Want to be the pub/terrace know-all this weekend? Want to know who has committed the most fouls? Or who has covered the most ground and put in a true captain’s performance? Then read on and let the welcome return of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index arm you with enough stats to impress everyone but girly girls.
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Everton vs Cardiff 15:00
Everton’s last outing in the league was a 1-0 win over West Ham thanks to a late Romelu Lukaku goal. Roberto Martinez will be hoping his players can bounce back immediately after their 4-1 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend.
Midfielder James McCarthy has been an excellent addition to Martinez’s squad following his arrival from Wigan, adding dynamism and bite to the Toffee’s engine room. Indeed, no Everton player has attempted more tackles than his 106 and he remains the only Everton player to have surpassed the 100-mark for attempted challenges according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
It’s easy to see why Everton fans are keen for Gerard Deulofeu to extend his stay at Goodison Park given the impact the youngster has had since arriving from Barcelona. His flair is complemented by an ability to fashion some dangerous end product, showcased by the fact that he still has the best shot accuracy rate of any Everton player this season. He’s worked the ‘keeper with 73.7% of his 19 shots to date. Deulofeu is 6/4 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Ross Barkley has appeared fatigued to some in recent weeks but the young Everton tyro is still capable of turning a game on it’s head with one of his powerful surges from midfield. He ranks fourth on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for dribbles with 59 and will no doubt be looking to test out the Cardiff defence and add to this total this weekend.
Continuing on the thread of Everton youngsters, John Stones has been solidifying himself in Roberto Martinez’s first team plans this season with some excellent displays for one so young. He’s given away a foul on average just once every 156 minutes he’s been on the pitch in the league this season, a sign of mature head on young shoulders.
Cardiff secured a much-needed three points last time out as they beat Fuham 3-1 at Cardiff City Stadium. The impressive Steven Caulker grabbed a brace and Ole Gunner Solksjaer will have been pleased to see his side garner a precious win against a team also attempting to fight their way out of the relegation zone.
Caulker will have his hands full this weekend and will need to be on top form to contain the imposing threat of Romelu Lukaku. All signs indicate that the Englishman is up to the task though given that he’s won an excellent 79.1% of his 43 challenges this term, a squad-best for players to have attempted more than five tackles.
Jordon Mutch is key to Cardiff’s ability to strike in the opposition area and his side will likely look to him this weekend to test out the Everton defence. He racked up the joint highest number of on-target attempts with three according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Cardiff will no doubt also be looking to Peter Whittingham to help spark their attack against an organized Everton outfit this weekend. Whittingham has been an important creative outlet for Cardiff this season, ranking second only behind Mutch for assists with four, as well as a squad-best 510 completed passes in the opponent’s half. Whittingham is 13/2 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
David Marshall has been one of the outstanding ‘keepers in the league this season, rightly gaining plaudits for some superb performances. It’s unsurprising to see therefore that he leads the league in saves with 116, and is so far the only stopper to have moved into triple figures for the season.
Stoke vs West Ham
Stoke claimed what could prove to be a valuable point last weekend as they drew 1-1 with Norwich thanks to a Jonathan Walters penalty with moved the Potters into 12th position.
Big frontmen will potentially have a huge say in the outcome of this game, with Peter Crouch at one end and Andy Carroll at the other. Crouch has been key to Stoke’s attack this term so expect him to feature prominently again this weekend and look to test out the Hammers’ defence. He leads the Potter’s squad for total shots on goal this term with 41 and expect plenty of balls to be whipped in towards the big centre forward on Saturday. Crouch is 2/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Erik Pieters remains one of Stoke’s standout defensive performers this term, his enthusiasm for his work at the back seeing him compile some impressive statistics. He leads the Stoke squad so far this campaign for attempted tackles with 122, winning a solid 68% of them.
Fellow defender Geoff Cameron has also been highly impressive this season, his reading of the game in particular being exceptional. No Stoke player can top his record of 71 interceptions according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Shutting down Kevin Nolan’s ability to dictate the play for West Ham will likely be vital to Stoke’s gameplan this weekend which could mean some extra defensive work for Charlie Adam. Adam has certainly not been shy of getting stuck in this season, attempting a solid 74 tackles and winning 55.4% of them.
West Ham fell to a 1-0 defeat to Everton last time out in the league, with Sam Allardyce lamenting his side’s lack of threat in the final third after the game. He will be looking for a response from his players this weekend though in what is always a tough trip for any side to the Brittania.
James Collins may well have his hands full this weekend, the big centre-half likely being tasked with handling the threat of Peter Crouch. The Welshman is more than up to the job though, as shown by some of his EA SPORTS Player Performance Index statistics. He’s racked up a squad-best 218 clearances, as well as winning 76.3% of his 59 attempted challenges this term.
If Cardiff want to get any kind of attack going this weekend, they will likely first have to go through Gary Medel. The combative Chilean has been in outstanding defensive form this season, winning an excellent 92.7% of his 41 attempted tackles. This puts him behind only Manchester Utd’s Chris Smalling for the highest success rate for players to have attempted 16 or more tackles.
Andy Carroll may have missed large parts of the season due to injury but since his return to the first team he has begun to look more like his old self again. He is always a danger given the unique physical proposition he poses and has not been shy in letting fly on goal when the opportunity has presented itself. He’s taken an average of just 23 minutes to have a shot on goal this season. Carroll is an industry best 31/10 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Key to Carroll’s resurgence could be the form of Stewart Downing, the winger capable of swinging in the kind of balls which Carroll just loves to get his head to. He leads the Hammers squad so far this season for crosses delivered with 34 and his striker colleague will be keen to see this number continue to rise.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
An impressive first half display, the particular highlight being a superb volley from Christian Benteke, saw Aston Villa see off Norwich 4-1 and ease their relegation fears ahead of a tough test against Chelsea this weekend.
Given Chelsea’s ability to starve their opposition of possession for large parts of the game, Villa’s use of the ball in important areas will be vital to their chances of success this weekend. Ashley Westwood remains one of their standout performers in this area in this campaign, racking up a squad-best 585 passes in the opponent’s half so they will likely look to him to help launch their attacks.
For all of the physical qualities of Christian Benteke, fellow frontman Andreas Weimann is crucial to this Villa side, his movement often causing all kinds of problems. He leads the Villa squad this term for total attempts on goal with 35 to his name. Weimann is an industry best 5/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Karim El Ahmadi will need to be mindful of his defensive technique should he face Chelsea this weekend. No Villa player has given away more fouls this season than the Moroccan, with 42 racked up to date according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
The entire Villa defence will have a mammoth task on their hands this weekend to keep a talented Blues frontline quiet. Ciaran Clark will be a focal point of that defensive effort given that he leads the Villa squad to date for defensive contributions (blocks, clearances, interceptions, tackles won) with 249.
A clinical hattrick from Andre Schurrle in the space of just 15 minutes saw Chelsea beat Fulham 1-3 to maintain their position at the summit of the Premier League table.
The transformation of Eden Hazard under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho has been nothing short of remarkable this term. The talented Belgian has gone from being an exciting prospect into one of the most consistent performers in the league. To date he has compiled a quite incredible 107 dribbles, the highest total in the league by 41 this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Although he is now 33, John Terry continues to defy the critics who say his game is no longer what it once was. His impeccable defensive statistics have remained in place this season following his return to regular first team action, the centre-half compiling the joint best tackle success rate in the Chelsea squad, winning 80% of his 30 challenges to date.
Another revitalised Blues stalwart, Frank Lampard, has been similarly impressive this season following the return of Mourinho to Stamford Bridge. Only Eden Hazard (43) has had more shots on goal than Lampard this term, (40), an impressive return from the veteran midfielder. Lampard is 7/3 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Such has been Cezar Azpilicueta’s form this season that his manager has felt compelled to leave Ashley Cole out of the team. The young Spaniard has continued to repay his manager’s faith, becoming only the second Chelsea player to surpasss 100 tackles attempted this term (100)(Ramires – 131).
Fulham vs Newcastle
A disappointing loss to Cardiff, in a match that can only be classified as a six-pointer, means that this match at home to Newcastle becomes even more significant in the Cottagers’ fight for survival. They host the Magpies, who will be without manager Alan Pardew, following the seven match suspension imposed on him by the FA.
He may not have scored on Saturday, but Kostas Mitroglou showed the Fulham faithful that he may just be able to score the goals to keep the Cottagers in the top flight. The Greek international showed his willingness to take efforts at goal all match, taking a shot at an impressive rate of a shot every 15 minutes. Mitroglou is 9/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Sascha Reither was handed the Player of the Season Award for Fulham last campaign, with the German full back proving to be a big hit at the Cottage. His probing runs down the flank were a key factor behind him winning the accolade, and on Saturday, he produced another effective offensive performance which suggests that he might be starting to hit form again at just the right time. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Reither completed a total of 24 passes in the opposition half on Saturday, which was the second most of any defender in the league.
Hugo Rodallega may not have played as much football as he would have liked this term, with former manager Rene Meulensteen not fancying the Colombian forward. In the limited opportunities he has been given, however, Rodallega has showcased his excellent shooting ability. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the former Wigan man has hit the target with every shot he has attempted this season.
If anyone can inspire Fulham to survival this season it is midfielder Scott Parker. The former England international is an established Premier League player, and although it’s been a poor season for Fulham by all accounts, the former West Ham man has been a rare bright spark. Parker has impressed at both ends of the pitch for the Cottagers this term, completing a total of 539 passes in the opposition half (more than any of his teammates), and also winning an impressive 76% of his challenges.
Newcastle will travel to Craven Cottage without manager Alan Pardew at the helm, following his 7 game stadium and touchline ban. With safety all but guaranteed, the Magpies are playing for pride during the remainder of the season, but will want to finish their respectable campaign in the top 10 in the league.
One of Newcastle’s most consistent performers this term has been centre half Mike Williamson. Although the former Watford man hasn’t always been a regular for the Magpies in seasons gone by, this term, he’s featured in 23 league games for Pardew’s men and in this time, has made a real impression. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Williamson has made a total of 265 defensive contributions, (based on blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles won), which is the second most in the Newcastle squad.
With the number of Frenchman in the Newcastle squad, it shouldn’t come as a shock that the three players who have registered the most assists for the Magpies are all from the land across the Channel. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Hatem Ben Arfa and Moussa Sissoko have registered 5 apiece, whilst defender Mathieu Debuchy has 4. Head to 888sport.com if you fancy Ben Arfa to score the first goal of the match (7-1).
Manager Alan Pardew has previously described ‘keeper Tim Krul as ‘the best in the League’ as the Dutchman has played a prominent role this season in shutting out opposition strike forces. Krul’s importance can probably be best demonstrated through the fact that he is one of only four players to have featured in every minute of every match so far this season, and in the process, he has racked up a total of 83 saves – the sixth most in the league.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has struggled at times during his spell on Tyneside, but his natural defensive ability should never be questioned. The EA SPORTS Player Performance shows that the Frenchman clearly has an excellent eye for a tackle, as he has won an impressive 81% of his challenges this term.
Sunderland vs Crystal Palace
Sunderland host Crystal Palace, looking to bounce back from a fortnight in which they were eliminated from the FA Cup and were defeated by Manchester City in the League Cup final.
Liam Bridcutt is a new arrival at the Stadium of Light, linking up with Gus Poyet once again. The former Brighton man has featured in 3 league games since he arrived in Humberside and has showcased his excellent ability to shield the back four in that time. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has won an impressive 63% of his challenges, and has completed a total of 45 passes in the opposition half.
One of former manager Paulo Di Canio’s final act as Sunderland manager was signing centre half Valentin Roberge, who arrived on a free transfer from Portugese side Maritimo. The Frenchman hasn’t featured as regularly as he would have liked this term, making only 9 appearances, but he has shown his excellent eye for a tackle in this time. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Roberge has won an incredible 82% of his challenges this season.
There was a lot of excitement amongst Mackem fans when the club announced the signing of Emmanuele Giaccherini, as the winger is a fairly established Italian international. The Italian hasn’t always reached the heights that the Sunderland fans expected, struggling at times to adapt to the pace of the Premier League. He has, however, shown glimpses of his undoubted talent when it has come to his dribbling as he has completed 24 dribbles, the second most in the Sunderland squad.
If Sunderland are to remain in the top flight they will need Adam Johnson to maintain the excellent form that he’s shown since the turn of the year. Such is the former Manchester City man excelling, that rumours that he may break back into the England squad are rife. His importance to Poyet’s team can be underlined by the fact that he has made a total of 11 goalscoring contributions (based on goals and assists), which is more than any other player in the squad. Johnson is 15/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the match on Saturday.
Eagles manager Tony Pulis has described the last 10 games of the season as ’10 cup finals’ as he seeks to steer his side away from the dreaded relegation places. Palace will be desperate to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat to Southampton.
Palace may have drawn a blank against Southampton, meaning that they now scored less goals than any other Premier League side, but for the vast majority of the game their defence continued to look robust. Central to this fine rearguard effort was left back Dean Moxey, who won an impressive 83% of his challenges.
Yannick Bolassie has earned high praise for his excellent dribbling ability this term, with the winger’s willingness to take his opposite man a key asset in the Eagles’ offensive play. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he utilized this skill to great effect on Saturday, as he completed 6 dribbles – the most in the entire league.
Captain Fantastic Mile Jedinak has led by example for the Eagles this term, with the Australian excelling in all areas of the pitch all season. His importance to the Eagles is probably demonstrated best by the fact that he has featured in 2520 minutes this term, the third most of any outfield player in the league.
Thomas Ince was signed by Tony Pulis to bring added pace and width to the Eagles’ offensive play, so what may come as a surprise to many is that he has also impressed defensively too. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has won a superb 81% of his challenges this term. You can find Thomas Ince at 8/1 with 888sport.com to open the scoring on Saturday.
Manchester United vs Liverpool
Compared to last season, the tables have most definitely turned in this hotly anticipated battle between two of the North West biggest clubs. The Red Devils won the championship at a canter last season, but under manager David Moyes, they are currently languishing in 6th. Liverpool, on the other hand, are fighting to win their first ever Premier League title.
The Red Devils head into the match following a morale boosting victory over strugglers West Brom, with three goals from three different Englishmen – Rooney, Welbeck and Jones. Central to Manchester United’s offensive effort was Spanish playmaker Juan Mata, who produced arguably his best performance since his arrival at Old Trafford. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Mata completed 35 passes in the opposition half, which was the most in the Manchester United squad, and the second most in the league.
Similarly, Michael Carrick showcased his excellent array of passing, as he bossed the centre of the park. The England international completed a pass in the opposition half at an impressive rate of a pass every 2.8 minutes on Saturday. Carrick is 29/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Sunday.
Another player who performed excellently on Saturday was Brazilian right back Rafael. The Da Silva twin was been one of United’s biggest sufferers this season, as he has been unable to meet his superb heights of last term. On Saturday, however, he produced an incredibly competent defensive display which David Moyes will hope is a sign of things to come. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that the Brazilian won 7 tackles, which was more than any other player in the league.
The return of Darren Fletcher has been a welcome boost for manager David Moyes, as the Scottish captain has recently stepped up his return from illness. A regular for former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Fletcher has made 6 appearances under David Moyes and in this time he has shown his natural eye for a pass. The Scotsman has managed to complete a pass in the opposition half at an impressive rate of a pass every 2.1 minutes.
Liverpool enter this game refreshed after a two-week break from action, a rest that Brendan Rodgers will hope will provide his squad with extra energy as we approach the business end of the season.
Liverpool will look to Raheem Sterling as they seek to emerge triumphant from their quest at Fortress Old Trafford. The England youngster has had a stunning second half to the year, establishing himself as integral to Liverpool’s hopes as teammates Suarez and Sturridge. His importance is evident in his dribbling statistics, as the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has completed a total of 57 dribbles this term. This is the second most in the Liverpool squad and the sixth most in the league. You can find Sterling at 23/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goalof the match on Sunday.
Another young Englishman who’s had a barnstorming year is former Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson. Liverpool’s number 14 has come on leaps and bounds this term, and has established himself as a fundamental part of Brendan Rodgers’ team. This is, in part, a result of his excellent work rate but also his outstanding passing ability. So far this season, he has completed 759 passes in the opposition half – the most in the Liverpool squad.
There was a period last summer when it looked as though Martin Skrtel would be heading out of Anfield, as the Slovakian had lost his place in Liverpool’s first XI. The former Zenit man, however, has enjoyed a remarkable campaign and is arguably the first name on the Liverpool team sheet. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Skrtel has made a total of 410 defensive contributions this term (based on blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles won), which is more than any other Liverpool player and the most in the league.
Lucas Leiva is now one of the longest serving players at Anfield, having arrived from Gremio in the summer of 2007. Although initially unpopular amongst the Liverpool faithful, the Brazilian has developed into an outstanding defensive midfielder and his ability to protect the back four has become a key asset in Liverpool’s defensive armoury. This can be demonstrated through the fact that he has made 48 interceptions this term, which is the second most in the Liverpool squad.
Tottenham vs Arsenal
The North London derby this weekend is one the most highly anticipated in years, with Spurs desperate to bolster their hopes of securing top 4 status, and Arsenal looking to get their title chase back on track.
Spurs may have been comprehensively beaten by Chelsea last weekend, but one player who neither let himself nor his teammates down was teenage sensation Nabil Bentaleb. Since his induction to the first team, the Frenchman has been one of Spurs’ most impressive performers and he continued this rich vein of form against Chelsea, completing an impressive 25 passes in the opposition half.
Kyle Walker was another player who showed his excellent offensive skillset against Mourinho’s men, as he made a total of 31 attacking contributions (based on passes in the opposition half, crosses, dribbles and shots on target). Walker’s strength has always been his offensive play, and this is particularly clear when one notes that he only made one defensive contribution (based on blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles won) against Chelsea.
Zeki Fryers left Manchester United last year in a bid to secure more first team football, with the defender desperate to fulfill his undoubted potential. He still hasn’t figured as prominently as he would have liked at Spurs, but when he has played, he has shown a glimpse of his excellent tackling ability. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has won a staggering 84% of his tackles this term.
For such a big man, the dribbling skills of Moussa Dembele may come as something of a shock. Despite not boasting the tricks of a Ribery or a Robben, the Belgian has an amazing ability to glide past defenders – something he has utilized to great effect this term, completing 66 dribbles. Dembele is 15/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the match on Sunday.
A promising, but ultimately unsuccessful defeat to Bayern Munich, means that Arsenal’s focus for the remainder of the season lies on both the league and that FA Cup.
Mesut Ozil may have had his critics at times this season, but ultimately Arsenal are likely to miss his guile and creativity in the forthcoming weeks. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights the worth of the German as it shows that he has completed an astounding 1025 passes in the opposition half this term – more than any other Arsenal player.
Deciding Jack Wilshere’s best position is a dilemma that manager Arsene Wenger must answer in the upcoming years, and there is still ambiguity around whether he is a natural number 10, or number 8. One statistic that may suggest Wilshere is better deployed slightly deeper, is his excellent number of completed dribbles. So far this season the Englishman has completed 44 dribbles – more than any other Arsenal player.
Serge Gnabry has forced his way into the first team this year, with the German quickly emerging as one of the brightest prospects at the Emirates. The young German has shown his natural eye for a pass this term, completing an impressive 153 passes in the opposition half in the opportunities that have been handed to him. You can find Gnabry at 23/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the match on Sunday.
If Bacary Sagna is to leave Arsenal this Summer, it will be interesting to see if Wenger looks to Carl Jenkinson to step up to the mark. The full back has impressed in patches at the Emirates and it could finally be time for him to cement a first team spot as his own. One aspect of his game which may tilt the balance in his favour, is that he clearly has a great eye for a tackle – something demonstrated through the fact that he has won 92% of his challenges this term.
Southampton vs Norwich
Southampton play host to Norwich this weekend in a match that could see the Saints go 8th in the Premier League. Pochettino’s men will be confident after their victory away to Crystal Palace last weekend. Southampton took the lead through England international Rodriguez who capitalised on a poor headed backpass from Jason Puncheon to challenge Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni before finding the net. Fellow England hopefuls Ricky Lambert and Adam Lallana also looked impressive; with the pair brilliantly combining only for Lambert to hit the woodwork. Exciting England prospect Luke Shaw looked confident at full-back; comfortably dealing with the physical presence of Murray.
Jay Rodriguez’s winner against Crystal Palace last weekend was his 11th of the season, placing him as the Saint’s top scorer for this season so far. Following a defensive error from Palace’s Puncheon, the England hopeful demonstrated his ability to react quickly and mercilessly capitalised on the chance. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Rodriguez has a 41% shot accuracy rating this season.
Adam Lallana posed a constant attacking threat to Tony Pulis’ men. The England international has displayed impressive form this season, attracting the attention of Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson and almost certainly booking his place on the plane to Brazil. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Lallana made 42 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses) against Crystal Palace; bringing his season total to an impressive 788. He is 14/5 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
The Saint’s defense looked to be comfortable in coping with Palaces’ attacking threat. José Fonte looked more than capable dealing with the host’s long balls and throw-ins. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that made 20 Defensive contributions (tackles, blocks, interception and clearances), bringing his season tally to an impressive 367; the highest at the club.
Norwich will be eager to put last weeks disappointing draw with Stoke behind them when they travel to Southampton this weekend. Chris Hughton claimed that his side kicked themselves in the foot after giving away a penalty, which leveled the game; before failing to take advantage of 10 man Stoke for the last 12 minutes. The draw keeps the pressure on Hughton and his men who are currently 15th in the League; 4 points above the bottom three. The Canaries face a bottom of the table scrap in four of their next five matches against struggling Sunderland, Swansea, West Brom and Fulham before ending the season against Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Canary fans will be hoping that midfielder Bradley Johnson leads by example this weekend after stating midweek that Chris Hughton’s men must raise their game against their league rivals. Heading in a Robert Snodgrass Free kick, Bradley Johnson put the Canaries ahead last weekend with just over half an hour left on the clock. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Johnson was by far Norwich’s biggest attacking threat, making 36 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, passes and crosses). He is 13/1 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Robert Snodgrass once again demonstrated his impressive ability to create chances against Stoke with a trademark free kick that found Johnson. The Scotsman has proved to be an inspiring individual in attack, making 506 attacking contributions this season including 22 crosses; the highest at the club.
The Norwich defense looked to be comfortable in dealing with the Potters’ attacking threats, with Joseph Yobo making a total of 13 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, interceptions and clearances). Furthermore, despite clumsily giving away the penalty that would cost the Canaries 2 points and leave the Norwich faithful frustrated, The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Sebastien Bassong made 11 defensive contributions; contributing to a season total of 267; the highest at the club.
Swansea vs West Brom
West Brom travel to Swansea still searching for their first win under new manager Pepe Mel. The Baggies will have to manage without Captain Chris Brunt who is out for 6 weeks with Medial Ligament damage and Uruguayan international defender Diego Lugano. Having failed to create a repeat performance of their win over the United in September, they are only above the relegation zone on goal difference; having won just once in eighteen league games. The Baggies, in search of an equaliser, exerted some attacking pressure on the Reds’ defence with Victor Anichebe just missing the target, but failed to upset what looked to be a comfortable and much needed victory for Moyes’ men.
Following United’s goal courtesy of Phil Jones, Zoltán Gera came closest to equalising for the Baggies. West Brom fans will be hoping that Gera can exploit the absence of suspended Chico Flores this week. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Hungarian had a shot accuracy rating of 66.7%. He is 23/5 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Youssuf Mulumbu played a significant role in both ends of the pitch; brilliantly clearing the ball off the West Brom goal line following a erroneous header from Baggies skipper Chris Brunt as well as making 29 attacking contributions (Shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses). The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Mulumbu has made 725 total attacking contributions this season to date; the highest at the club.
Baggies fans will be hoping that their defence can cope better with Swansea’s attacking threats than it did against Manchester United’s firepower. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Englishmen had a tackle accuracy of 80%. Meanwhile fellow defenders Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley lead the way in the total of defensive contributions this season with 309 and 281 respectively.
Swansea entertain struggling West Brom this week with the hope of putting another three points between themselves and the relegation scrap. Swansea looked to have taken a positive step towards Premier League safety against Crystal Palace having taken the lead through Jonathan de Guzman after 25 minutes however with 8 minutes to go, Chico Flores saw red after fouling Glenn Murray inside the box which resulted in a penalty which Murray then converted. Swans fans will feel frustrated after their side dominated possession and territory from early on with a particularly impressive passage of play resulting in de Guzman’s goal from 14 yards out.
Swans fans will be looking to Dutchman Jonathan De Guzmán for inspiration this weekend following his strike, which put them ahead against Crystal Palace 2 weeks ago. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that De Guzmán has made 798 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, passes and crosses) this season. He is 37/10 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Wilfred Bony was unlucky not to have doubled their tally after it seemed certain he would score from 6 yards; only to be denied by an impressive one handed save from Speroni. Bony, the clubs top scorer, has 10 goals so far this season and will be hoping to exploit the damage done to the confidence of West Brom’s defence following Man United’s 3 goal rout. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Ivory Coast international has a shot accuracy rating of 40.3% this season.
Swansea will be without key man Chico Flores this week following his suspension against Crystal Palace. The Spaniard has played a vital role in Swansea’s season, making 309 defensive contributions; the most at the club. In his absence, Gary Monk will be hoping that Neil Taylor will fill the defensive void. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Welshman has won 88.9% of his tackles.
Hull City v Manchester City
Manchester City will eagerly welcome Hull City to the Etihad with the hope of putting their season back on track. Hopes of a potential quadruple of silverware were crushed this week with City crashing out of the FA Cup after a shock defeat to Wigan before losing to Barcelona 4-1 on aggregate in the Champions League. Pellegrini’s men will now look to capitalise on their 3 games in hand over Premier League leaders Chelsea who are currently 9 points ahead. City fans will hope that the injury suffered by Agüero is not too serious and will not prevent the Argentine from building on his tally of 26 goals this season.
Manchester City have played down the panic over Argentine striker Sergio Agüero injury he sustained against Barcelona but after successive absences due to injuries this season he is unlikely to be risked. City still posses plenty of attacking threat in the form of Yaya Touré. The Ivory Coast international has 13 goals this season, second only to Agüero and has a shot accuracy rating of 51.4%. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Touré has made 1038 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, dribbles and crosses) this season; the second highest in the Premier League. Touré is 23/10 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Pellegrini will be hoping to see the end of the recent slump which has seen City strikers Aguero, Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo go 1,000 minutes without scoring a goal between them in all competitions. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Negredo has 9 goals so far this season with a shot accuracy rating of 50% while Dzeko has 7 goals to his name with a shot accuracy rating of 37%.
Manchester City’s defence has come under attack in recent weeks following their FA Cup and Champions League exit. Nevertheless, City fans should feel confident in their side’s ability to handle Hull City’s attacking threats. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Jesús Navas has made 35 tackles this season, winning 88.6% of them. Meanwhile, skipper Vincent Kompany leads the way with defensive contributions (tackles, blocks, clearances and interceptions) with 182 so far this season.
Hull City will feel confident at the prospect of travelling to the Etihad this weekend having reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1930 in a match that saw them put three goals past Sunderland in 22 minutes. On the back of such an achievement, Steve Bruce’s men will be hoping to take advantage of Manchester City’s shock defeat at the hands of Wigan last weekend and their Champions League exit by creating their very own upset. The Tigers, who only won promotion to the Premier League last year, sit just 5 points clear of the relegation zone with games against West Brom, West Ham and Stoke following their clash with City.
Steve Bruce will be relying on Ahmed Elmohamady to create attacking inspiration for Hull this week. The Egyptian has 2 goals so far this season and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 652 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, passes and crosses) Tigers fans will expect Elmohamady to take full advantage of Manchester City’s defensive problems.
With 5 goals, Yannick Sagbo is Hull’s top scorer so far this season. The Ivory Coast international has a shot accuracy rating of 64.3% this season and is most likely to find the net for the Tigers. He is 4/1 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Although buoyed by their FA Cup run, Hull will need to remain cautious of the impressive firepower Manchester City can wield in attack. Although Argentine forward Sergio Agüero is likely to miss the fixture after suffering an injury against Barcelona, Hull will still have their hands full with the likes of David Silva and Edin Dzeko. Liam Rosenior and Curtis Davies will prove crucial to Hull’s hopes in defence. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Rosenior has won 82% of his tackles this season whilst Davies has made 363 defensive contributions (tackles, blocks, interceptions and clearances); the most at the club.
