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.
Saturday 14th December
Manchester City vs Arsenal 12:45
A spectacular equaliser from Dani Osvaldo saw Manchester City held to a point against Southampton last time out after an early strike from Sergio Ageuro.
Aguero remains the league’s joint most accurate shooter according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, have racked up an excellent 30 on target attempts on goal so far this season. Only Liverpool’s Luis Suarez can match him in this regard. You can find Aguero at 13/12 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
The brilliant Argentinean was uncharacteristically wayward last weekend though, seeing 50% of his 6 shots against fail to test the ‘keeper according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Dominant thought they have undoubtedly been at times this season, Manchester City could still use a little more defensive nous in the centre of their midfield. Fernandinho (27) and Yaya Toure (25) rank second and third in the league respectively for tackles lost this season.
Toure however remains a major part of why City have dominated so effectively at the Etihad this term though. Last weekend he passed yet another another milestone as he became the first player in the league to complete more than 600 passes in the opponent’s half this season.
A pulsating encounter at the Emirates on Sunday saw Arsenal draw 1-1 with Everton last time out. The Gunners were unsettled in the first half against the Toffees thanks to some slick football from Roberto Martinez’s men but Mesut Ozil’s composed finish was enough to see them extend their lead at the top of the table to five points.
This weekend will see a battle of two of the league most consistent attacking threats this season when Aaron Ramsey and Sergio Aguero line up against each other at the Etihad. Whilst Aguero has been prolific, Ramsey has been more efficient in his use of the balls in attacking situations. Ramsey has an overall shot accuracy rate of 70% from 30 attempts, compare to Aguero’s 58.9% from 51 attempts. Ramsey is 4/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
The title ‘King of the Assist’ might weigh heavily on some players, but most are not blessed with the skill of Mesut Ozil. The German has probably not been at his best in recent weeks but has still fitted seamlessly into Arsenal’s attacking patterns. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s already made the joint highest number of assists in the league this season with 7.
Arsenal’s point against Everton was in large part thanks to the outstanding defensive display of Laurent Koscielny who held their backline together against a Toffees side which dominated for large parts of the game. The Frenchman once again showcased his superb reading of the game with 8 interceptions on Sunday, the highest of any player in the league during the last round.
Able understudy though Carl Jenkinson undoubtedly is, Gunners fans will no doubt be keen to see Bacary Sagna back fit and firing as soon as possible after some sterling early season displays from the French rightback. He currently has the best overall tackle success rate of any Arsenal player, winning an excellent 85.7% of the 14 challenges he has committed to this season.
Cardiff vs West Brom 15:00
Cardiff will be looking to end their run of 5 matches without a win when they host West Brom this Saturday.
Cardiff succumbed to a 2-0 loss against Crystal Palace in the last round of Premier League fixtures, but the scoreline could have been far worse if it wasn’t for the performance of Steven Caulker. The former Tottenham man has been in scintillating form this term, and he was imperious again on Saturday making a total of 19 clearances – this was more than any other player in the league.
Cardiff’s problems this season have predominantly emanated from their failure to hit the back of the net, despite having the chances to do so. Malky Mackay has claimed that he isn’t worried by his sides problems in front of goal, as he feels that the goals will eventually start flowing – and with a player such as Gary Medel in the side, it is unsurprising that Mackay is so confident. Although primarily a defensive midfielder, Medel can play a pinpoint pass and this skill of his was on show against Crystal Palace as he completed a pass in the opposition half at an impressive rate of a pass every 3.6 minutes. Medel is 13 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Consistent selection is almost a prerequisite for a strong centre half pairing, as it allows time for the players to gel, and understand the way that each other play. By examining the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, it appears that Malky Mackay adheres to this philosophy as both Ben Turner and Steven Caulker have featured in every minute of the campaign so far.
If his crossing is anything to go by, Kevin Theophile-Catherine has adapted to the Premier League with consummate ease. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he has swung in 14 crosses this term – the second most of any defender in the league.
Goals from Gary Hooper and Leroy Fer condemned West Brom to a 2-0 home defeat to Norwich on Saturday. It was particularly disappointing for the Baggies as they boasted an impressive 64% of possession, and took an incredible 26 shots.
Nearly a fifth of these shots came from striker Victor Anichebe who took 5 shots but failed to find the back of the net. The Nigerian will be particularly frustrated by the performance of John Ruddy as 4 of these shots were on target, but the England keeper managed to keep them all out.
Stephane Sessegnon made the move to the Hawthorns to reignite his career, after a disappointing final season at Sunderland. The Beninese midfielder has always had great technical ability, and has always operated effectively when playing in the position just behind the front man. His passing has been a key attribute throughout his career, and it was outstanding again on Saturday as he completed 45 passes in the opposition half. This was the fifth most in the league. Sessegnon is an industry best 19/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Sessegnon’s passing has been a joy to behold all season as he has completed a pass in the opposition half at a rate of a pass every 3.7 minutes. This, however, doesn’t put him top of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, as Youssuf Mulumbu has completed a pass every 3.4 minutes.
On the back of his performances so far this term, West Brom fans will be hoping that they’re able to sign Morgan Amalfitano on a permanent basis. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that he has swung in a total of 18 crosses this season – this is 12 more than any of his teammates.
Everton vs Fulham
In one of the performances of the season, Everton drew 1-1 at the Emirates on Sunday, and if anything were unlucky and disappointed to do so.
Everton’s outstanding performance on Saturday was most evident in the fact that they boasted more possession than Arsenal, which is almost unheard of from the away side at the Emirates. Central midfielder Gareth Barry was integral to this, as he completed 40 passes in Arsenal’s half – this was more passes than any other player on the pitch.
Ross Barkley was many pundits ‘man of the match’ on Sunday, as he underlined his limitless potential with an incredibly impressive offensive display. This was probably most evident in his rate of passes in the opposition half, as according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he completed a pass in Arsenal’s half every 2.5 minutes. Barkley is 19/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Ross Barkley’s dribbling was also outstanding against Arsenal, with many pundits comparing him favourably to Paul Gascoigne in his pomp. Barkley’s dribbling has been first class all season, as he has completed a total of 38 dribbles – this is the third most in the league.
Many Evertonians were cursing their luck when Leighton Baines broke his toe in the Merseyside derby, an injury that is set to keep him out for 6 weeks. However, they will have been pleasantly surprised by the impact that his replacement Bryan Oviedo has had since he’s been given a chance in the first team. Prior to facing the Gunners he had scored two goals in two games, including the winner at Old Trafford, but it was at the other end of the pitch that he really made his mark on Sunday. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he won every tackle he attempted on Sunday.
Rene Meulensteen recorded his first victory as Fulham manager, as the Cottagers overcame Aston Villa 2-1 to register all three points.
Dimitar Berbatov was instrumental for the Cottagers as he appeared to be hitting top form again. He was busy, always looking for the ball, and scored a penalty to top off an impressive all-round performance. He also demonstrated his ability to hit the target, as the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he forced the keeper into action with 80% of his efforts.
One of the first moves that Meulensteen has made since taking the job has been to bring winger Ashkan Dejagah back into the fold, and the Iranian has been a standout performer since his return. He followed up a goal against Tottenham with an impressive all-round offensive performance against Villa where he made 48 attacking contributions (based on shots, crosses, passes in the opposition half and dribbles). This was more than any other player in the Fulham squad.
Fulham have Phillippe Senderos to thank for keeping Villa at bay on Sunday, as he made a total of 20 defensive contributions (based on blocks, interceptions, clearances and tackles won). This was more than any other Fulham player.
West Ham vs Sunderland
Manager Sam Allardyce has bemoaned his team’s lack of luck in recent weeks as the Hammers continue their unfortunate slide down the table. They host Sunderland in a game that can only be described as a ‘relegation six-pointer’.
If West Ham are to pull away from the relegation battle they will need their more senior players to use all of their experience, lead from the front and stand up and be counted. Although he was on the wrong side of a 4-1 defeat the weekend, James Collins certainly showed his commitment to the cause and his fantastic tackling ability, as he was successful in 5 of the 7 challenges he attempted.
Manager Sam Allardyce will have been frustrated by side’s inability to hold onto the ball on Saturday, as they only managed 36% of possession against Liverpool. One player who remained assured when the ball was at his feet was central midfielder Mark Noble. The academy graduate has been a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing season for the Hammers, showcasing his outstanding passing ability time and time again. This ability was evident again on Saturday as he completed an impressive 21 passes in the opposition half – this was 10 more than any of his teammates.
West Ham fans have been critical of skipper Kevin Nolan’s performances recently and their frustration will have been compounded by the skipper’s reckless challenge on Saturday that fully warranted the red card shown. The former Newcastle man, however, can point to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index when justifying his continued inclusion in the team, as it shows that he has made 4 goalscoring contributions (based on goals and assists). This may not sound much, but only Ravel Morrison has made more (5) in the West Ham squad.
Carlton Cole has been working hard to get his match fitness up to the required level to ensure he can start games from the off, and West Ham fans will be hoping that he can be up and running in no time at all, due to his ability to hit the target. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights that Carlton Cole has forced the keeper into making a save with every shot that he has had.
Despite taking the lead against Spurs, Sunderland succumbed to a 2-1 loss to leave them rooted to the bottom of the table.
Steven Fletcher will be integral to the Black Cats’ hopes of staying in the division, as he is undoubtedly a match winner. Unusually, considering his exceptionally high standards, his shooting was slightly wayward on Saturday as he failed to hit the target with any of the shots that he attempted.
Sebastien Larsson will be another player that Gus Poyet will look to rely on this season when identifying which players will lead the fight against relegation. The Swede is an established international, racking up over 60 caps and he has been a consistent performer for Sunderland over the last couple of seasons. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he was an impressive performer on Saturday, as he made a total of 25 attacking contributions (based on crosses, passes in the opposition half, dribbles and shots). This was more than any other Sunderland player. Larsson is 6/1 with 888sport.com to score at anytime on Saturday.
Phillip Bardsley has undergone something of a rejuvenation since Gus Poyet brought him back into the first team, and has been arguably their standout player in this period. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights how effective he has been, as it shows that he has attempted 31 challenges and won 27 of them.
Adam Johnson scored the opening goal on Saturday to open his account for the season. This is a disappointing statistic for such a talented player, but fortunately for Sunderland, the Middlesborough-born man has been excelling in other offensive areas as he has made 238 attacking contributions this term – more than any other Sunderland player.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
Chelsea were shocked at the Britannia last weekend despite a fine display from Andre Schurrle which saw him grab a brace. Mourinho’s men could not convert this into points though after a last-minute screamer from the Potters saw the Blues return to London empty-handed.
Eden Hazard continues to flourish under Jose Mourinho, his manager apparently intent on building his side around young attacking talent like Hazard and Oscar. The young Belgian has clearly responded to this obvious show of faith given that he’s made more attacking contributions (assists, crosses, dribbles, shots on goal) that an other Blues player this term, with 87 to his name.
Andre Schurrle’s double was a just reward for a talented player who has struggled slightly to find some of his best form since arriving in England. The German has so far only managed a 37.5% shot accuracy rate from 16 attempts on goal but with the confidence of his two well taken goals at the weekend it’s very likely this will vastly improve in the coming weeks. Schurrle is 18/10 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Oscar continues to respond well to Jose Mourinho’s desire to see more all-round efforts from his players. The talented playmaker has been excelling in the defensive side of work, winning a hugely impressive 78.6% of his 42 attempted challenges this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Midfield colleague Ramires continues to lead the way for overall passing contributions for the Blues this term. Last weekend he became the first player in the Chelsea squad to surpass the 400-barrier for passes completed in the opponent’s half, with his total now sitting at 406. This mean’s he’s completed one on average once every 3.33 minutes he’s been the pitch this season.
Tony Pulis continued his impressive start at the helm of Crystal Palace as the Eagles secured a 2-0 win over Cardiff thanks to goals from Cameron Jerome and Marouane Chamakh.
Newly promoted sides are always tested defensively when they join a division as tough as the Premier League and Palace’s fortunes have been no different. Damien Delaney has certainly stepped up to the plate though and he currently sits joint third in the league for total defensive contributions (blocks, tackles won, interceptions, clearances) with 195.
Mile Jedinak continues to display the kind of form which will make Eagles fans glad he’s just committed his future with a new deal. Their Aussie skipper ranks joint third on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for total tackles won, with a stellar 56 to his name.
Jedinak’s smooth reading of them game also sees him rank top of the league for interceptions this season, racking up 53 this term. He will need all this defensive ability and more when his Palace side come up against a highly technical Chelsea outfit this weekend.
Pulis will be hoping he can extract more from some of his more attacking-minded players as well as helping with their defensive structure as they push their way out the bottom three. It’s currently a tie between Jason Puncheon and Dwight Gayle for the most attempts on goal in the Palace squad, with each having 13 to their name as well as identical accuracy rates of 30.8%. You can find Dwight Gayle at 17/4 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Newcastle vs Southampton 15:00
Newcastle secured a famous win at Old Trafford last weekend with a 0-1 win thanks to Yohan Cabaye’s second half strike. Alan Pardew’s men will be in high spirits this weekend so expect them to come out all guns blazing against the Saints on Saturday.
Vurnon Anita will have to be mindful of his defensive technique should he feature this weekend against a Saints team who know how to dominate possession. Anita recorded the joint highest number of fouls in the last round according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with 4.
Moussa Sissoko has continued his return to some of his best form this season, exerting ever more influence in the Magpie’s engine room. He continues to lead the Newcastle squad for total passes completed in the opponent’s half with 277 to his name.
Enforcer Cheik Tiote shows no signs of curtailing his ever-aggressive, though effective, style of play. He leads the Newcastle squad for total tackles attempted this season with 66, yet has also conceded another squad-high of 26 fouls.
The arrival of Loic Remy has certainly given Alan Pardew’s side another string to their bow as they to climb even further up the table. He leads the squad for total attempts on goal this season with 27, with Yohan Cabaye nipping at his heels with 26. Remy is 6/4 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Southampton provided even further evidence of the top-of-the-table credentials after an excellent display against Manchester City last weekend. Dani Osvaldo’s incredible solo effort was enough to earn a 1-1 draw and a well-deserved point after yet another impressive performance from Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Osvaldo will be hoping his stunning goal will spur him on the heights that he is capable of as the season progresses. At present he currently sits on a 50% shot accuracy rate from 24 attempts according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Victor Wanyama continues to display an aggressive style this season which although making him a fan favourite, has drawn him to the attention of the officials more often than not. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s racked up more fouls (33) this term than anyone else in the league.
Their ability to keep a clean sheet has been crucial to the Saints’ fortunes this season, with the club quickly developing a reputation as one of the hardest teams in the league to score against. Their overall defensive efforts have been superb, with four players (Schneiderlin, Fonte, Lovren and Wanyama) currently sitting on 100 defensive contributions or more (blocks, clearances, interceptions, tackles won).
England midfielder Adam Lallana continues to be his side’s shining light going forward this season, providing width and creativity to their play. He leads the squad for total attacking contributions (shots on goal, dribbles, crosses, assists) this season with 62. Lallana is 4/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Hull vs Stoke 17:30
Danny Graham helped end a long goal drought and struck against his former club Swansea to earn Hull a point in a 1-1 draw on Monday evening.
Steve Bruce will be hoping Tom Huddlestone’s accuracy in front of goal reaches the same level as his general midfield influence as the season progresses. The former Spurs man has completed a solid 275 passes in the opponent’s half, yet has so far managed only a 35.3% shot accuracy rate from 17 shots according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Yannick Sagbo on the other hand has been suffering from no such problems, the Ivory Coast forward currently boasting the best shot accuracy rate in the Hull squad. He’s seen 85.7% of his 7 attempts this season work the opposition ‘keeper. You can find Sagbo at 5/2 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Defender Liam Rosenior has so far racked up some of the most tackling statistics in
the league according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He currently has the best tackle success rate in the Hull squad, completing a very impressive 86.2% of 29 attempted challenges this season.
Ahmed Elmohamady remains Hull’s most effective attacker this season, with Tom Huddlestone and Sone Aluko nipping at his heels. He’s completed up an impressive 38 total attacking contributions (shots on goal, assists, crosses, dribbles) this season.
Stoke fans were in dreamland last weekend as a last-gasp strike from Oussama Assaidi saw them grab a famous 3-2 victory over Chelsea at the Brittania.
Assaidi hasn’t featured too heavily for the Potters this season but will have certainly put himself firmly in his manager’s thinking after such an incredible finish last weekend. When he has been on the pitch though the Moroccan international has acquitted himself well, compiling a 50% shot accuracy rate as well as successfully completing 75% of his 16 attempted challenges.
Peter Crouch also got himself on the scoresheet last weekend and his strike continued his solid form in front of goal this season. Only Charlie Adam has been more effective in testing opposition goalkeepers when given the chance this season, with Crouch establishing a 61.5% shot accuracy rate from 13 attempts to Adam’s 62.5% from 16 attempts. Crouch is 11/4 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Stoke’s physical style of play has unfortunately drawn them to the attention of the officials far more than they would like this season. They currently have three players with 20 or more fouls to their name (Walters, Nzonzi and Huth), something equalled by only one other team in the league (Southampton) according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Sunday 15th December
Aston Villa vs Manchester United 13:30
Aston Villa’s solid start to the campaign sees them sitting in 11th in the table, 8 points away from the top 6, but more importantly, 6 points clear of the relegation zone.
It must be pleasing for Aston Villa fans seeing one of their academy graduates coming through and making his mark on the first team, and Ciaran Clark has certainly been impressive for the Villains since making his debut 4 years ago. Clark has become a mainstay of the Villa back four and looking at his performance on Saturday, it isn’t hard to see why he has become such a stalwart. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he made 17 clearances against Fulham – the second most in the league.
Fellow centre half Chris Herd also performed admirably in his first appearance for Aston Villa for 11 months. The Australian has had problems with injury and poor form, but he slotted in with ease against Fulham, making a total of 22 defensive contributions (based on blocks, interceptions, clearances and tackles won). This was the fourth most in the league.
A contentious decision made by Paul Lambert when taking the Villa job was to drop Shay Given for Brad Guzan, but the American has fully justified his manager’s faith in him. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he has made 47 saves this term – the sixth most in the league.
Former skipper Stiliyan Petrov praised Ashley Westwood this week for his ability to do the dirty work for Paul Lambert’s men, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index fully supports the Bulgarian’s claims. Westwood has won an impressive 74% of his challenges this term. Westwood is 37/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Sunday.
Phil Jones’ volley handed Manchester United all three points against Shakhtar Donetsk to ensure that they topped their Champions League group.
Manager Moyes brought Wilfred Zaha on against Newcastle in an attempt to add some pace and width to the Manchester United attack and change their fortunes in front of goal. Interestingly though, the England U21 international made more of a defensive impact than an offensive one, as he won 5 challenges. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, this was more than any other Manchester United player. Zaha is 10/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Sunday.
Another substitution that Moyes made in an attempt to change the game was bringing on Brazilian Anderson and following his introduction he made a positive contribution with his passing. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he completed a pass in Newcastle’s half at an impressive rate of a pass every 2.6 minutes.
The Red Devils are certainly feeling the absence of central midfielder Michael Carrick. The England international has an excellent ability to shield the back four, with his intercepting attributes a key part of this. So far this campaign, Carrick has made a total of 42 interceptions, which is the most in the United squad.
Robbie Savage has claimed that Moyes should look to build his defence around youngster Phil Jones as he has both the talent and the time to turn into a world class centre half. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index fully supports Savage’s claims as it shows that he has made 111 defensive contributions (based on tackles won, blocks, interceptions and clearances). This is the third most in the United squad, with role model Nemanja Vidic sitting ahead of the 21-year old.
Norwich vs Swansea 13:30
Gary Hooper’s resurgence continued apace as he scored his fifth goal of the season to help the Canaries to a solid 0-2 win over West Brom at the The Hawthorns.
Few ‘keepers have been tested as much as John Ruddy this season, with the Norwich stopper currently ranked second on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for saves with 58. Chris Hughton will be hoping his defence can muster a bit more protection for Ruddy as the season progresses.
You will have struggled to find a player more physically committed to the cause last weekend than the Canaries’ Michael Turner, the centre-half throwing himself into his work at the Hawthorns. He completed 3 blocks, the joint second highest total in the league during the last round.
Gary Hooper mentioned this week that he has not given up hope of an England call-up ahead of next year’s World Cup and his goal provided Roy Hodgson with a glimpse of another potential attacking option at his disposal. Hooper currently leads the Norwich squad for shot accuracy, testing out the opposition goalkeeper with 77.8% of his 9 attempts so far this season. Hopper is an industry best 11/5 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Midfielder Leroy Fer again got himself on the score sheet last weekend but it is in defence that he has been most impressive this season. He’s attempted more tackles than any other Canaries player with 70, winning a solid 65.7% of them.
Despite a low-key performance from Swansea in the first half against Hull on Monday, the Swans rallied after the break and Chico Flores’ goal was enough to see them earn a point and stay in the top half of the table.
Jonjo Shelvey is starting to show the kind of form for Swansea which many Liverpool fans thought him capable of before he left Anfield. No doubt his extended run in the Swans first team helped him to complete the most passes in the opponent’s half of any player in the Premier League during the last round. Shelvey is 7/2 to get himself on the scoresheet and score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Swansea’s intricate passing and movement can be a joy to watch at times and their ability to both retain possession as well as shift the play is evidenced in some of their collective statistics. They currently have 10 players with 200 or more passes to in the opponent’s half to their name (Shelvey, Davies, Chico, Dyer, De Guzman, Michu, Rangel, Routledge, Pozuelo and Canas).
For all their eye-pleasing play though, the Swans would still struggle without players like Ashley Williams do to the hard yards for them. Williams currently leads the Swansea squad for successful tackles according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, winning 76.5% of his 17 attempted challenges this season.
Cut from a similar cloth as Williams is Chico Flores, who’s reading of the game has been exceptional this term. His 44 interceptions is the current benchmark in the Swansea squad.
Tottenham vs Liverpool 16:00
Tottenham beat Sunderland last weekend to record back to back away victories. They host Liverpool in undoubtedly one of their biggest challenges so far this season.
Kyle Naughton was brought back into the team on Saturday following an injury to Jan Vertonghen, and he rewarded AVB with an impressive offensive display. Vertonghen may be more competent defensively, but Naughton certainly offered much going forward as he completed an impressive 42 passes in the opposition half – this was more than any other defender in the league.
Nacer Chadli was another player who was restored to the starting lineup by AVB on Saturday, and like Naughton, he too excelled in his passing. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he completed a pass in Sunderland’s half at a rate of a pass every 2.7 minutes. You can find Chadli at 7/2 with 888sport.com to score at anytime on Sunday.
Considering his size, a surprising attribute of Moussa Dembele is his outstanding dribbling ability. He has the skill to glide part players with ease through a simple drop of the shoulder, and according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he completed 6 on Saturday – this was the second most in the league.
Danny Rose is set to return to the Spurs lineup this weekend, which will be a welcome boost to manager AVB. Rose has shown his eye for a tackle in the few games he has played, as he has completed an impressive 91% of his challenges this term.
Luis Suarez continued his jaw-dropping start to the season by scoring two more goals to condemn West Ham to a 4-1 defeat.
Suarez has posed a constant goal threat to defences all season, and this was all too evident against West Ham last Saturday. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights he took 7 shots at the weekend – the most in the league.
Philippe Coutinho has made a scintillating start to the campaign, with his Brazilian flair delighting the Kop throughout the season. The youngster has fantastic creative ability, which was fully on show on Saturday as he completed 50 passes in West Ham’s half – this was the second most in the league. Countinho is an industry best 7/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Sunday.
The brilliance of Coutinho and the SAS combination has been a pleasure to behold throughout the season so far, but to concentrate on them would do a disservice to ‘keeper Simon Mignolet. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that Mignolet has made 56 saves this term – the third most in the league.
Liverpool will certainly feel the absence of talisman and skipper Steven Gerrard this weekend, as he has been ruled out for up to a month. The Liverpool stalwart has defied his critics who claim he is too old, by producing a number of performances which show that class is timeless. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he has registered 7 assists this term – the most in the league.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.
