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.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.
Southampton V Everton
Southampton will be looking to bounce back from last week’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa when Everton travel to the south coast this weekend. The Saints have suffered from a dip in form in recent weeks and haven’t managed a Premier League win in their last four matches. A win on Saturday will take Mauricio Pochettino’s side to within just two points of their record Premier League points tally of 54; which they achieved when they finished 10th in 1994/95.
With top scorer Jay Rodriguez still out injured, Southampton will be looking at Rickie Lambert to provide the goals needed to beat in-form Everton this weekend. Lambert has made 34 Premier League appearances so far this season scoring 11 goals in the process. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Lambert has had 74 shots this season, with 50% of his efforts hitting the target. You can find Lambert at 19/10 at 888sport.com for him to score at any time this weekend.
Adam Lallana will be looking to continue his impressive season on Saturday as he looks to secure his place in Roy Hodgson’s England World Cup squad. Lallana has made 35 Premier League appearances so far this season and has made 144 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses), including 9 assists, 24 crosses and 67 dribbles.
Jose Fonte looks set to partner Dejan Lovren at centre back again on Saturday as the Saints look for a second consecutive clean sheet. The Portuguese defender made 9 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) against Villa last weekend, including 8 clearances.
Everton will be looking to continue their run of recent good form when they travel to St Mary’s on Saturday. Last weekend’s 2-0 win over Manchester United was the Toffees 8th win in 9 Premier league matches, and they are just one point behind Arsenal who sit in 4th place.
Romelu Lukaku will be looking to add to his 13 Premier League goals this weekend. The on-loan Chelsea man has been in fine form this term, making 112 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses), hitting the target with 61% of his efforts at goal. 888sport.com is offering odds of 4/3 that Lukaku will score at anytime on Saturday.
Seamus Coleman put in another impressive display in last weekend’s win over Man United last weekend. As well as his three defensive contributions the full back also made seven attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses), including two crosses and one assist. The Republic of Ireland international’s assist against United was his 2nd of the season.
Leighton Baines will be another player looking to impress Roy Hodgson this weekend, as he pushes for a place in this summer’s England World Cup squad. The left back has made 29 Premier League appearances for Everton this season and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 202 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks), including 17 last weekend. Baines has also managed 5 goals this term and is currently the 3rd highest top scoring defender in the Premier League.
West Brom V West Ham
West Brom will be hoping to put Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester city behind them this weekend when they host West Ham at the Hawthorns on Saturday. The Baggies currently sit just three points above the relegation zone, and will be desperate for a win as the battle for Premier League survival really hot’s up in the final weeks of the season.
According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Graham Dorrans was statistically West Brom’s best player against Manchester City on Monday night. As well as scoring their only goal Dorrans made 12 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) including six interceptions, and one clearance. The Scot also won four out of his nine attempted tackles against City giving him a tackles won percentage of 44%.
Stéphane Sessegnon is the Baggies joint top scorer this season, and he will be looking for his 5th goal of the season on Saturday when he lines up against West Ham. Sessegnon has made 24 appearances so far this term and has made 74 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) for his side. Sessegnon’s last goal came in the Baggies 3-3 draw with Tottenham two weeks ago and 888sport.com are offering odds of 5/2 for him to score at anytime on Saturday.
Morgan Amalfitano will be another player West Ham boss Sam Allardyce will be keeping a close eye on this weekend. Amalfitano has made 95 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) for his side this season, including four assists. The Frenchman who is on loan from Marseille has made 25 appearances for West Brom this term and has also chipped in with four goals for the club.
West Ham will be looking to put last weekend’s disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace behind them when they travel to the Hawthorns this weekend. The Hammers haven’t managed a win so far in April, and manager Sam Allardyce will be hoping to they can turn this around this weekend.
Despite the club’s relatively poor season Mohamed Diamé has been one the shining lights at Upton Park this season, and Sam Allardyce will be looking for Diamé to continue his recent run of fine form against West Brom. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Diamé has won 79% of the tackles he has attempted, winning 70 of the 88 tackles he’s made. Diamé has also made 127 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) for West Ham so far this season including three assists.
He may be struggling for goals this season but West Hams record signing Andy Carroll will still definitely be a concern for Pepe Mel and his West Brom side on Saturday. The 25 year-old forward has struggled with injuries since his £15 million move from Liverpool in the summer and has only managed two goals from 12 Premier League appearances. Despite Carroll’s lack of goals 888sport.com are offering odds of 9/4 that he will add to his two goal haul on Saturday.
Despite defeat to Palace last weekend defender James Tomkins put in a solid display at the back for Sam Allardyce’s side. Tomkins made 18 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) on Saturday, including 12 clearances, winning 79% of his tackles in the process. Tomkins has made more defensive contributions that any of his teammates this season making an impressive 367; the 12th highest of any player in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Crystal Palace will be looking to continue their recent run of good form when they entertain title contenders Manchester City at Selhurst Park this Sunday. After a poor start to the season the Eagles looked a certainty to be relegated at the turn of the year, but a turnaround in form has seen them win their last 5 Premier League matches & they now find themselves in 11th place with 43 points.
Jason Puncheon is likely to be Palace’s biggest goal threat when the sides meet on Sunday. Puncheon is currently the Eagles top scorer with seven goals in 31 appearances and 888sport.com are offering odds of 9/2 that he will find the net again this weekend.
Yannick Bolasie also impressed against West Ham last weekend making 6 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) including four dribbles and one cross. The 24 year old has made 26 appearances for Palace this season and his contributions last weekend gave him a season total of 114.
Damien Delaney has statistically been Palace’s strongest defender so far this season. Tony Pulis will be hoping that his form will continue when Palace try to stop the free scoring City attack on Sunday. Delaney has made an outstanding 487 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) for his side this season including 77 interceptions and 318 clearances. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the 32 year old has also won 75% of the tackles he has attempted.
Manchester City’s pursuit of the Premier League title continues this Sunday when they travel to in-form Crystal Palace. City kept their title hopes alive this week with a 3-1 win over West Brom on Monday. The Blues sit just six points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, with just four games to play. Anything but a win this weekend may all but end City’s hopes of a 2nd Premier League title in three seasons.
With current top scorer Yaya Touré missing through injury Sergio Agüero is likely to be City’s biggest goal threat on Sunday. The Argentinian, who scored in Monday’s victory over West Brom, has scored 16 goals in 20 appearances so far this season, and according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Agüero has hit the target with 60% of his 63 efforts at goal.
Despite not having one of his best games on Monday night Samir Nasri is still likely to be a major attacking threat for City this weekend. The Frenchman has made 91 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) so far this season chipping in with 6 goals and 7 assists in the process. Nasri is the Blues third highest scoring midfielder this season and 888sport.com are offering an industry best 5/2 that he will add to his tally this weekend.
Captain Vincent Kompany is likely to be at the heart of the City defence on Sunday after another solid display against West Brom. Kompany made 11 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) on Monday night, adding to the 248 he has made this season. Kompany has also won an impressive 70% of the tackles he has attempted this season.
Liverpool V Chelsea
Brendan Rodgers will be looking to make it 12 straight Premier league wins on Sunday when his Liverpool side face title rivals Chelsea. Liverpool’s last defeat came when the two sides met in December and the Reds haven’t lost in the Premier League this year. Not many people predicted that Liverpool would be in this position at the start of the season but they have certainly proved their doubters wrong with recent performances. A win on Sunday will put them eight points clear of Chelsea with just two games to go.
Raheem Sterling scored twice in last week’s victory over Norwich, as he continued his impressive season. The 19 year old England midfielder has now scored nine Premier League goals this season, and is the Red’s 4th top scorer behind Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard. Sterling’s good form has been a major factor in Liverpool’s successes this season and he will be looking for a repeat of last week’s performance on Sunday
Martin Skrtel has been a rock at the back for Liverpool this season. The centre back is the Premier League’s highest scoring defender this season with seven goals. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Skrtel has made more defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) than any other Premier League player this season with an impressive 527. Another solid performance against Norwich last weekend showed how important he is for the Liverpool side and he will need to be in similar form on Sunday.
Luis Suarez could be the man to fire Liverpool to victory on Sunday. The Uruguayan striker is currently the Premier Leagues top scorer with an impressive 30 from 30 appearances. Suarez has also made 268 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) this season including 25 assists. 888sport.com is offering odds of 7/8 that he will score at anytime.
Sunday’s game at Anfield is must win for José Mourinho’s side if they want any chance of reclaiming Premier League title. After last week’s loss to Sunderland nothing but a win will do for Chelsea this weekend. A Liverpool win would end any hopes of a 4th Premier League crown for the Blues. Mourinho will be without several key first team players on Sunday, with Petr Čech, John Terry, Eden Hazard & Samuel Eto’o all missing through injury.
With Mourinho likely to make several changes to his side on Sunday, Demba Ba could be in line for a rare start at Anfield. Ba has struggled to hold down a regular place in the Chelsea starting line up this season, playing just 487 minutes in 17 appearances. The Senegalese striker has scored four times this season and is an industry best 33/10 to score anytime on Sunday with 888sport.com
Mourinho could also recall Ashley Cole to his starting lineup on Sunday, after missing last week’s loss to Sunderland. If Cole is recalled his experience may prove invaluable for Chelsea as they try to stop the ruthless Liverpool frontline. Cole has made only 14 Premier League appearances this season making a total of 70 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) including 20 clearances and 16 interceptions. Despite his lack of appearances the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Cole has still won 74% of the 42 tackles he has attempted this term.
Mohamed Salah could also be another player Mourinho looks at on Sunday. The Egyptian joined from Swiss side Basel in January and has made seven appearances so far for the Blues. Salah has made 26 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) since his move including one assist.
Stoke vs Tottenham
Stoke will want to return to winning ways this weekend when they entertain Tottenham. The Potters are enjoying their best ever Premier League run this season and are currently in 10th place. Potters fans will be disappointed with last week’s result but a win this weekend could see them go to 9th place if results go their way.
Arnautović will be integral to Stoke’s attacking ambitions this weekend. The Austrian made eight attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) in his sides draw with Cardiff last weekend as well as netting his 3rd goal of the season. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 103 attacking contributions in 27 Premier League appearances, the highest at the club. He is 4/1 to score at any time with 888sport.com
Asmir Begovic has played a fundamental role in Stoke’s impressive season. The Potters’ No.1 made several superb saves last weekend as he kept his side in the game against Cardiff. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 100 saves in 30 Premier League appearances. He will need to be equally impressive this weekend against Spurs if his side is to close the gap on 8th placed Southampton.
Geoff Cameron will need to be at his best this weekend when he comes face to face with the in-form Christian Eriksen and Emmanuel Adebayor. The American defender has won 100 out of a possible 145 tackles this season, committing 30 fouls. There is no doubt that he will be adding to his season total of 308 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, blocks and interceptions) before the final whistle on Saturday.
Tottenham convincingly beat struggling Fulham last week 3-1 at home. Although the game looked close at the halfway point, Spurs were 3-1 up just after the hour mark. Danish international Eriksen looked formidable in attack and set up both Harry Kane and Younes Kaboul to secure a win
Christian Eriksen looks to have been Tottenham’s most effective acquisition from the Summer. The Danish international made two assists last weekend in his sides victory over Fulham, bringing his Premier League season total to an impressive nine. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 73 attacking contributions this season, five of which were made against Fulham last weekend.
Harry Kane looks like he just can’t stop scoring at the moment. The 20 year old has found the back of the net three times in seven games with a shot accuracy of 72%. Kane will hope that he can continue to reward Tim Sherwood’s faith in him with more goals this weekend. He is 5/2 score at any time with 888sport.com
Younès Kaboul played an important role at both ends of the pitch last weekend against Fulham. The Frenchman finished a well-placed free kick from Erikesen to secure the win and make it three for the home side. At the other end of the pitch, he made 12 defensive contributions (tackles won, interceptions, blocks and clearances); winning four out of a possible five tackles.
Sunderland vs Cardiff
Sunderland will be full of confidence following their surprise victory at Stamford Bridge last weekend. The Black Cats, who are currently bottom of the Premier League, came from behind to win the game through Borini’s penalty with less than 10 minutes to go. With a game in hand on fellow relegation strugglers Fulham and Cardiff, and only one point worse off, Poyet’s men will feel that anything is possible when they entertain Cardiff.
Connor Wickham has received praise from both players and fans in recent weeks and has given the Black Cats hope of avoiding the drop. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has scored three times in just 11 appearances in the Premier League this season and has had seven out of a possible 10 shots on target. He is 9/5 score at any time with 888sport.com
Fabio Borini kept a cool head as he scored the winner from the penalty spot in Sunderland’s shock victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, bringing his season total to four. The Italian, who used to play for Chelsea and is currently on loan from Liverpool, made three attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) against his former club.
Wes Brown will be fundamental if the Black Cats are to contain Cardiff’s attacking ambitions this weekend. The ex-Manchester United defender made 15 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, blocks and interceptions) against Chelsea, including an impressive 11 clearances. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has won 21 out of a possible 35 tackles this season and has made 99 clearances.
Cardiff will feel confident ahead of their clash with rock bottom Sunderland this weekend following the vital point they earned against Stoke. With 30 points and fellow relegation strugglers Fulham losing to Tottenham last weekend, Cardiff will feel that their Premier League survival is very much a possibility.
Juan Cala could have won Cardiff’s second game in a row last weekend had his header not been disallowed. The Spaniard has scored twice in six appearances for the Bluebirds this season despite being a defender. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made 76 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, blocks and interceptions) in the Premier League this season, including 18 tackles won.
Peter Whittingham scored his 3rd goal in 29 Premier League appearances last weekend. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he had two out of a possible two shots on target and made four attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, crosses and dribbles); bringing his season total to 71.
Jordan Mutch will feel that he has Cardiff’s hopes of staying in the Premier League resting on his shoulders. Mutch is Cardiff’s top scorer this season with seven to his name. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he is also the Bluebirds most accurate threat in front of goal with 20 shots on target out of a possible 38. In addition he has also made six assists and 90 attacking contributions; both of which are the highest at the club. He is 5/1 score at any time with 888sport.com
Arsenal vs Newcastle
Arsenal host Newcastle at the Emirates this weekend as they look to hold on to fourth position and a place in the Champions League. Arsene Wenger will be looking to take advantage of Newcastle’s recent form and record their third win in a row.
Lukas Podolski is Arsenal’s in form attacking player, scoring four goals in his last two games for the Gunners. With Everton still breathing down Arsenal’s neck for fourth place, Arsene Wenger will want the German to continue firing. Podolski scored two goals and provided three attacking contributions (assists, crosses and shots) against Hull and is 13/10 to score at anytime with 888sport.com.
Aaron Ramsey was Arsenal’s star man for the first half of the season and he returned from injury to start against Hull with a fine performance. Scoring Arsenal’s first goal and assisting the other two, Arsenal fans will be wondering ‘what if’ had he remained fit this season. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Ramsey and Carzola both made 41 passes, more than any other Arsenal player and the Welshman also provided the most attacking contributions (5).
With Ramsey, Podolski and Giroud all attacking against Hull it was Arteta who protected the back four. Losing a tooth in the first half didn’t stop him from making the most tackles (4) at a 75% success rate. Laurent Koscielny also stood out making 20 defensive contributions (tackles, blocks, clearances and interceptions) throughout the game.
The Magpies, who are struggling with results, have lost their last five Premier League matches, scoring just one goal. Alan Pardew will make his return to the touchline following his seven-match ban following his clash with Hull’s David Meyler.
Newcastle will want to keep Arsenal’s attack at bay and Cheike Tiote did exactly that against Swansea until he conceded a late penalty that handed the Swans a 2-1 win. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Tiote and Gosling made seven and eight tackles respectively, more than any other Newcastle player.
Shola Ameobi played the full game for Newcastle against Swansea and scored their only goal in five games. Loic Remy may have only played 50 minutes but made the most attacking contributions (5), showing how important he is to Newcastle’s attacking line. Remy is an industry best at 7/2 to score anytime with 888sport.com.
Newcastle’s stand out player in defence against Swansea was Paul Dummett. The young Welshman made 22 defensive contributions, the most in the Newcastle side, and only Loic Remy made more attacking contributions. He will be looking to attack down the left wing against Arsenal and provide crosses to his strikers.
Manchester United vs Norwich
Attention at Old Trafford will no doubt be on Ryan Giggs who has temporarily taken over from David Moyes. Manchester United showed a lacklustre performance against Everton last weekend and the players will be hoping to improve for stand-in manager Giggs.
In a game where United enjoyed the majority of possession, they were unable to break down a sturdy Everton defence. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that United’s midfield made most of the passes, Fletcher (56), Mata (50) and Carrick (43) but they only made five attacking contributions (assists, crosses and dribbles) between them.
Wayne Rooney was not in top form against his former club and managed only one shot throughout the whole game, which Tim Howard excellently saved. Despite this, he is still Manchester United’s top goal scorer with 15 goals for the season and you can find him at 13/18 to score at anytime with 888sport.com.
Everton counter attacked at speed throughout the game, meaning Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were forced to make 11 and 9 clearances respectively but they will both want to improve against Norwich who are likely to throw everything at them on Saturday.
Norwich have everything to play for after a hard fought encounter with Liverpool left them empty handed. Hovering two points above the relegation zone the Canaries will be hoping to capitalise on United’s current form.
Norwich gave Liverpool a scare last weekend with two second half goals that pushed Liverpool all the way. Top goal scorers Robert Snodgrass and Gary Hooper provided the goals and will go into the game with Manchester United full of confidence. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Snodgrass made three attacking contributions (crosses, dribbles, shots and assists), the most in the Norwich side. Snodgrass is 9/2 to score at anytime with 888sport.com
Although playing in a forward position against Liverpool, Nathan Redmond’s biggest contribution was defensively with 10 defensive contributions (tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks) more than any other Norwich player. He will attempt to play with more attacking intent against United who struggled against the pace of Everton full-backs Baines and Coleman.
Leroy Fer sat in the centre of midfield against Liverpool and made 10 tackles during the game, more than any other player. With Manchester United likely to want to control possession, Fer will be key in breaking down the play and is capable of striding beyond the strikers and scoring himself.
Fulham vs Hull
Fulham missed out on moving out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 defeat to Spurs last weekend and will not want a repeat performance against Hull. Felix Magath’s side have won two out of the last three games and Premier League survival has become a realistic target.
On a tough day for Fulham at White Hart Lane, John Arne Riise showed that at 33 years old he can still cover plenty of ground over the course of 90 minutes. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Riise made 12 defensive contributions (tackles, blocks, interceptions and clearances) against Spurs, only Fernando Amorebieta made more. However, what stood out was Riise’s determination to provide service to the attacking players and push further up the pitch. No Fulham player made more attacking contributions (crosses, assists and dribbles) than Riise (5).
Steven Sidwell is the club’s top scorer this season and scored Fulham’s only goal against Tottenham bringing his total to seven. Fulham’s forwards have struggled to find the net this season but Sidwell has shown willing to run beyond the strikers from midfield to create chances. Sidwell made four attacking contributions during the game and with three more goals this season than second placed Dejagah he could be Fulham’s most likely scorer. The midfielder is 7/2 to score anytime with 888sport.com
In defence, Fernando Amorebieta made the most defensive contributions in the Fulham team (20) and was successful in all of his tackles. Hangeland was also successful in all of his challenges, completing three out of three tackles.
The Tigers will want to improve on their current form after a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal at the KC Stadium. With Hull’s F.A Cup final just around the corner they will want to create some momentum before the biggest game of their season.
With Arsenal controlling the majority of the game last weekend, the Hull strikers will be hoping to have a busier afternoon at Craven Cottage. For a period of the match Shane Long, Nikica Jelavic and Matthew Fryatt were all on the pitch looking to find a break through. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Long had the most attempts on goal (4) but all three of the Hull strikers only managed one shot on target each. Top goal scorer Long is an industry best at 5/2 to score at anytime with 888sport.com.
Curtis Davis had an action-packed day against the Gunners making 14 clearances, nine more than the next best Hull player. Davis was also successful with all of his tackles. With Hull still just above the relegation zone in 14th position Davies will not want his side to concede many more goals.
Tom Huddlestone and Ahmed Elmohamady patrolled the midfield against Arsenal, with Huddlestone making the most passes in the opponent’s half (25) for Hull and Elmohamady made 3 attacking contributions, only bettered by Shane Long.
Swansea vs Aston Villa
Swansea City entertain Aston Villa on Saturday in a game that both teams will feel they can win. Swansea are currently sitting in 13th position on 36 points with the Midlands club just below them in 15th just one point behind them. The Swans are not yet safe from danger, but a 1-2 win against Newcastle certainly helped their chances and a win against Villa will see them all but safe.
Wilfried Bony has been the Swan’s star performer this season. With Michu struggling with injuries, Bony has provided 14 goals this season, nine more than second-placed Shelvey. Bony scored two goals including a last minute penalty to ensure Swansea took all three points against Newcastle. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Bony made five attacking contributions (dribbles, crosses and assists) against Newcastle proving the striker can also create chances for teammates. He is 5/4 to score at anytime with 888sport.com.
Jonathan De Guzmán and Wayne Routledge give the Swans with some serious pace on the wings and will be looking to provide service for Bony. Routledge enjoys running at defenders and attempted the most dribbles against Newcastle (4). De Guzmán delivers regular crosses into the box and he was one of only two players to provide a cross against Newcastle.
Swansea’s captain, Ashley Williams made the most defensive contributions at Newcastle (23) and was successful in all of his tackles. He has been at heart of the Swansea defence all season and has made more defensive contributions this season than any other Swansea player.
The 0-0 draw at home to Southampton last weekend provided a much needed point for Paul Lambert’s side who had failed to secure any points in their last four matches. They have certainly felt the force of the injury to Benteke and will hope they can find the net through their other attacking players.
Marc Albrighton looked lively throughout the game showing determination to provide crosses and help out in defence. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Albrighton made four attacking contributions more than any other Villa player. He also made seven defensive contributions more than the likes of defender Ryan Bertrand (5). Albrighton is an industry best 9/1 to score at anytime with 888sport.com.
Lying in the centre of midfield against Southampton was Fabian Delph who has been a consistent performer for Villa. This season Delph has made the most tackles (128) and contributed three goals making him the third highest goal scorer at the club. The midfielder also made the most passes (17) for Aston Villa against the Saints and will have to be on top form against Swansea.
The ever-present Ron Vlaar is likely to be up against the form Wilfried Bony at the weekend. Vlaar has made the most defensive contributions for Villa this season (313) and continued that form against Southampton. He will be crucial in keeping Swansea’s attacking players quiet throughout the game.
