Dub's February Premier League Team Of The Month - 2025/26

The alternative Premier League team of the month for February is here. With some teams playing as many as five games and others having as little as three it was not an easy month to compile, nonetheless I have a worthy XI for you once again. This month’s team takes on a 3-5-2 formation. Remember the players are named in the position they occupy in the Premier League’s official ‘Fantasy Premier League’.

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City)

Manchester City were unbeaten in February and Donnarumma played a major part. He kept two clean sheets and made 18 saves across their five games. The Italian international’s most important saves were from Xavi Simons to deny Tottenham victory after they came from 2-0 down against Pep Guardiola’s men. He was also able to make a great stop from Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected shot when City lead 2-1 late on at Liverpool. If he had not made these saves the title may be Arsenal’s already. His 11 clean sheets altogether this season have him second in the league behind David Raya’s 13.

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Liverpool bounced back from a home defeat to Manchester City, to win three games in a row and finished February in fourth place before Manchester United’s home game with Crystal Palace. The Reds got a hard fought three points away at Sunderland and van Dijk’s deflected header won the game in the second half. Another tricky away game ended in a 1-0 triumph, this time away at Nottingham Forest. The Dutchman’s header was saved and Alexis Mac Allister put in the winner. Arne Slot’s side then beat West Ham 5-2, and van Dijk scored the second goal. Liverpool’s captain is 1st in clearances with 215 and 5th in duels won with 170.

Virgil van Dijk celebrates with his teammates after netting the winner at Sunderland. Image from 'Liverpool FC'/ 'Getty Images'. via 'mirror.co.uk/sport'.

James Hill (Bournemouth)

After Bournemouth’s defensive exodus in the summer transfer window, the fans would have rightfully feared the worst. Bafode Diakite was one of the men brought in at centre half but in December, Hill took his place and has not looked back. The Cherries have looked better at the back since Hill has partnered Marcos Senesi and were unbeaten in February picking up six points. Hill has looked assured in his defensive work and got two assists at the other end. He found Rayan for his leveller against Aston Villa. Hill also headed to Amine Adli to head in the winner away at Everton.

Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)

O’Reilly is naturally a midfielder but filled in last season mainly at left back. This season new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri got injured early and O’Reilly came in at left back again and did well. Ait-Nouri has returned from the African Cup of Nations and got back into the XI, so O-Reilly has gone back into his natural midfield role, and it has paid dividends. O’Reilly produced a deft finish after receiving a ball from Antoine Semenyo to score the second goal in a 3-0 win over Fulham. He then bagged a brace as the Cityzens edged past Newcastle 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. The first was a fine low drive by the near post, the second was a towering header.

Midfielders

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

It may sound crazy but despite being the joint-top scorer in February, Palmer only just squeezed into the team as his start to the month was so emphatic. The Blues began the month with a 3-1 away win at Wolverhampton. It was Palmer who stole the show with a first-half hat-trick. Palmer’s first two goals were from the penalty spot after two diabolical challenge by Wolves players on Joao Pedro. He then clinically put away a third goal after being found by Marc Cucurella. Chelsea then played Leeds at home and Palmer’s lovely pass put Pedro through to make it 1-0. He then converted another penalty to put Liam Rosenoir’s men 2-0 up before the away side brilliantly fought back for a 2-2 draw.

Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)

Semenyo joined Manchester City in January from Bournemouth, and you would think that he had been there for a couple of seasons with how seamless it has been. The Ghanaian international scored the second goal with a left footed finish to put City 2-0 up at Tottenham before surrendering the lead. In Pep Guardiola’s men’s home match with Fulham, Semenyo opened the scoring with a simple finish from close range before he assisted the second goal for Nico O’Reilly in a 3-0 triumph. He concluded the month with a vital winning goal in a 1-0 win at Leeds to keep the pressure on Arsenal at the top. 

Dango Ouattara (Brentford)

Ouattara is now producing after arriving from Bournemouth in the summer. He had a huge February as he helped the Cherries to 10 points from 15. His decisive finish helped the 10-man Bees to three points at Aston Villa as he smashed the ball into the top corner on the break. He then scored another winner as Keith Andrews’ side got another big win on the road at Newcastle. Ouattara’s shot found its way through Nick Pope’s legs after another quick break. He had earlier assisted an equaliser for Vitaly Janelt. He ended the month with another assist this time to Mikkel Damsgaard to open the scoring in a 4-3 win at Burnley.  

Dango Ouattara gets ahead of Kieran Trippier to fire Brentford to a 3-2 victory at Newcastle. Image from 'Getty Images' via 'bbc.co.uk/sport'.)

Rayan (Bournemouth)

Rayan joined from Vasco da Gama in January and has acclimatised rapidly to Premier League life. The Brazilian scored in his first Premier League start against Aston Villa with a good individual goal as he ran at Lucas Digne and beat Emiliano Martinez at his near post. The teenager then scored again in his second start as he headed in Adrien Truffert’s cross as they edged past Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium 2-1. He almost found the net in three consecutive starts as he hit the post after a good run away at West Ham.

Evann Guessand (Crystal Palace)

Guessand arrived on loan from Aston Villa in the winter transfer window and in limited minutes made a massive impact. Guessand made three appearances in the month. He came off the bench to setup Ismaila Sarr’s winner away at bitter rivals Brighton. He started in the 3-2 defeat at home to Burnley and that ironically was where he was the least effective. He responded to cause damage against Wolverhampton when he came off the bench to contribute to another game-winner. In the 90th minute he scored the only goal as he drove Tyrick Mitchell’s ball low into the net for them to take all three points at Selhurst Park.

Forwards

Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)

After a difficult start to Premier League life, Gyokeres now finds himself on 10 league goals after scoring four times in February. He started things off with a brace in a 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium. He made it 2-0 as he still managed to finish despite falling. His second goal was easy as Gabriel Martinelli unselfishly passed to him when they were clear of the Black Cats’ defence. The Swede was at the double again to close the month as the Gunners romped to a 4-1 rout away at bitter rivals Tottenham. Gyokeres took both his goals well. The first he powerfully shot in from just outside the box, his second he ran in the box and found the top corner.

Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United)

Since Michael Carrick took over the reins from Ruben Amorim, Sesko has shown why he was so sought after in the summer. The Slovenian has turned into a super sub as he scored in three of four appearances off the bench in February. United relinquished a two-goal lead against Fulham but then up stepped Sesko to brilliantly control the ball and find the top corner to win the game in the 94th minute. The Red Devils were heading for a defeat at West Ham when Sesko saved them again deep into injury time with great strike from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross. Mbeumo was to assist Sesko again as against the run of play he scored in the 71st minute to scrape past Everton 1-0.

Benjamin Sesko's top draw finish beat Fulham in injury time. Image from 'premierleague.com'.

@DubulDee