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? Which player has provided the most crosses and who last week put in a true captain’s performance? Then read on and let the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index arm you with enough stats to impress everyone but girly girls.
Saturday 22nd December
Wigan v Arsenal 12:45
Wigan remain in the bottom three of the Premier League after losing 2-1 to Norwich in their last outing. A Shaun Maloney goal wasn’t enough to secure victory over the Canaries and Wigan are struggling to turn some good football into goals.
Maloney’s goal was his second of the season having previously had 16 efforts at goal with 11 on target at a rate of 68.75% on target
Ronnie Stam did his best to carve out chances for his team in the game, delivering 12 crosses, the second highest by a player in a single game this season. He will be hoping his team mates can start getting on the end of them though, as he has now delivered 32 crosses without being credited an assist, the second highest in the league after West Ham’s Mark Noble. Stam is an industry best price of 40/1 with 888sport.com to score first against Arsenal, should the full back decide to stop providing for his team mates and start going for goal himself
Ali Al Habsi was busy again against Norwich, making XX saves. The keeper has made more saves than any other keeper this season with 107.
Arsenal’s last game was against Reading, the fixture that previously gave us a thrilling 7-4 encounter in the League Cup. This time around the fixture also gave us an exhilarating scoreline with Arsenal coming out 5-2 winners.
Santi Cazorla continued to cement his place in the hearts of the Arsenal fans with a stunning display including a hat trick and an assist, while Podolski and Walcott added a strike each.
Cazorla’s hat trick takes his total for the season to 7, and moved him up 12 places to 5th in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Cazorla’s goals have come at a rate of one every 8 shots, with 62.5% of his shots being on target this season.
Cazorla is also top of the index for passes completed in his opponent’s half with 709 so far with 6 assists also credited to the Spanish midfielder. That means he’s had a hand in 13 goals this season, either scoring or providing, the fourth highest in the league after van Persie (18), Tevez (17), and Rooney (14).
Theo Walcott is making a case for himself as a striker this season. His goal was his fifth in the Premier League, and with four assists also to his name he has averaged a goal or assist once every 81 minutes 47 seconds this season, the fifth best rate discounting those players who have contributed to or scored fewer than 3 goals.
Walcott’s shots per goal rating is 4.2, a ratio on a par with former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie who has averaged 4.5 shots per goal this season. You can get a price of 13/8 on Walcott to score at any time with 888sport.com.
Man City v Reading 15:00
Man City rebounded in some style from their disappointing loss to bitter rivals Man Utd last week with a fine 1-3 win away to Newcastle. Samir Nasri in particular shone before being injured following an under-par showing against the Red Devils, whilst Yaya Toure produced a performance of guile and force to suggest he is reaching his peak form once again.
Yaya Toure’s performance against Monday was symptomatic of a midfield powerhouse at the peak of his powers and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index confirms this rise in form. The big Ivorian has completed 699 passes in his opponent’s half this season and also recently joined the select group of player to pass the 100 mile mark for distance covered with 101.61 miles recorded.
No striker in the Premier League has provided more opportunities for his team mates to score than Carlos Tevez, the Argentinian front man already recording 10 assists placing him joint 1st on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. You can find Carlos Tevez at 8/15 at 888sport.com should he decide to add to his own total rather than provide for his teammates on Saturday.
Spaniard David Silva complemented his vision and technique with a workmanlike performance against Newcastle, grafting harder than any other player on the pitch as he ran for 6.55 miles.
Samir Nasri will be keen to get back on the pitch as soon as possible to keep on improving upon his early form against Newcastle last weekend. The talented Frenchman will be determined to build on his statistics this season which have been slightly underwhelming at 3 assists and only a 8% conversion rate from 12 attempts on goal. You’ll find Nasri at 8/4 to score at 888sport.com.
Gareth Barry is often described as the player that helps his teammates shine, but the England international will be seeking greater consistency from his defensive playing for the remainder of the season. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s recorded 17 fouls and has a 43% tackle success rate from 28 challenges.
A poor Reading performance led to a crushing defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Monday evening, the Royals falling to a 2-5 defeat. Whilst Adam Le Fondre and Jimmy Kebe did manage to make it onto the scoresheet, Reading never looked like containing a slick Arsenal side.
Adam Le Fondre once again made a strong case for his inclusion to Brian McDermott this week, improving his goals per minute total to one every 189 minutes, the best in the Reading squad.
Midfielder Mikele Leigertwood continues to be Reading’s most consistent force in the engine room this season, racking up a squad-high 245 successful passes in the opponent’s half this season.
The imposing midfielder has also been putting in a shift in defence for the Royals this season, racking up an impressive 40 tackles at a success rate of 63%. He’s now made a defensive contribution every 12.5 minutes.
Jay Tabb once again turned in another tireless performance against Arsenal, running for 6.94 miles according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. This was the 7th time he’s topped the Reading leaderboard for distance run in a match this season.
Hai Robson-Kanu has been Reading’s biggest threat on goal in this campaign so far, netting 3 goals and establishing a shot accuracy rate of 63% from 16 attempts. Robson-Kanu is 7/1 to continue his consistent attacks on goal and score against City at 888sport.com.
Defender Shaun Cummings may find himself under the scrutiny of the England management if he continues to turn in performances like those in the first half of the season. He has an incredible tackle success rate of 92% and has the best foul-to-tackle ratio in the league, conceding only once every 12 tackles.
Sessegnon: Needs to improve his defensive work.
Southampton v Sunderland 15:00
Southampton’s last fixture on the 8th December saw them grab a 1-0 over fellow strugglers Reading thanks to a second half Jason Puncheon goal. The Saints created more than enough chances to extend the scoreline even further and Nigel Adkins will be looking for more ruthlessness in front of goal this weekend.
Portuguese defender Jose Fonte will be key to Nigel Adkins’ plans to establish Southampton in the Premier League in the latter half of the season. He’s amassed an incredible 112 interceptions and 27 clearances this season.
French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has been earning rave reviews for his work ethic this season but he will be looking to remove some of defensive misdemeanors in the second half of the season. He’s currently ranked 4th on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for fouls committed with 33. Schneiderlin is 6/1 at 888sport.com to convert his work rate into a goal and score against Sunderland this weekend.
Teenage sensation Luke Shaw continues to show why some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs are hot on his trail. He’s established a tackle success rate of 85% from 20 challenges and has a foul-to-tackle ratio of only one every 10 attempts.
Young defender Jack Cork continues to build on his growing reputation on the south coast, turning in another solid performance against Reading last time out.
The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index recorded him as running for 6.70 miles.
Last fixture’s goalscorer Jason Puncheon has proven himself equally adept at defending as he is going forward. He has a defensive success rate of 58% as well as providing 17 crosses and 4 assists this season.
Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland side continued to slip further down the Premier League table last weekend as they were dominated in clinical fashion by league leaders Man Utd. Former Utd striker Frazier Campbell notched a second half consolation goal but it was never going to be enough against a Utd side poised to challenge for league honours once again.
Stephane Sessgnon has been in good form with the ball at his feet this, but his defensive efforts have left something to be desired. He’s only won 50% of his challenges this season, giving away 23 fouls in the process. He’s still an industry-best 10/3 to score this weekend though at 888sport.com.
James McLean once again topped the distance charts for Sunderland last weekend, racking up a 6.54 mile total according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. This is 4th times he’s worked the hardest in the Sunderland match day squad, giving him a cumulative total of 83.17 miles this season.
The Northern Irishman has also amassed a quite remarkable set of defensive statistics for a player primarily known for his eagerness to push forward. He has a 64% tackle success rate this season.
Martin O’Neill may well wonder where his Sunderland side would be had they not brought in Steven Fletcher in the summer. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows he has scored 41% of their 17 goals this season, as well as registering two assists. He’s a fancied choice at 888sport.com to continue this run of form against Southampton at 2/1 to score.
No player in the Sunderland squad has a better tackle success rate than Carlos Cuellar, with 89% from 38 challenges complemented by only 6 fouls at a rate of one of 352 minutes.
West Brom v Norwich 15:00
West Brom played out a goalless draw with West Ham last time out, neither side creating enough to make a dent on the scoreline. James Morrison looked to be the Baggies’ brightest hope of grabbing all three points, as he was twice denied by the woodwork.
Romelu Lukaku continues to mature at West Brom and his time at The Hawthorns may prove instrumental in his development when he looks back at his career. The young powerhouse has a shot accuracy rate of 80% and has one of the highest goals to minutes played ratios in the league according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, netting once every 127.8 minutes this season. His form is reflected on 888sport.com where he is 5/4 to score against Norwich.
Many Baggies fans will no doubt agree that Claudio Yacob has been one of the unsung heroes of West Brom’s fantastic early season form. The combative midfielder has made 115 defensive contributions this season at a rate of one every 11.5 minutes, and has successfully completed 220 passes in the opponent’s half.
Shane Long is the type of player than many managers crave, one who works hard and gives his all for the team every time he takes to the field. Steve Clarke will likely be looking for a little more subtlety in defence from the ever-committed striker, as he has given away 26 fouls this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, and only has a 28% tackle success rate.
On the other end of the spectrum defensively speaking, Jonas Olsson has been crucial to the Baggies hard-nosed approach to defending their goal this year. He’s made a squad-high 188 defensive contribution this season at a rate of one every 8.7 minutes.
Peter Odemwingie has been building on his growing reputation from the last few seasons again this year, quietly establishing himself as one of West Brom’s most important players. No one in the squad has provided more combined goals and assists this season, the Uzbekistani striker already racking up a total of 7 this campaign.
A superb individual display from Wesley Hoolahan helped Norwich to a 2-1 victory over Wigan last time out. A goal and an assist for Karl Pilkington from the Irish midfielder helped Chris Hughton’s side climb to seventh in the league in a performance which suggests they are ready to make the next step up in their level of performance.
Hoolahan’s goal last weekend was a timely reminder of just how important the Irish midfielder has been for Norwich this year. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s successfully completed 312 passes in the opponent’s half. Hoolahan is 4/1 at 888sport.com to build on this goal and score against West Brom on Saturday.
Bradley Johnson is well known for his combative nature and it is undoubtedly an integral part of his game and the value he brings to Norwich. However, one can imagine Chris Hughton asking him to tighten up some of his challenges given that he has so far conceded fouls on 37 occasions this season, at a rate of one every 42.6 minutes, and has only won 48% of his 60 challenges.
Defender Jonathan Howson’s form has been a key part of Norwich’s strong form this season. He’s committed to 27 tackles this season but has only conceded 6 fouls.
Robert Snodgrass has certainly been willing to try his luck in front of goal this season and has established a solid accuracy rate to complement it. His 59% accuracy rate is the third highest in the Norwich squad. Snodgrass is an industry best price of 6/1 at 888sport.com to score against the Baggies.
Striker Grant Holt revels in his role as the big front man who is able to draw the attention of defenders and free up space for his team mates. But he also knows exactly where the goal is and has quickly compiled an excellent shot-to-goal rate of 6.75 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Newcastle v QPR 15:00
Despite Demba Ba’s goal scoring efforts, Newcastle continue to slide perilously down the Premier League table after losing 3-1 reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in their last game.
Only Luis Suarez has had more effort at goal than Ba this season, with Suarez having had 85 shots and Ba 64. Ba’s on target percentage is exactly 50% compared to Suarez’s 52.9%, and Ba is the more dangerous finisher averaging 5.8 shots per goal compared to Suarez’s 8.5 shots per goal.
Papiss Cisse has been less fortunate in front of goal this season, but if you fancy him to break his run of bad form and score first on Saturday 888sport.com has him at an industry best price of 5/1.
You can’t fault the Magpies effort, as last week saw them move up to fourth in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for distance covered as a squad, with 1050.3 miles so far this season.
Jonas Gutierrez will be hoping for a change in fortunes as much as any Newcastle player, having played 1445 minutes without a goal or an assist. Only Joe Allen among the Premier League’s midfielders has played longer without either scoring or creating a goal this season.
QPR fans had cause for double celebration last weekend after a 2-1 win over Fulham gave them both their first win of the season and lifted them off the foot of the table.
Talented midfielder Adel Taarabt was the catalyst, scoring twice to give QPR the win they so desperately needed.
His goals clearly gave Taarabt a source of motivation as he went on to cover more ground for QPR than he has in any other game this season with 6.22 miles.
Taraabt now has four goals to his name this season, but has been peppering the opposition goal having had 50 shots at goal in total, including 30 on target, the tenth highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index
Dijbril Cisse also gave Fulham cause for discomfort, having 8 efforts at goal with 5 on target, the most by a player in the last round of games and the 8th highest of the season so far. He’s an industry best price of 7/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal.
Tottenham v Stoke 15:00
Jan Vertonghen has enjoyed life at Spurs this season, and maybe no moment more than the winner he scored last weekend against Swansea from Kyle Walker’s free kick.
That was Vertonghen’s first goal in the Premier League, and it had a sense of inevitability as Glen Johnson is the only defender to have had more efforts at goal than Vertonghen this season (Johnson has had 22 to Vertonghen’s 20)
Walker’s assist was his third of the season, having delivered 24 crosses and completed 267 passes in the opposition half this season. He’s 33/1 with 888sport.com to be first goalscorer today.
Stoke’s last game against Everton will be remembered more for Fellaini’s head but on Ryan Shawcross than for the football, but Kenwyne Jones will certainly be happy with the game after scoring his first goal in 28 Premier League matches.
It’s perhaps no wonder he has had to wait for a goal this season, as Jones has had to wait for opportunities at goal. He has had 9 shots at goal in 403 minutes of play this season, averaging one every 44 minutes 47 seconds, or just under one a half. Compare that to his opponent today, Jermaine Defoe has averaged a shot every 23 minutes 8 seconds, meaning he essentially gets twice as many chances for his time on the pitch as Jones.
Confidence is an amazing thing for strikers though, and 888sport.com have Jones at an industry best price of 7/2 to score against Spurs on Saturday.
Stoke covered 60.53 miles in the game against Everton, and have moved up to second place in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for distance covered as a squad with 1060.1 miles
Many coaches extol the benefit of having a player who can win the ball back for you in the attacking third, and Jonathan Walters has done more in this area than any other striker in the league this season. Walters has made 34 interceptions so far this season, more than any other forward player.
Matt Jarvis: The model of consistency out wide.
West Ham v Everton 15:00
West Ham have had some fine moments so far this season, but their 0-0 draw with West Brom last week may not make the highlights reel
Kevin Nolan has moved up to third in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for distance run so far this season 105.82 miles in total after 6.48 miles against West Brom. Nolan’s had a sensational start to the season, and 888sport.com have an industry best price of 15/2 on him scoring first this weekend.
James Collins has urged his team mates not to use injuries as an excuse, and the defender is certainly leading from the front (or back) as he has done more defensively that any West Ham player this season with 134 defensive contributions in total. That includes the joint second highest number of blocks in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with 20 and an impressive tackles won percentage of 76.9%.
Matt Jarvis joined West Ham in the summer for a club record transfer fee. Brought in for his crossing ability surely with a view to linking up with Andy Carroll, Jarvis has delivered 32 crosses at a rate of one every 34 minutes 30 seconds. His opponent today, Leighton Baines, has delivered more crosses than any other player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with 68 at a rate of one every 24 minutes 8 seconds.
Everton also settled for a draw last weekend, ending 1-1 with Stoke in a game that will be unfortunately remembered for Fellaini’s head butt on Ryan Shawcross which earned him a retrospective ban.
Sylvain Distin has spoken out since warning Fellaini about reacting to opponent’s and giving away fouls, and they would seem to be wise words as the Belgian midfielder has committed more fouls than any other player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with 40. Distin has conceded just 7 fouls this season, averaging 161 minutes between fouls, compared to Fellaini who averages 35 minutes 47 seconds between fouls, so the Belgian would do well to listen!
Shawcross had previously headed a Steven Pienaar cross into his own net to give Everton the lead. Pienaar’s cross was one of 20 he has delivered this season and his fifth credited assist of the season
Seamus Coleman won 8 tackles against Stoke, the joint highest of last weekend and the joint 4th highest of the season so far.
Kevin Mirallas will surely hope the goals start flowing soon. He has the best on target shooting ratio of the players to have had at least 30 shots this season (74.2%), but has just one Premier League goal to his name. With 23 shots on target and just 1 goal that means Mirallas alone has stung the palms of opposition keepers 22 times.
Liverpool v Fulham 17:30
Liverpool were left stunned by Aston Villa in their last game, coming away on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat. A consolation goal from captain Steven Gerrard was little more than that as Liverpool were left outclassed by Villa.
Gerrard has once again been proving this season that he is the complete midfielder, having delivered 63 crosses (highest among all midfielders), completed 513 passes in the opposition half (5th among midfielders), winning 69.7% of tackles and getting 61.5% of shots on target.
Saying that, Liverpool did not give Villa an easy ride, and Bradley Guzan put in the busiest goalkeeping performance of the season, being forced in to 16 saves by Liverpool during the game.
Joe Allen moved up to top spot in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index this week after 6.86 miles against Villa took his total for the season to 108.19. Goalscorer Steven Gerrard also moved up to fourth with his tally now at 105.55 miles.
Jonjo Shelvey had another two efforts at goal without scoring against Villa, taking him clear at the top of the rankings for most shots without a goal. Shelvey has now had 22 shots without a goal, with 63.6% on target, and 888sport.com has him as their second favourite for first goalscorer at 7/2.
Stewart Downing is looking likely to leave Liverpool in January after being given permission to do so by Brendan Rodgers. Downing is without a goal or assist in 504 minutes this season, but he is not the only Liverpool player needing a change in fortune. Joe Allen has played more minutes than any other midfielder without a goal or assist with 1606 minutes, and Jesus Fernandez Saez has the same title among the strikers with 441 minutes played without a goal or assist.
Fulham lost out to West London neighbours QPR in their last game, with a late goal by Mladen Petric not enough to earn them a point.
Petric’s goal moves him closer to the leagues most lethal goalscorers. His 6th goal of the season means Petric averages a goal every 121 minutes this season, just behind Javier Hernandez who has scored one every 87.8 minutes and Edin Dzeko who has scored one every 106.5 minutes. Petric is an industry best price of 10/3 with 888sport.com to score any time against Liverpool.
Liverpool will need to be at their best to get past the tacking skills of Fulham. Sascha Reither has the cleanest tackling rate in the league, making 42 tackles and giving away just 6 fouls, a rate of one foul every 7 tackles attempted. Reither also wins 78.5% of the tackles he attempts, meaning Stevie Gerrard may struggle to win the dangerous free kick opportunities he thrives on.
Steve Sidwell will also give Liverpool limited time on the ball, having won more tackles than any other player this season with 51 tackles won, from 90 attempted.
Sunday 23rd December
Ben Davies: One to watch.
Swansea v Man Utd 13:30
Swansea fell to a 0-1 defeat away to Tottenham last weekend, in a result that leaves them 10th in the Premier League table. The Swans showed flashes of their trademark creativity but were unable to carve out any definitive chances to help swing the match in their favour.
Michu remains joint top scorer in the league this season despite not finding the net against Tottenham. He has proven himself to be one of the bargain buys of the summer, quickly establishing himself as one of the most deadly finishers in the league, garnering a goal once every 129 minutes or once every 4 shots. Michu remains a fancied choice to score at 2/1 at 888sport.com against Utd.
Defender Ben Davies has quietly emerged as a dominant force in the Swansea defence this season. At only 19 years of age he has grasped his chance in the first team this year, establishing an 80% tackle success rate from 35 challenges, conceding only 7 fouls.
Many people are still wondering what Wayne Routledge has to do to earn an international call-up following his stellar form this season. He’s the second highest ranked English midfielder in the league for combined goals and assists with 8 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Michael Laudrup will be hoping to keep Jonathan de Guzman fit in the second half of the season, given how much the Canadian midfielder has already contributed to the Swans’ campaign this year. He has the highest total completed passes in the Swansea squad with 366, also providing 24 crosses and 4 assists.
Angel Rangel’s general defensive contribution for Swansea this season has been outstanding. The Spaniard has made more defensive interventions than any other Swansea player with 141 as well as successfully completing 64% of his tackles.
Ashley Williams has been many people’s pick for Swansea’s player of the season so far, with his exceptional reading of the game at the back helping to provide the platform for the midfielders to push forward. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index indicates he has intercepted the ball 102 times this season, as well as providing 22 blocks.
Manchester Utd strongly underlined their credentials for the title this year with a ruthless 3-1 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford. Goals from the Robin van Persie, Tom Cleverley and Wayne Rooney were more than enough for Utd to claim the victory, solidifying their place at the summit of the Premier League.
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted this week that even he is surprised by how quickly Robin van Persie continues to settle into his Man Utd side. The matured Dutch striker has registered six assists this season and has a fantastic record of a goal every 123 minutes this season. The flying Dutchman is a 10/11 price to score against Swansea at 888sport.com.
No striker in the Premier League has completed more passes in the opponent’s half than Wayne Rooney this season, his total of 371 marking him out as the special kind of forward who can easily integrate into his tram’s midfield as easy as he can poach goals.
Tom Cleverley has been continuing to slowly emerge as a real high quality performer in the Man Utd midfield. The EA SPORTS Player Performance has tracked him being successful in 68% of his 22 challenges, as well as completing 240 passes in the opponent’s half.
Javier Hernandez will be pushing for heavier involvement in the Utd team as the season progresses into 2013. He has proven to Sir Alex Ferguson that he has the ability to score despite limited starting opportunities given that he already has an excellent shots to goal ratio of 3 to 1. Hernandez is an industry-best price of 5/1 to score last against Swansea at 888sport.com.
Almost no one in the league will deliver as consistently as Antonio Valencia, the athletic winger once again topping the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for the Man Utd player to provide the most crosses with 37.
Chelsea v Aston Villa 16:00
Chelsea will be hoping to mark their return to the Premier League with a win, following their disappointment in the World Club Cup. They will be looking to pick up where they left off in the league where on their last outing they beat Sunderland 1-3 at the Stadium of Light. Fernando Torres’ continued his return to prominence with two goals and Rafa Benitez will be looking to his star striker to again deliver the goods this weekend.
Fernando Torres continues to shrug off the criticism that seems to always follow his play in recent months by compiling some truly excellent statistics. The Spanish striker appears to be approaching something close to his best again, racking up a 73% shot accuracy rate from 30 attempts, 6 goals and 5 assists.
In the absence of John Terry, David Luiz has been keen to step into Chelsea’s defensive talisman’s shoes. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s been throwing himself into his work this season, making 48 interceptions and 11 clearances.
Eden Hazard’s form may have dipped slightly since the start of the season but the Belgian magician has still be producing enough to see him joint top of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for assists with 10 as well as being Chelsea’s top dribbler with 19. Don’t count against Hazard getting on the scoresheet himself this weekend though, he’s 9/4 to score at 888sport.com.
Midfield maestro Juan Mata continues to be the fulcrum around which much of Chelsea’s play is centred. He’s successfully completed 472 passes in the opponent’s half this season and has provided 6 assists.
No Chelsea player has given away more fouls this season than John Obi Mikel with 26, and Rafa Benitez will be looking to his midfield enforcer to tighten up some of his more wayward challenges in the next half of the season.
Aston Villa produced a superb all-round performance as they dominated Brendan Rogers’ rising Liverpool side 1-3. An inspired Christian Benteke was too much for the Reds’ defence to handle as he helped himself to a brace, in between which he produced a sublime backheel to set up Andreas Weimann to slot home.
All the headlines were unsurprisingly about Christian Benteke on Sunday, as the Belgian striker produced yet another stunning performance against Liverpool. He is now undoubtedly Aston Villa’s primary goal threat and is relishing life in the Premier League. He’s has 46 attempts on goal this season, 79% of which have worked the keeper. He’s also 10/3 at 888sport.com to continue in this rich vein of form and score against Chelsea on Sunday.
Crucial to the win over Liverpool was the hard work put in off the ball by the likes of Ashley Westwood, who ran for a highly impressive 7.06 miles according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has now topped the Aston Villa distance charts now for a remarkable 8 games in a row.
He still has a little way to go thought before he moves ahead of Matthew Lowton for distance travelled for Villa this season. He’s on the verge of breaking through the magic 100 mile barrier as he currently sits on 98.19 miles.
If ever you needed evidence of what a captain who leads by example can do for a team, just take a look at Ron Vlaar. Aston Villa’s leader continues to pile up some remarkable defensive statistics according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Not only does he have a 74% success rate from his 31 attempted tackles, he’s also made 50 interceptions to boot.
Bradley Guzan remains one of the busiest keepers in the league as we move into the next round of fixtures. The Villa stopper has made 93 saves this season, being called into action on average once every 15.5 minutes.
