Premier League Team of the Week: Aston Villa stars headline after decisive win

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/burnley-z3dmTMMO/?mid=Gxt6zm15"]Arsenal are champions after their 1-0 win over Burnley[/a] was followed by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bournemouth-OtpNdwrc/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=rkXMW40U"]Bournemouth holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw.[/a][/p][p]Elsewhere, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=Uu6uknGb"]Tottenham are still fighting relegation after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea[/a], while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/aston-villa-W00wmLO0/liverpool-lId4TMwf/?mid=AyZEYQVH"]Aston Villa secured their spot in next season's Champions League by beating Liverpool 4-2.[/a][/p][p]Here, Flashscore selects its Team of the Week based on our player ratings system.[/p][image alt="Premier League Team of the Week" id="ec3f013c-22b1-43cf-ac81-633b9784464b" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="5d6ca333-a438-45fc-8eb4-82bb76bfb058" original-width="1080" original-height="1350" /][h2]Goalkeeper[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/darlow-karl/tCXYzajG/"]Karl Darlow[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Leeds[/a]) - 8.3[/b][/p][p]Darlow played a pivotal role in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brighton-2XrRecc3/leeds-tUxUbLR2/?mid=OM7eo4FN"]Leeds securing a late 1-0 win over Brighton[/a], making an impressive seven saves after coming under pressure throughout the match.[/p][p]The clean sheet saw Darlow's side rise to 14th in the table, with Leeds now unbeaten in the league for over two months.[/p][h2]Defenders[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Declan Rice[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a]) - 8.4[/b][/p][p]Although he played in midfield, we've included Rice in our side after a standout performance in Arsenal's win against Burnley - the result that pushed the Gunners to the brink of title glory.[/p][p]Rice played a starring role, as he so often has done this season, registering a match-high 101 touches, 15 passes into the final third and 15 progressive carries - while also winning seven duels and making three clearances.[/p][image alt="Rice v Burnley" id="afb2e96f-4d9e-46fb-ac07-b339019765b1" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform / REUTERS/Hannah Mckay" guid="2cb98024-20a9-43be-890c-e1be624806a8" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a]) - 8.3[/b][/p][p]Van Dijk was on the losing side as Liverpool were defeated by Aston Villa, but the Dutchman still marked a solid individual showing with two goals.[/p][p]The defender also contributed at the back with six duels won, six clearances, three interceptions and one block.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lisandro/GIzJAqQs/"]Lisandro Martinez[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a]) - 7.8[/b][/p][p]Despite achieving a slightly lower rating than his fellow Team of the Week entries, Manchester United's Martinez still picked up the second-highest score of any defender over the last round of fixtures.[/p][p]The 28-year-old proved pivotal to his side's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-utd-ppjDR086/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=r7lSurwo"]3-2 win over Nottingham Forest[/a] with five duels won, two tackles, eight clearances, four recoveries and three blocks - ensuring United secured a third-place finish for the season.[/p][h2]Midfielders[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ouattara-dango/GvqREHp3/"]Dango Ouattara[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brentford/xYe7DwID/"]Brentford[/a]) - 8.9[/b][/p][p]Brentford kept their European hopes alive by twice coming from behind to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brentford-xYe7DwID/crystal-palace-AovF1Mia/?mid=MF2Xj8on"]draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace[/a] - with Outtara netting both goals for the Bees.[/p][p]He was Brentford's biggest threat throughout the clash and totalled five shots, seven touches in the opposition box, one key pass and five progressive carries.[/p][embed guid="d7a838d3-81af-46c0-a4f4-520a65ddf6b4" url="https://x.com/BrentfordFC/status/2056122586577457412" social-type="twitter" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-elliott/KdYCbsbE/"]Elliot Anderson[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Nottingham Forest[/a]) - 9.1[/b][/p][p]One of the Premier League's standout performers this season, Forest midfielder Anderson set up both of his side's goals in their defeat at Old Trafford.[/p][p]The Englishman played a vital role at both ends of the pitch with a superb all-round showing; Anderson made three key passes, four accurate crosses, 110 touches, 12 progressive carries, nine recoveries, four interceptions, two tackles and two clearances.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Enzo Fernandez[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a]) - 8.5[/b][/p][p]Fernandez continued his good form with a second goal in as many Premier League games as Chelsea beat rivals Spurs on Tuesday evening.[/p][p]His excellent finish opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge, and the midfielder went on to create the Blues' second after setting up Andrey Santos.[/p][embed guid="d58a0341-6172-451e-a232-e0287ea167fd" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2057017684353556757" social-type="twitter" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a]) - 9.0[/b][/p][p]The first of two Aston Villa attackers to make our Team of the Week, Rogers scored and assisted in his side's 4-2 triumph over Liverpool.[/p][p]Rogers excelled in helping Villa secure Champions League football for next season and remained a creative threat throughout the encounter with one goal, one assist, five layoffs, four key passes and two big chances created.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/matheus-cunha/bq5QzRdb/"]Matheus Cunha[/a] (Manchester United) - 8.8[/b][/p][p]Cunha was back amongst the goals in Manchester United's win over Nottingham Forest, taking his league tally to 10 for the season after finishing well when the ball bounced to him unmarked in the penalty area.[/p][p]The Brazilian was superb aside from his goal, though, and created one big chance, completed three dribbles, and made two accurate crosses to earn an 8.8 Flashscore rating.[/p][h2]Forwards[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watkins-ollie/rHnOkDD8/"]Ollie Watkins[/a] (Aston Villa) - 9.3[/b][/p][p]Our second Aston Villa representative this week is Watkins, who netted twice and grabbed an assist in the win against Liverpool.[/p][p]The striker is now up to 19 goals in all competitions this season and six goal contributions in his last three appearances as he hits form at the perfect time heading into the 2026 World Cup.[/p][p]Watkins' goal involvements earned him a 9.3 Flashscore rating - the highest of anyone from the latest round of fixtures - making him our Player of the Week.[/p][image alt="Watkins v Liverpool" id="8a551bcb-4a30-46b0-a383-ab22671c5f45" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform / Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers" guid="3b85a2d6-0e09-4815-ae95-00e38c932997" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osula-will/jT765A5D/"]William Osula[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a]) - 8.7[/b][/p][p]Another striker to hit form in recent weeks is Newcastle's Osula, and his superb run continued with two goals against West Ham.[/p][p]The brace [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/newcastle-p6ahwuwJ/west-ham-Cxq57r8g/?mid=z1yE3oVi"]helped the Magpies to a 3-1 win[/a] and kept them in slim contention to finish in a European spot.[/p][p]Osula now has five goals in his last six games, compared to just two all season before that.[/p]