Liverpool trio and history-making Haaland selected: Premier League team of the week

England's top-flight returned in style after the World Cup break

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  PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK: GK: Jose Sa (Wolves). Made a couple of vital saves to help Wolves claim a vital 2-1 victory at Everton which moved the club off the bottom of the table. Getty

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  RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool). Played an outrageous outside-of-the-boot pass to set up Liverpool’s first goal in the 3-1 win at Aston Villa. That one contribution alone was enough to make this team. Getty

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  CB: Tim Ream (Fulham). Scored Fulham’s second and led his team to a clean sheet with a 3-0 win at nine-man Crystal Palace. The American and his team are enjoying a fine season. Getty

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  CB: Thiago Silva (Chelsea). Typically composed display from the veteran Brazilian as Chelsea earned a rare clean sheet and put an end to three straight defeats with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth. EPA

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  LB: Andy Robertson (Liverpool). The Scot’s assist for Mohamed Salah saw him set a new record for Premier League assists by a defender (50). Robertson was then superb for the rest of the game at Villa Park. AP

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  CM: Casemiro (Manchester United). What a difference the Brazilian has made to the United midfield. Dominated the game with his quality and leadership as United eased to a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. EPA

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  CM: Mason Mount (Chelsea). Scored Chelsea’s second against Bournemouth with a classy low finish and was his team’s most dangerous player throughout. Getty

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  CM: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal). Is there a better playmaker in the Premier League (not named Kevin De Bruyne) at present? Odegaard has elevated his game to a new level since taking the captain’s armband and provided two assists in the 3-1 win against West Ham. EPA

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  RW: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal). Saka’s last appearance on a football pitch was when he was tearing the France defence to shreds. Back in club action, the England winger continued his devastating form and scored Arsenal's first against West Ham. Reuters

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  LW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). Scored the first and set up the second as Liverpool claimed a hard-fought win at Aston Villa. Salah would no doubt have been gutted to miss the World Cup but Liverpool fans will be delighted to see him rested and recharged. Reuters

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  CF: Erling Haaland (Manchester City). Two goals at Leeds meant Haaland became the fastest player to score 20 Premier League goals, achieved in just 14 appearances. Frighteningly, Pep Guardiola insists the Norwegian is not yet back to his “absolute best”. AFP

The Premier league returned from its lengthy break for the Qatar World Cup this week and offered an immediate reminder of why it's considered the most entertaining league in the world.

The traditional Boxing Day fixture list began with an enthralling 2-2 draw between Brentford and Tottenham as Spurs fought back from 2-0 down to claim a point, and the goals continued to flow from there.

Fulham eased to a 3-0 victory at nine-man Crystal Palace, Newcastle continued their push for Champions League football with their own 3-0 win at Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion were too good for struggling Southampton in a 3-1 win at St Mary's, and Wolves climbed off the bottom of the table with a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Everton.

In the evening game, Liverpool returned from an end-to-end game at Villa Park with a 3-1 victory, before Arsenal recovered from conceding to West Ham to win 3-1 at Emirates Stadium and temporarily extend their lead at the top.

On Tuesday, Chelsea ended a run of three straight league defeats to beat Bournemouth 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, and Manchester United proved too strong for Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Champions Manchester City then concluded the round with a 3-1 win at Leeds United, where Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals.

Before the next round of fixtures gets underway on Friday, Jon Turner has selected his Premier League team of the week in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.