The top five players of gameweek 13 in the English Premier League features some big names, although the list is deservedly headlined by a surprise name.
The most prophesied league in the world was as ever gracious with its offerings as the weekend saw thrilling games go down in stadia across the United Kingdom.
First, a shocker kicked off the gameweek on Friday night as relegation threatened Southampton secured a point away to Brighton, who moved to second as a result. And then the goals started to flow in.
Arsenal hit West Ham United for five. Manchester United, Brentford and Bournemouth scored four each. Chelsea hit three while Liverpool heap more misery on Manchester City with a 2-0 win in Anfield.
With an average of 3.4 goals per game, 34 goals were scored in the ten fixtures of the gameweek and we take a look at the most standout players that shone brightest during the games.
Top five players of Gameweek 13
1. Kevin Schade of Brentford
The Gernan produced an excellent performance to help Brentford seal a comfortable comeback win over Leicester City at the Gtech Community stadium.
Kevin Schade, who had scored just twice and registered as many assists in 31 previous Premier League games was a surprise pick by Thomas Frank, but he justified his manager’s decision with a hat-trick of goals and one assist in the 4-1 win.
Schade assisted the equalizer after the visitors had taken the lead before scoring all remaining goals of the game. He completed a first-half brace to help the host to a comfortable lead at the break before completing his hat-trick in the second-half half.
The 24-year-old joins the trio of Jürgen Klinsmann, Fredi Bobic, and André Schürrle as German to score Premier League hat-trick while he is only the second Brentford player to do so after Ivan Toney.
Lastly, Kevin Schade is the only Brentford player in history to be directly involved in four goals in a single Premier League game.
2. Bukayo Saka of Arsenal
The Arsenal star boy was at the heart of the goods as Arsenal blew West Ham United away with an impressive first-half display, which set a new record for most Premier League goals at half-time with seven.
Assisted the opening two goals for Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard before winning a penalty for the third and giving it to his captain Martin Ødegaard to take, despite being the designated penalty taker.
His two assists saw him become the first player to reach double digits of assists in Europe top five leagues this season while only Harry Kane has taken fewer games than Saka’s 12 to reach ten Premier League assists at the start of a Premier League season.
Bukayo Saka eventually got his goal to make it 5-2 and suppress all of the host’s pressure by converting a penalty for his fifth goal in the competition this season.
3. Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth
A player who made history, becoming the first in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties in a single game, doing so in Bournemouth’s 4-2 away win at Wolves.
For the Dutchman, it was all about keeping his nerve and he did all the time, beating Jose Sa three times while sending the Portuguese the wrong way twice.
Now the club’s top scorer in the competition this season with five goals, four of which have been scored from the spot, Kluivert’s aim will be to surpass his total of nine goals in all competitions last season.
With a teammate like Evanilson who can win spot kicks, Kluivert may only need to remain clinical from 12 yards to achieve his objectives at Bournemouth this season.
4. Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Unplayable again, just as he has always been against Manchester City, a consistency which had seen him register at least a goal involvement in each of the previous seven of the fixture before kickoff on Sunday, reaching five goals and three assists.
On Sunday, he was directly involved in both goals as Arne Slot’s charge dealt a heavy blow on the defending champions and help the Reds to a nine point gap-lead at the summit of the league.
Salah assisted the opening goal, taking his total in the competition this season to seven, then he scored the second from a second-half penalty, taking his goals scored in the competition this season to 11.
Best player in the league this season, Salah has now registered 18 Premier League goal involvements so far, at least three more than any other player.
5. Amad Diallo of Manchester United
The Ivorian has really stepped up his game recentl5. Amad Diallo of Manchester Unitedy and will definitely be a major part of the plan under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Amad Diallo has registered goal involvement in each of his last four starts at Manchester United, scoring twice and setting up four in that period, including a brace of assists in the 4-0 thumping of Everton on Sunday.
Diallo set up the two second-half goals, one to Marcus Rashford less than a minute after the restart and the other to Joshua Zirkzee, who also like Rashford, finished the game with a brace.
He has now set-up five goals in the league this season, adding that to his one goal in the competition, only Bruno Fernandes (7) has more amongst Manchester United players.
Overall, Amad has been directly involved in eight Manchester United goals after 19 appearances this season, already surpased his total of five in 21 games before the start of the season for the club.
These five are the most standout in a lomg list of impressive players in the Premier League during the weekend and narrowing it down to one, Kevin Schade is the man, the Premier League best of 2024-25 Gameweek 13.
Hassan Afolabi
