RANKED: The 7 best players of Premier League Gameweek 7

The final week of Premier League football before another international break hurtles over the horizon included all the extremes of a top-flight weekend.

From eye-gouging goalless draws to breathless comebacks, virtuoso excellence and vicious ineptitude, this gameweek had it all. What better time to put a two-week halt to the competition and resume England's quest for promotion out of UEFA Nations League Group B2?

Before the focus has shifted entirely onto the intricacies of Greece's defensive structure, here's a look back at the best Premier League players from this weekend's action.

7. Jonny Evans (Manchester United)

When Jonny Evans penned a one-year deal to return to Manchester United in September 2023, he could scarcely have imagined that he would not only still be at the club 13 months later, but starting and outperforming the rest of his teammates.

During an aggressively dull draw with Aston Villa, Evans was integral to United's unusually disciplined defence. The high-flying hosts were limited to just one forgettable shot on target as neither side came close to scoring.

6. Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Any meeting with Newcastle United is always an important occasion for Jordan Pickford, who spent the best part of 15 years on the books of fearsome northern rivals Sunderland.

An effusive entertainer at the best of times, Everton's number one was in his element after getting his knees on Anthony Gordon's poorly struck spot-kick, celebrating a save which preserved Saturday's goalless draw by pointing to his temple in front of a jubilant Goodison Park.

Sean Dyche admitted that Pickford has "had his fair share of question marks this season" but certainly provided all the answers against Newcastle.

5. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Throughout the current Premier League campaign, stats show only three players have walked more than Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool's unflappable skipper spends three-quarters of each game strolling around, chest out and head on a swivel, dictating and directing everything within his vast orbit.

Very little got past him in another comfortable victory for Arne Slot's Reds. Crystal Palace briefly flickered into life only for the flame to be snuffed out by Van Dijk during a routine 1-0 win.

4. Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford)