Nordi MukieleSix video games into their first Premier League season since 2016-17, and Sunderland are flying excessive in fifth place. It’s their greatest begin to a top-flight marketing campaign in 70 years. A number of that success could be attributed to their new signings, none greater than the excellent Mukiele – WhoScored’s second-highest rated participant this season after Erling Haaland.Signed for simply £12m in the summertime, the previous RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayer Leverkusen defender was given his likelihood when Dan Ballard picked up an damage within the second sport of the season. The 27-year-old has embraced the problem, producing a sequence of standout shows. In his 4 video games, Sunderland have picked up eight factors and conceded simply two objectives. His physicality and athleticism have been central to the crew’s quick begin.He assaults the ball aggressively (he ranks third for clearances per 90 minutes within the league), wins his duels (he ranks ninth for tackles per sport amongst defenders), and is only one of seven gamers within the league but to be dribbled previous. Sunderland pulled off a coup by touchdown a participant of his pedigree and expertise at such a low value.Mohammed KudusKudus has wasted no time making an affect after his £55m swap from West Ham to Tottenham. Solely Jack Grealish (4) has extra assists than Kudus (three) within the league this season. Having been moved across the park at West Ham by Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter, he has been put in on the suitable of Thomas Frank’s assault and is prospering.One factor that Kudus has carried over from his time at West Ham is his capability in one-on-one conditions. He ranks prime for profitable take-ons (24) within the Premier League and is barely behind Kylian Mbappé (25) in Europe’s prime 5 leagues.Regardless of his relentless attacking, he by no means forgets his defensive duties. He ranks third within the Spurs aspect for tackles per sport (2.2). If Kudus can add just a few objectives, Frank would possibly simply have an entire participant on his arms.Hugo EkitikéOf all of the gamers recruited by Liverpool of their £450m summer season spending spree, Ekitié has stood out. The Frenchman has taken to Arne Slot’s system seamlessly, with 5 objectives and one help in his first 9 appearances.Ekitiké has embodied the concept value tags are irrelevant on the pitch. He hasn’t been fazed by Alexander Isak’s arrival for a Premier League-record value of £125m. Relatively, he has relished the competitors, staking his declare to steer the Liverpool assault. “We play in such a big club, and I can’t see any big clubs playing with just one striker in their squad,” he says. “It is good that Alex is here. For me, at my age, I have a lot of things to improve and learn.”Ekitike is sharing a dressing room with a striker who scored 44 objectives within the final two Premier League seasons, however he’s giving his supervisor a range dilemma. That exhibits simply how spectacular he has been thus far this season.Hugo Ekitiké has been sensational for Liverpool this season, not like just a few of his new teammates. {Photograph}: Peter Byrne/PAFlorian WirtzThings haven’t fairly gone to plan for Wirtz this season. The £116m signing from Bayer Leverkusen is but to make his mark in a Liverpool shirt. The German has not scored or assisted in eight video games and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has voiced issues, saying: “I don’t think the balance of the team is right, and the obvious one that stands out is Florian Wirtz.”There may be clearly a difficulty with Wirtz’s finish product, and the 22-year-old midfielder is taking a while to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, usually taking too many touches (he has the second-most dispossessions within the Liverpool aspect). However it’s early days. Wirtz continues to be adapting to a brand new league and nation whereas enjoying a brand new position in a crew that’s transitioning, with Liverpool experiencing a 14-player turnover this summer season.There are causes for optimism. He leads the crew in shot-creating actions (31) and has created extra possibilities than some other Premier League participant this season in all competitions. He ranks second for take-ons tried (21), and third for carries into the ultimate third and touches within the attacking third. The objectives and assists will come.Anthony ElangaThree minutes into his debut towards Aston Villa on the opening weekend, Elanga had an amazing likelihood to attain his first objective for Newcastle. However he was denied by Villa’s new goalkeeper Marco Bizot. That try carried an anticipated objectives worth of 0.48, and it nonetheless makes up the majority of his Premier League tally this season, which stands at 0.6 xG.Elanga arrived at Newcastle in the summertime with no scarcity of expectation after his £55m transfer from Nottingham Forest. His report at Forest was regular: 31 objective contributions in 74 Premier League appearances. Up to now, although, he has not replicated that output at Newcastle. 9 appearances in black and white have come and gone with out a objective or help.Eddie Howe has been conservative in his use of the membership’s third costliest signing. Regardless of beginning the primary two video games of the season, he’s but to begin one other Premier League sport, with Jacob Murphy most well-liked whereas Elanga settles in his new surroundings.Like Wirtz, Elanga’s lack of finish product doesn’t inform the entire story. He ranks second amongst Newcastle gamers for anticipated assists (xAG) throughout all competitions. His player-of-the-match show within the 4-0 win towards Union Saint-Gilloise within the Champions League was a reminder that the output will come.Benjamin SeskoBeing a Manchester United striker is a thankless job as 22-year-old Sesko has found early in his time at Outdated Trafford. One objective in seven appearances for a participant who value £74m is much from splendid, however there isn’t any want to leap to conclusions simply but.Sesko’s lack of output appears to be like extra a symptom of United’s wider attacking issues than a person shortcoming. The brand new-look entrance three of Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo is but to click on, with the dearth of chemistry compounded by poor ending (United’s xG distinction of -7.26 is the worst within the division).Service has been a selected problem. Sesko averaged 34 touches per 90 minutes within the Bundesliga final season, however that determine has dropped to 17.6 at United – and lots of of them are in areas the place he’s much less efficient. His trademark runs in behind are going unnoticed, with teammates sluggish to identify his motion or execute the cross. That’s doubtless to enhance as soon as Ruben Amorim settles on him as an everyday starter. The three new signings have solely began one sport collectively thus far and Sesko has began simply 4 video games.He has performed simply 417 minutes for Manchester United thus far, and whereas his begin has been sluggish, it’s nonetheless early days. He stays the identical striker who scored 39 objectives in two seasons at RB Leipzig. With extra minutes in a settled assault, his output ought to enhance.That is an article by WhoScored
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