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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Saturday 2nd November
Newcastle vs Chelsea 12:45
Newcastle host Chelsea desperate to bounce back following a disappointing loss to arch-rivals Sunderland.
Newcastle could consider themselves unlucky to have lost the match against Sunderland, as they took double the number of shots and had more possession than their Noth East rivals. Yohan Cabaye may feel particularly aggrieved not to have hit the back of the net, as according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he took 6 shots against the Black Cats – the second most in the league. You can find Cabaye at 5/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time on Saturday
Cheick Tiote has recently been handed the armband by manager Alan Pardew, and he vindicated this decision by leading from the front against Sunderland. In addition to completing more tackles than any other Newcastle player on Sunday, he also made 4 interceptions – the most in the Geordie squad.
Mathieu Debuchy managed to net his first goal for the Magpies on Sunday. Fortunately for him, however, he is predominantly judged on his defensive ability – and so far this season this has been top drawer. Of the 33 challenges he has attempted, Debuchy has won a staggering 82% of them.
Vurnon Anita has conceded that a lack of playing time might hinder his chances of going to next year’s World Cup, with Alan Pardew favouring the partnership of Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye. Anita, however, might point to his passing statistics as a reason for a recall. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that the Dutchman has completed a pass in the opposition half on average every 3.3 minutes this season.
A last minute winner from striker Fernando Torres handed Jose Mourinho’s men all three points against Manchester City last Sunday. It was a just reward for the frontman, as according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he took 5 shots on Sunday – more than any other Chelsea player. Torres is 23/5 with 888sport.com to score at any time on Saturday.
Torres may have hit the headlines with his last minute strike, but the performance of Petr Cech should not be overlooked. Chelsea’s shotstopper kept Mourinho’s men in the game, completing 5 saves – the second most in the league. With Thibaut Courtois due to return from a loan stint with Athletico Madrid next season, Mourinho may have a tough selection decision on his hands.
Ashley Cole will know that to retain the left back slot for England he will have to continue producing world class displays, as he has the pretender Leighton Baines breathing down his neck. The Chelsea man showed no signs of rustiness in his comeback from injury as he completed 8 tackles against Manchester City – the third most in the league.
The decision to replace talisman Frank Lampard with defensive midfielder John Obi Mikel may have greeted with scepticism by many Chelsea fans on Sunday, but Mikel’s ability to keep things ticking in the centre of the pitch proved to be inspirational. Mikel completed a pass in Manchester City’s half every 1.6 minutes after he was introduced.
Hull vs Sunderland 15:00
A contentious penalty scored by Roberto Soldado condemned Hull to a defeat at White Hart Lane, and they welcome a Sunderland team buoyed by their victory over arch-rivals Newcastle.
Steve Bruce was incensed by Michael Oliver’s decision to award Tottenham a penalty, particularly as his team had defended so resolutely for the vast majority of the game. Steve Harper has a right to feel particularly aggrieved by the result, as he made 5 saves against Tottenham – the second most in the league.
The Irish FA have been making enquiries into the eligibility of defender Curtis Davies, following a series of outstanding displays this term, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights why they are so desperate to add him to their ranks. The Hull man has made 146 defensive contributions this season (based on clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles) which is more than any other player in the league.
Ahmed Elmohamady is a new arrival at the KC Stadium, arriving on a permanent deal this Summer. Although usually renowned for his attacking prowess, the winger has showcased excellent defensive awareness this term as he has completed 20 interceptons – more than any other Hull player. Elmohamady is 18/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time on Saturday.
Stephen Quinn has been used sporadically by Steve Bruce this term, only featuring in 192 minutes of the campaign thus far. However, in this time, he has demonstrated his eye for a pass as he has completed a pass in the opposition half every 4.6 minutes.
Fabio Borini’s fine strike guided the Black Cats to victory over arch-rivals Newcastle on Sunday.
One of the first moves Gus Poyet made when taking the reins at Sunderland was to bring defender Phil Bardsley back into the fold, and the former Mancheser United man rewarded him with a terrific performance against the Magpies. Bardsley completed 8 challenges against Newcastle – the third most in the league.
Another player who Gus Poyet will be looking to revitalise is winger Adam Johnson. The silky winger has only shown glimpses of his best form since arriving at Sunderland, and Mackems will be hoping that Gus Poyet can weave his magic again. Johnson has, however, managed to swing in more crosses than any other Sunderland player this season, crossing the balls 11 times. Johnson is an industry best 5/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time on Saturday.
John O’Shea’s experience could be vital for Sunderland as they look to move away from the relegation zone. The former Manchester United man is the eldest player in the Sunderland squad, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that he has used all of this experience to ensure that he is in the right position at the right time. O’Shea has cleared the ball 52 times this season – more than any other player in the Sunderland ranks.
– In his short time in charge, Gus Poyet has appeared keen to pick more of the British players who are on the Sunderland books, with players such as Lee Cattermole, and Phil Bardsley coming back into the fold. One player who has remained constant throughout both Di Canio’s and Poyet’s tenures has been midfielder Jack Colback, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights why both managers have been so keen to pick the Sunderland academy ace. Colback has made 15 interceptions so far this term, which is more than any other Sunderland player.
Stoke vs Southampton
Mark Hughes’ return to Old Trafford wasn’t a happy one, as despite a spirited display, the Potters lost 3-2 to the champions.
Manchester United could barely get a look-in in the first half on Saturday, with Robin Van Persie’s equalizer coming out of absolutely nothing. This could, in part, be attributed to the performance of Robert Huth. The German produced a stellar display on Saturday clearing the ball 12 times – the third most clearances in the league.
Huth has been a rock at the back for Stoke all season, with his tackling being particularly impressive. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that he has completed an impressive 83% of his challenges this season.
Stoke have found it difficult to hit the back of the net this season, scoring just 6 goals all season, so it has been fortunate for Mark Hughes that his defence have maintained a high standard of performance. Erik Pieters in particular has excelled for Mark Hughes’ team, making 101 defensive contributions (based on clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles).
When examining the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, it is unsurprising to see why Stoke have struggled for goals this season, as no Stoke forward has managed to hit the target with more than half their shots. Peter Crouch has the best accuracy record, hitting the target with half of his attempts. Crouch is 11/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Full back Geoff Cameron has shown his attacking intent for Stoke so far this term, frequently bombing down the right flank. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights his effectiveness, as he has completed 14 dribbles – more than any other player in the Stoke team.
Southampton continued their outstanding start to the season with an impressive 2-0 victory at home to Fulham.
Southampton’s academy has been a much discussed topic over recent weeks, with fans and neutrals alike applauding their enthusiasm to bring through homegrown talent. Two starlets have been skipper Adam Lallana, and teenager James Ward-Prowse, and both were impressive again against Fulham on Saturday, with the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlighting that they completed a pass in the opposition half every 2.2 and 2.3 minutes respectively. James Ward-Prowse is 17/2 with 888sport.com to score at any time on Saturday.
Another young English talent who has been impressing for Southampton is Jay Rodriguez. Mauricio Pochettino has utilized his dribbling ability by deploying him on the left wing, encouraging him to take his full back on and either cross the ball from the byline, or cut inside to take a shot. The strategy appeared to be a success against Fulham, as the former Burnley man completed 5 dribbles – the second most in the league.
The emergence of Callum Chambers has put pressure on Nathaniel Clyne to up his game, as he could soon find himself out of the side. Clyne, however, has responded to the challenge in some fashion – particularly in the tackling department. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that he has attempted 31 tackles, and has been successful in 88% of them.
A vital cog in the Southampton machine is the role played by midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who sits in the centre of the park dictating the tempo of play. It is not just his passing where he excels, but his tackling too, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that the central midfielder has completed 51 tackles this term – the fourth most in the league.
West Ham vs Aston Villa
Both West Ham and Aston Villa enter this fixture looking to improve on indifferent starts to their respective seasons.
West Ham held Swansea to a 0-0 draw last Sunday, extending their impressive defensive record away from home. Winston Reid must take some of the credit for this as, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Kiwi made 5 interceptions against the Swans – the fourth most in the league.
Mark Noble is a creative lynchpin in the West Ham midfield, and he was pulling the strings for the Hammers again on Saturday completing 22 passes in Swansea’s half. So far this term, Noble has completed 208 passes in the opposition half – more than any of his teammates.
The signing of Stewart Downing looked to be a shrewd move by Sam Allardyce, as he has an undeniable quality when it comes to delivering the ball. So it is perhaps unsurprising that the England man tops the West Ham crossing charts with 11. Downing is 13/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time on Saturday.
Slightly more surprising, however, is that Mohammed Diame has completed the most dribbles for West Ham – completing 20.
Ivory Coast full back Guy Demel has made 7 appearances so far this season for West Ham, and has proved to be defensively astute in each of them. The former Arsenal man has been showcasing his excellent tackling ability, as the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that his tackle success rate is over 93%.
Aston Villa succumbed to a disappointing home defeat to Everton, with Tim Howard saving a penalty from Christian Benteke.
Andreas Weimann may feel slightly at fault for Aston Villa’s inability to hit the back on Saturday, as the talented Austrian took 5 shots but failed to hit the target once. If you fancy Weimann to improve his fortunes against West Ham head over to 888sport.com as he is 8/1 to score the first goal of the match.
Nathan Baker is a young Englishman who Aston Villa have high hopes for, with the West Midlands club offering him a new deal in May of this year. The defender was willing to put his body on the line against Everton as he made 3 blocks – the second most in the league.
He may have missed a penalty for the Villains on Saturday, but the return of Christian Benteke will be a real boost for Aston Villa as they have certainly missed his shooting ability. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that the Belgian has taken 14 shots this season, hitting the target in an impressive 71% of his efforts.
As we approach the quarter-way point in the season it is interesting to see the players that Paul Lambert sees as the core of his team. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that Fabian Delph, Brad Guzan and Ron Vlaar are the only players in the Villa squad who have played in every minute of every Premier League match this season.
Fulham vs Manchester Utd
A tough fixture on the south coast saw Fulham fall to a 2-0 defeat against Southampton in a result that put the pressure back on manager Martin Jol. Fulham face an ever sterner test this weekend as they welcome Manchester United to Craven Cottage.
While his season may come to be defined by his wonder strike again Crystal Palace last week, Patjim Kasami has been proving his worth in the Fulham midfield this season to complement his now clearly evident attacking talents. The Swiss international has completed an excellent 78.1% of his 32 attempted challenges this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Scott Parker continues to be another central figure in the middle of the park for Fulham this season. The former Tottenham man continues to be a superb summer addition for Martin Jol’s side, leading the Fulham squad as he does for passes completed in the opponent’s half with 170. He’s also done so at a squad-best average rate of one every 3.22 minutes.
Often overshadowed by his slightly more well-known striker colleagues, Bryan Ruiz has been integral to Fulham’s attack this season. The Costa Rican striker leads the Fulham squad for assists with 3 so far this campaign, as well as last weekend breaking through the 100-successful pass in the opponent’s half barrier, now sitting on 104. Ruiz is 6/1 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Steve Sidwell is one of the few rivals to Brede Hangeland as Fulham’s most influential defensive force this season, so far racking up 74 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, interceptions, clearances) in this campaign. Only Hangeland can boast more with 77.
Man Utd showed real grit and a desire to fight for the win last weekend as they from behind twice to pull a 3-2 victory from the jaws of defeat. This could well be the result which gets their season back on track and David Moyes will be keen to see his side capitalise on their newfound momentum this weekend.
Wayne Rooney has been leading from the front this season for Utd, playing a major role in helping Utd over the line in some tough fixtures. So far England’s talisman has the best shot accuracy rate of any player in the league to have had more than 20 attempts on goal, with 61.9% of his 21 attempts testing the opposition keeper. Rooney is an industry best 13/10 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Michael Carrick continues to set the bar incredibly high when it comes to the quality expected of a Manchester United midfielder. He leads the way on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for interceptions with 39, as well as completing a superb 384 total passes in the opponent’s half, also a league-leading figure.
Captain Patrice Evra may be beginning to think about the final stage of his career, but at 32 he clearly still has plenty to offer the Utd cause. His forays up the left flank have not been diminished by advancing football years and he ranks 3rd on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for crosses delivered with 12, registering 2 assists along the way.
Many Manchester Utd fans were unhappy with Nani’s displayed last weekend, the Portuguese winger looking far from his lethal best. Nani actually had the joint second highest number of off-target attempts on goal of any player in the league last weekend (4) and didn’t manage to register any efforts on-target.
Manchester City vs Norwich
A calamity at the back saw Manchester City lose out on a deserved point as they collapsed in the final minutes and saw their fixture with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge end in a 2-1 defeat. Sergio Aguero’s goal was a strike to light up any match but his manager will be keen to see a better end result from his side this weekend.
Despite playing a large role in the goal which gifted Chelsea all three points at the weekend, Matija Nastasic has largely been a largely able deputy for captain Vincent Kompany in his absence. The Serbian has a very solid 80% tackle success rate from 15 attempted challenges in the league this season.
Aguero’s goal summed up his contribution for City so far this season, the diminutive Argentinean being his side’s leading player on so many occasions. His current shot accuracy rate stands at 80% from 20 attempts on goal according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
His contribution has been even more important due to the somewhat disappointing shooting statistics on the part of the rest of his colleagues. Aside from Aguero, no City player who has had more than 12 shots on goal has a shot accuracy rate of higher than 59%. Aguero is 8/11 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Pablo Zabaleta continues to be his side’s most consistent all-round performer this season. The left-back has maintained his excellent early season form and currently has a 84.4% tackle success rate from 45 attempted challenges.
Despite a host of opportunities, Norwich played out a 0-0 draw with Cardiff last time out. Chris Hughton will need his side to be far more clinical this weekend if they are to get anything out of this weekend when they face one of the Premier League’s heavyweights.
Norwich fans will be sweating on the fitness of Robert Snodgrass this weekend, given the prominent role the Scottish international has played in their season so far. On average he’s completed a pass in the opponent’s half once every 3.74 minutes he’s been on the pitch this season.
The sportsmanship of Leroy Fer was called into question following his controversial goal against Cardiff but Norwich fans will tell you his strike was due to his competitive nature and will to win. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index certainly supports this argument, as no Norwich player can top Fer’s total of 37 attempted tackles so far this season.
Gary Hooper has been a solid addition to the Norwich attack, translating his excellent form for Celtic into some very solid attacking stats for the Canaries. He so far has the best shot accuracy rate of any Norwich player according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, with 75% of his 4 attempts on goal finding the target. Hooper is 19/4 to score at any time with 888sport.com this weekend.
West Brom vs Crystal Palace
A scintillating attacking display from Liverpool saw West Brom on the wrong end of a heavy 4-1 defeat at Anfield last weekend, a solitary James Morrison penalty providing scant consolation for Steve Clarke’s men.
Youssuf Mulumbu is supposedly attracting the attention of other Premier League teams ahead of the January transfer window, an unsurprising fact given his solid form of late. He’s completed more passes in the opponent’s half than any other West Brom player, with 231 to his name so far this season.
Morgan Amalfitano continues to shine this season, and not just with the ball at his feet. He’s won 70% of his 10 attempted challenges according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
James Morrison managed to bag a consolation penalty at Anfield, yet his shooting has actually been somewhat below his usually high standards so far this season. Only 30% of his 10 shots this season have worked the goalkeeper and no doubt Steve Clarke will be looking for him to get back to his usual sharp form should he feature this weekend. Morrison is 13/4 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Centre-half Jonas Olsson continues to rank among the best defenders in the league according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He currently sits 2nd in the league for clearances with 89.
Apparently galvanized by Ian Holloway’s departure, Crystal Palace turned in a solid display against Arsenal and will have felt unlucky to come away with nothing after a 0-2 defeat.
Midfielder Mile Jedinak has impressed many this season with his physical style of play and he very nearly got himself on the scoresheet with a sweetly struck effort against Arsenal. He so far leads the Palace squad, and ranks 5th in the league overall, for total defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, clearances, interceptions) with 118.
Palace fans will be looking for a more disciplined performance from Adiene Guedioura should he feature this weekend. The Algerian international conceded the joint second highest number of fouls in the league last weekend with 4 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, including the crucial mistimed tackle on Serge Gnabry which led to Mikel Arteta’s penalty.
Damien Delaney signed a contract extension this week, unsurprising given his great form recently. No player in the last round of fixtures made more interceptions that Delaney’s 9 against Arsenal.
Despite his recent dip in form, Jason Puncheon has still been one of Crystal Palace’s most effective attackers this season, leading the squad as he does total attacking contributions (shots on goal, assists, dribbles, crosses) with 21. Puncheon is 11/2 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Arsenal vs Liverpool
A Mikel Arteta penalty and an Olivier Giroud header were enough to see off a reenergised Crystal Palace and secure a 2-0 win to keep Arsenal’s league momentum on full throttle.
Olivier Giroud’s goal last weekend was just reward for the workrate of the big Frenchman who always seems poised to challenge for every ball and works hard to get himself in the right areas. Only a member of the opposing team this weekend, Daniel Sturridge, has had more attempts on goal this season than Giroud, with the Frenchman currently sitting on 27. Giroud is 23/17 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
For all of Santi Cazorla’s superb attacking qualities, it’s clear that defending does not come naturally to him, a fact which increases the importance of having someone like Mathieu Flamini to shield the back four. So far the Spanish maestro has won just 18.1% of his 22 challenges this term, placing him 5th for tackles lost on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Mesut Ozil remains, unsurprisingly, one of the most effective users of the ball in the league this season. Arsenal’s record summer signing has completed an excellent 288 passes in the opponent’s half since joining the Gunners, at an average rate of just one every 1.8 minutes which places him 2nd in the league for players to have completed 200 passes or more (1st – David Silva).
Any one playing at the top end of the pitch for Arsenal should have their eye on getting on the scoresheet given the huge talent available in this Gunner’s squad. Arsenal have 3 out of the top 5 ranked players for assists this season, with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud all sitting in joint 1st position with 4 assists apiece (others two positions occupied by Sergio Ageuro and Wayne Rooney).
A quite superb hat-trick performance from Luis Suarez, combine with an excellent finish from Daniel Sturridge, helped Liverpool take apart West Brom 4-1 at Anfield last weekend.
Daniel Sturridge continued his highly confident run of form against the Baggies last weekend, scoring with a quite sublime second-half chip. He currently ranks second on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for total shots on target with 15.
Unsurprisingly though, Luis Suarez was the most on-form striker in the league in the last round of fixtures, managing to rack up an impressive 5 shots on target throughout the course of the game against West Brom. Suarez is 16/11 to score at any time with 888sport.com this weekend.
Reds midfielder Jordan Henderson gained plenty of plaudits after the West Brom game, and rightly so given the calibre of his performance and willingness to do the dirty work for his team. So far the young Englishman has won an excellent 83.9% of his 31 attempted challenges, conceding just 9 fouls along the way.
Marti Skrtel has battled to regain a starting position at the back for Liverpool and has compiled some impressive statistics on his way to impressing Brendan Rodgers. He ranks second on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for total blocks with 12 and has so far successfully completed 83.3.% of his 12 attempted challenges.
3rd November
Everton vs Tottenham Sunday 13:45
Everton host Tottenham in a mouthwatering clash at Goodison Park, with both teams looking to pick up points against one of their contenders for a European spot.
Romelu Lukaku scored the first goal on Saturday, and proved to be a thorn in Villa’s side all afternoon. In addition to his impressive work-rate, Lukaku was a menace in front of goal, taking 4 shots and hitting the target in an impressive 75% of them.
James McCarthy is a new arrival on Merseyside, joining Everton from Wigan on transfer deadline day. He has made an impressive start to life at Goodison Park, with his excellent passing ability suiting Roberto Martinez’ poession-based style of play perfectly. Against Villa, however, he demonstrated his ability to do the dirty work too as he completed 8 tackles – the third most in the league.
Former England manager Fabio Capello referred to Phil Jagielka as ‘The General’ during his tenure in charge of the national team, and he demonstrated his outstanding ability to marshal the defence against Aston Villa. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that the former Sheffield United man completed 14 clearances against Villa – the second most in the league.
There aren’t many criticisms that can be leveled at Toffee left back Leighton Baines, but occasionally his defensive ability has been questioned. This season, however, the former Wigan man has made a mockery of this criticisms – as he has completed 89% of his tackles this term. Considering Baines’ outstanding ability from set pieces, it is surprising to see that 888sport.com have him at 18/1 to score the first goal of the game on Sunday.
A Roberto Soldado penalty handed Spurs the three points against Hull.
Spurs struggled to break Hull down on Sunday, but the man of the moment Andros Townsend was still causing havoc with his marauding runs down the right flank. Townsend completed 8 dribbles against the Tigers – more than anyone else in the league.
Lewis Holtby played 60 minutes against Hull, but in this time he demonstrated his ability to thread a pass. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he managed to complete a pass in Hull’s at half every 1.5 minutes.
Kyle Walker’s battle with Glen Johnson for England’s number 2 shirt is one that will excite England fans, as both will be desperate to hold the jersey by the time the World Cup comes around. Kyle Walker’s offensive ability may just get him the nod – with the former Sheffield United man making 44 defensive contributions on Saturday (based on crosses, passes in the opposition half, shots and dribbles). This was the second most of any defender in the league.
Paulinho has made an impressive start to life on White Hart Lane, becoming a mainstay of the Tottenham midfield. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that the Brazilian has been contributing at both ends of the pitch, registering the most shots for Spurs this season, in addition to completing the most tackles. You can find Paulinho at 23/2 888sport.com to score the final goal on Sunday.
Cardiff vs Swansea 16:00
Another stellar performance from Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall kept his side in the game as they battled to a 0-0 draw away to Norwich last weekend and a point that will have pleased Malkay Mackay after a resilient display.
In a stat which proves the value of Marshall to this Cardiff side, the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has made more saves than any other ‘keeper in the league so far this season with 44, a full 10 stops ahead of his nearest rival in Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet. No doubt his manager would prefer him to get even more protection from his defence though and eventually slip down that ranking.
Steven Caulker could be doing little more to help his side though given the level of commitment he has shown so far this term. He ranks first on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for total blocks with 18.
You can tell just how much Norwich pressed the Cardiff goal last weekend from Ben Turner’s stats alone. No player in the last round of fixtures can top his clearances than his 17 against the Canaries.
Guy Medel continues to prove himself to be a very smart summer acquisition for Malkay Mackay’s side this season, the Chilean international quickly compiling an impressive tackle success rate of 70.9% from 31 attempted challenges. Cardiff fans will be hoping his aggressive attitude will stand them in good stead in what will no doubt be an intense Welsh derby on Sunday.
Swansea fans had to settle for a point as they saw their side’s fixture against West Ham end in a 0-0 draw. It was a match of few clear opportunities, a fact not helped by extremely rainy conditions at the Liberty Stadium.
Nathan Dyer isn’t necessarily known for his defensive work, being more noted for his work with the ball at his feet. However the Swans midfielder still has a sterling defensive record according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index this season, successfully completing 73.3% of his 15 attempted challenges.
Defender Chico Flores remains the Swans’ most enthusiastic defender though, racking up 22 attempted challenges this season, completing 72.7% of them. Swansea will need him to be an his best this weekend in what will no doubt be a highly charged atmosphere at Cardiff.
Wilfired Bony has struggled for starts this season despite being the club’s record signing. His confidence may have taken something of a knock in recent weeks as his shot accuracy rate is somewhat lower than you would expect for a player of his ability, with Bony managing to get just 55.5% of his 18 shots on target so far this term. Bony is 23/17 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Despite not perhaps quite hitting the incredible heights that he managed last season, Michu has nonetheless been an important attacking force for the Swans this term. He’s made the joint highest, along with Nathan Dyer, number of attacking contributions (shots on goal, assists, dribbles, crosses) in the Swansea squad, with 26 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.