campaign, he was fully fit and put Everton to the sword. Mitoma quickly opened his account for the season by flying into the box to latch onto a Yankuba Minteh cross. Everton right-back Ashley Young struggled to contain him, as Mitoma completed the most dribbles in the match (4). The Japanese winger’s relentless energy overwhelmed Young, who was dispossessed by Mitoma in the second half and then brought him down, leading to a red card and ending Everton’s hopes of a comeback.