Manchester City and Manchester United continue to set the Premier League pace after big wins this weekend. United thumped Crystal Palace 4-0 at Old Trafford, while City struck a huge blow in the title race, defeating champion Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham put four past Huddersfield Town, although Harry Kane is its only player in this Opta-powered Team of the Weekend. Elsewhere, there were victories for the likes of Arsenal and Burnley, while Newcastle United held Liverpool to a draw. But did any of their players do enough to earn a place in this selection?
Burnley's 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park saw the visitor surge up to a surprise sixth place in the Premier League as the season enters its third month. Goalkeeper Nick Pope is filling in for the injured England international Tom Heaton and he did not put a foot wrong in this game. Pope made four saves as Burnley kept a clean sheet that means it now has more away points in four games this season (eight) than it managed for the whole of 2016-17.
He might not have hit a stunner this time around, but Antonio Valencia was yet again a constant outlet at Old Trafford. The skipper racked up 97 touches in the comfortable 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, more than any other of his United team-mates. After missing the midweek Champions League win at CSKA Moscow, the Ecuador star resumed his place on the right of Jose Mourinho's four-man defence and looked at ease. It is a confidence drawn from his involvement in every minute of his side's stellar start to the Premier League season.
Another constant in Manchester United's near-impenetrable defence, Phil Jones has matured for club and country this term. With Eric Bailly dropped to the bench, Jones was asked to marshal the Red Devils' rearguard and did exactly that alongside new partner Chris Smalling. The 25-year-old recovered possession a team-high 12 times to ensure Crystal Palace's goal-scoring woes continued for at least another match. England manager Gareth Southgate will be especially pleased with the defender's form as he looks to lock in his preferred central duo.
Nacho Monreal scored Arsenal's opening goal in its 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday. When Shkodran Mustafi had an effort blocked following a set-piece on the right and Hector Bellerin's follow-up also cannoned into a Brighton body, Monreal rifled in for his first Premier League goal since March 2013. In addition to his strike, Monreal was crucial in Arsenal building from the back and completed a magnificent 97 per cent of his 105 passes during the contest.
Pep Guardiola described Fabian Delph's display in the 1-0 win over Chelsea as "outstanding" and it is hard to argue with the Manchester City manager. Not only did the natural midfielder get forward from left-back, he also completed a team-high five tackles as City edged past the champion at Stamford Bridge. Delph's performance belied his lack of experience in the position and appears to have solved what could have been a crisis for Pep Guardiola following confirmation of a long-term layoff for Benjamin Mendy.
In just his second Premier League start of the season, Alex Iwobi helped ease the tension at the Emirates Stadium by netting Arsenal's second in a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion. The Gunners had gone ahead early through Nacho Monreal but had to wait until after half-time for Iwobi to kill off the contest with his first goal of the campaign. With 10 caps for Nigeria already to his name, the 21-year-old turned in a mature display as he also created a pair of chances against the Seagulls.
Marouane Fellaini only had two attempts on goal for Manchester United against Crystal Palace, but both ended up in the net as his fine start to 2017-18 continued. The Belgium international, who has been winning over United fans since Jose Mourinho's arrival, converted Ashley Young's cross with a close-range volley in the first half. And Fellaini got in on the act in the second half as well, heading in a Marcus Rashford free-kick to move on to four goals for the season.
Manchester City were always going to need something special to get past Chelsea and Kevin De Bruyne supplied just that at Stamford Bridge. The champions had proven typically difficult to break down for over an hour, but the Belgium playmaker would not be denied against his former club as he crashed in the only goal against countryman Thibaut Courtois. De Bruyne also created six chances - twice as much as any other City player - in a remarkable display that won praise from both managers.
Marcus Rashford had an impressive performance in Manchester United's 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace, producing two assists in a game for the first time in his career. The England international, continuing to play in a wide role in support of central striker Romelu Lukaku, has developed impressively as a creative force. Rashford created Juan Mata's opener by beating Joel Ward with an impressive piece of skill down the left before cutting back to his team-mate to slot in from 12 yards. The 19-year-old also assisted Marouane Fellaini's two goals with a powerful in-swinging free-kick.
Rafa Benitez is on the hunt for an attacking spearhead and he might have found it in compatriot Joselu. The Spanish striker earned Newcastle United a 1-1 home draw with Liverpool, albeit with a slice of luck for his 36th minute goal. It hardly mattered how it went in, though, as the Magpies held firm for an impressive point to keep their place in the top half of the Premier League. And with two goals in his last five league appearances, Benitez will be encouraged by Joselu's ability to take up goal-scoring positions.
Harry Kane infamously struggles in the month of August, but he was simply stunning in September. The Tottenham striker rounded off an unbelievable 30 days with a double as his side romped to a 4-0 away win over Huddersfield Town on Saturday. Kane opened the scoring by beating Town goalkeeper Jonas Lossl at the near post and then scored his second - and 13th of the month for club and country - by bending in a superb strike from outside the box. The England international's 13 goals in September match the best calendar months ever produced by Cristiano Ronaldo (October 2010) and Lionel Messi (March 2012) – he really is a man in form.
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