Want to be the pub/terrace know-all this weekend? Want to know who has committed the most fouls? Or who has covered the most ground and put in a true captain’s performance? Then read on and let the welcome return of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index arm you with enough stats to impress everyone but girly girls.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.
Saturday 22nd March
Chelsea vs Arsenal 12:45
Although it’s probably too early to describe this match as a ‘Championship decider’ a loss for either side would certainly be a sucker-punch in their push for the title. Arsenal come into the game on something of a high, following their win over arch-rivals Tottenham, whereas Chelsea are still seething after a disappointing loss to Aston Villa.
Chelsea’s efforts were not aided by two red cards dished out to Ramires and Willian, but throughout the game they still managed to dominate possession. Golden boy Eden Hazard was central to this effort, as he completed a total of 47 passes in the opposition half – the most in the Chelsea squad and the fourth most in the league. Hazard is 13/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Willian’s absence will be felt particularly strongly by Chelsea, as despite a slow start to life on Stamford Bridge, the Brazilian has become an integral part of the Blues team. Part of Mourinho’s reasoning for favouring Willian over former fan favourite Juan Mata was because of his outstanding work rate. His offensive play, however, is also tremendous and the guile and creativity that Willian brings to the squad will be missed when Arsenal make the short distance across London on Saturday. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index highlights the Brazilian’s effectiveness, as it shows that he has completed a pass in the opposition half at a rate of a pass every 2.8 minutes, has completed 29 dribbles (the second most in the Chelsea squad), and has also registered 4 assists.
Branislav Ivanovic’s 2 crosses on Saturday took his tally to the season to 18. A force to be reckoned with at both ends of the pitch, Chelsea fans won’t be too surprised to hear that this total is the most in the Blues’ squad.
Nemanja Matic has made an excellent second start to life at Stamford Bridge since returning from Benfica. The club splashed a mammoth £21 million on bringing the Serb back to London, but he has certainly gone some way to repaying their faith in the short time he’s been back so far. Playing in a refined defensive midfield role, Matic has shielded his back four to great effect, making a total of 23 interceptions in 9 appearances. What is amazing about this figure is that John Terry leads the way for Chelsea in terms of interceptions made with 31, but he has appeared in 28 of their games.
A sublime goal from Tomas Rosicky two minutes into the North London derby was enough for Arsenal, as they hung on to snatch a vital three points.
The result could be considered harsh on Tottenham who dominated the game after the break, boasted more possession and took more shots. What can’t be taken away from the Gunners, however, is the performances of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koschielney who produced textbook defensive displays to keep Tim Sherwood’s men at bay. Their effectiveness can be underlined by the fact that they made 23 and 22 defensive contributions respectively (based on blocks, clearances, tackles won and interceptions).
To focus solely on the performances of these two, however, would be doing a disservice to an excellent team effort by all of Arsene Wenger’s men and this effort can be underlined by the performance of Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard is usually regarded as a cultured midfielder who has the ability to fashion chances for himself and his teammates, but he showed that he has the ability to do the dirty work too on Sunday. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he won an excellent 80% of his challenges against Tim Sherwood’s men. Cazorla is 13/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game on Saturday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been in fine form since returning from injury at the turn of the year, with the former Southampton player starring in a more central role. The youngster is an incredibly talented player both in offence and defence, and this magnificent all-round ability was on show on Sunday. Not only did Oxlade-Chamberlain complete more dribbles than any other Arsenal player (4), he also made more interceptions than any other Gunner (5).
Due to the fine form of Koscielney and Meretesacker, club captain Thomas Vermaelen hasn’t featured for the Gunners as prominently as he would have liked – he’s been restricted to only 8 appearances. The Belgian has however, shown his excellent defensive ability in this time, winning every single challenge that he has attempted.
Cardiff vs Liverpool 15:00
A late winner from Seamus Coleman saw Cardiff denied what would have been an invaluable point at Goodison Park last weekend. A sterling effort from Ole Gunnar Solkjaer’s side was not rewarded however, and they returned to south Wales with nothing to show for the efforts after the game ended 2-1 to the Toffees.
Steven Caulker remains Cardiff’s defensive leader this term, repeatedly putting his body on the line and organising those around him. He leads the Cardiff squad for total defensive contributions this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with 383.
Last weekend’s result was particularly harsh on ‘keeper David Marshall, the Cardiff ‘stopper putting in yet another excellent performance which unfortunately ended in a losing effort. It’s no surprise to see that he tops the league for saves with 120 this season, and remains the only ‘keeper to have moved into triple figures this campaign.
Jordon Mutch has emerged as a valuable attacking force for Cardiff this season, seemingly relishing the challenge of competing against the best defenders the Premier League has to offer. He will have to be mindful of own defensive technique this weekend though, given that he leads the Cardiff squad for fouls conceded this term with 37. Mutch is 13/2 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Defensive midfielder Guy Medel will be crucial to Cardiff’s chances of success this weekend as not allowing Liverpool to get into their attacking rhythm could set the tone for the rest of the game. His stats suggest he is up to the task though, with Medel remaining the only Cardiff player to have moved into triple figures for tackles attempted this season (104), winning a solid 63.5% of them.
A stunning performance saw Liverpool secure a remarkable 0-3 victory over archrivals Manchester Utd last time out. Captain Steven Gerrard continued his fine season with two penalties, whilst the always dangerous Luis Suarez rounded off a dominant win in the final minutes.
Steven Gerrard has flourished in the new deep-lying role he has been tasked with this season, the England captain’s superb passing range being put to excellent effect. He remains a formidable force in defence as well, winning all four of his attempted challenges last week and completing three interceptions according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
The irrepressible Luis Suarez is showing no signs of slowing down as Liverpool maintain their challenge for the Premier League title this season, the Uruguayan showing remarkable consistency throughout this campaign. He is now the only player in the league to have moved into triple figures for attempted shots on goal with 111, and has taken on average just 19.4 minutes this season to have a attempt on the opposition goal, another league best. Suarez is an industry best 13/18 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.
Jordan Henderson remains one of the unsung heroes of this Liverpool side, putting in the necessary shifts that allow the players in front of him to shine. He’s won an excellent 71.7% of his 99 attempted challenges this season, as well as completing more passes in the opponent’s half than any other Liverpool player this term with 797.
Raheem Sterling has continued his development this season into one of the most consistently dangerous wingers in the league. The youngster has now added end product to his electrifying pace, so far racking up five assists to place him fifth in the Liverpool squad.
Norwich vs Sunderland 15:00
Norwich’s bid to move further away from the bottom three took a blow last weekend as they fell to a 4-2 defeat away to Southampton at St Mary’s. Chris Hughton will be hoping the character his side showed after going 3-0 down can be revived again this weekend.
Nathan Redmond remains a crucial attacking outlet for Chris Hughton’s side this season, adding width and creativity to their play. He leads the Norwich squad for both assists and dribbles, with three and 46 to his name respectively according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Midfielder enforcer Bradley Johnson may be renowned for his defensive work but he is not short of technique with the ball at his feet either. No Norwich player has completed more passes in the opponent’s half this season than Johnson’s 467 so expect plenty of their attack’s this weekend to begin through him.
Gary Hooper continues to provide a consistent threat in front of goal for the Canaries this term, the former Celtic man visibly settling into life in the Premier League more each week. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s worked the opposition ‘keeper with 63.3% of his 30 shots on goal this season and his manager will be hoping he can find the room to test out Vito Mannone this weekend. Hooper is 19/10 t score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Centre-half Michael Turner remains amongst the most physically committed Norwich players this campaign, repeatedly throwing himself in the line of fire when the opposition launch attacks on Norwich’s goal. He leads the Canaries’ squad for blocks this term with 19.
Sunderland played out a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace last weekend but Gus Poyet praised the fighting attitude of his players after the final whistle. He will no doubt be hoping they can show similar resolve when they travel to Carrow Road this weekend in what is another crucial fixture as the season enters into it’s final phase.
Striker Jozy Altidore has continued to be handful for opposition defences this term, the American frontman utilising his physical presence to bully defenders and link play with his widemen. He has a strong shot accuracy rate as well, hitting the target with 70.6% of his 17 shots on goal this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Adam Johnson has rediscovered some of his best form under Gus Poyet, his renewed confidence driving Sunderland’s attacking play forward. He leads the Black Cats across numerous categories this season, including dribbles (30, crosses (20) and assists (4), a great illustration of just how vital he is is to this Sunderland side in opposition territory. Johnson is 4/1 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Defender Phil Bardsley is another who has apparently benefitted under his new manager’s tutelage, his defensive statistics this season reflecting his excellent form in recent weeks. He has the best tackle success rate of any Sunderland player to have attempted more than 30 tackles, winning 81.4% of his 59 attempted to date.
Fellow defender John O’Shea has racked up some similarly impressive stats in his role as the Black Cats defensive leader this term. His reading of the game has been particularly strong, with the former Man Utd man completing 34 interceptions this season, a squad-best.
Everton vs Swansea 15:00
Despite a resolute performance from ‘keeper David Marshall, a last minute winner from Seamus Coleman handed Everton all three points in their last game against Cardiff. They host another Welsh team in the form of Swansea who will have been disappointed by their loss at home to West Brom.
Coleman’s goal topped off a fine individual performance, with the Irish right back a constant menace down Everton’s right flank. The Killybegs born youngster has been in scintillating form all term and his fine form is likely to result in a new contract, which will come as a relief for Evertonians as clubs such as Manchester City and Arsenal have been linked with the Toffee. His offensive threat on Saturday is evident through the fact that he completed a total of 40 passes in the opposition half, the second most in the Everton squad and also the second most of any defender in the league.
Coleman’s passing, however, was outshone by cultured midfielder Gareth Barry. The Englishman is having a barnstorming campaign and calls for him to return to the international fold are growing louder by the day. If he continues to perform as he did on Saturday, it will be hard for Roy Hodgson to not consider him come Brazil in 2 months time, as the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he completed an impressive 50 passes in the opposition half – the most in the league.
Everton’s squad may not be the largest but one area where Roberto Martinez has ample quality is the number 10 role, with both Ross Barkley and his more experienced compatriot Leon Osman able to operate there to great effect. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the duo have played practically the same number of minutes, 1668 and 1676 respectively, and have also made practically the same number of attacking contributions (based on shots on target, dribbles, crosses and passes completed in the opposition half) with 639 and 653.
it wouldn’t be a surprise if Roberto Martinez looked to extend Gerard Deulofeu’s loan for another season, as when he has been fit, the Barcelona star has been something of a revelation. The Spaniard has had his season slightly disrupted by injury, but when he has played, he has demonstrated his excellent dribbling ability – completing a total of 23. You can find Deulofeu at 5/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
A desperately disappointing defeat at home to West Brom has set Swansea back slightly, with the Swans sitting a precarious 4 points above the relegation zone. Garry Monk will be hoping his team show a marked improvement when they head to Goodison Park this weekend.
Unsurprisingly considering their philosophy, Swansea managed to dominate possession against the Baggies. Central to their efforts was defender Angel Rangel, who completed an outstanding 50 passes in the opposition half – the most in the Swansea squad, and also the most in the league.
Midfielder Leon Britton also showcased his excellent passing ability against Pepe Mel’s men. The Englishman has featured in every tier of the Football League for the Swans, and his outstanding passing has meant that he has always been of integral importance. This ability was evident on Saturday as he completed a pass in the opposition half at an excellent rate of a pass every 1.8 minutes.
Wayne Routledge completed another 2 dribbles on Saturday to take his total number to 24 for the season. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that this is the second most in the Swansea squad, second only to Nathan Dyer who has completed 34.
Wilfried Bony has been a menance for the Swans this season and if Swansea are to survive, they will need him to continue to hit the back of the net on a regular basis. His goal threat is probably best demonstrated through the fact that he averages an effort at goal at an average of a shot every 26.1 minutes. Bony is 8/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace
Newcastle’s first game without the suspended Alan Pardew at the helm resulted in defeat at the hands of strugglers Fulham. They’ll be looking for a reversal in fortunes when they host another relegation candidate in the form of Crystal Palace.
Newcastle will have felt aggrieved at the result as they dominated possession, and a rejected penalty claim in the last ten minutes will only have compounded their frustration. Much of the credit for their dominance of the football should go to Moussa Sissoko, who demonstrated his excellent passing ability. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he completed 32 passes in the opposition half, more than any other Newcastle player. Sissoko is 10/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game on Saturday.
Paul Dummett has impressed for Alan Pardew’s men since breaking into the first team at the start of the season. One area where he has particularly excelled is his tackling and he demonstrated this excellent ability on Saturday, winning 80% of his challenges adding to his overall season percentage of 74%.
Cheick Tiote made another 3 interceptions on Saturday to take his overall tally for the season to 51. This is an impressive figure and shows how important Tiote is to Newcastle’s rearguard effort.
Crystal Palace left the Stadium of Light with a point in their last Premier League fixture, a result that leaves them three points clear of the dreaded relegation zone.
Tony Pulis billed the game as a ‘must not lose’ and he will have been delighted with the performance of his back four to ensure that this didn’t happen. In particular Damian Delaney impressed, as he marshaled his back four to great effect. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he made 20 defensive contributions which was the most in the Crystal Palace squad and the fifth most in the league.
Mile Jedinak has earned plaudits all term after producing a number of stellar defensive performances. This was the case again on Saturday as he made 4 interceptions, taking his overall tally for the season to a staggering 103. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that this is comfortably the most in the league and underlines precisely how important the Australian is to the Palace squad.
If Crystal Palace are to survive this year the club should look to change the ground’s name to ‘Selhurst Pulis’ as they looked destined for the drop prior to him taking the reins. One area where he should be praised is his workings in the transfer market, as he has signed a number of players who have strengthened the squad. One of these additions is centre half Scott Dann, and since he arrived in Croydon he has been a colossus at the back making a total of 60 defensive contributions in only 5 appearances.
Another move that Pulis made in the January transfer window was signing winger Jason Puncheon on a permanent deal. The former Southampton player has become a key component of the Southampton side and his offensive ability in particular is a key cog in the Eagles armoury. The EA SPORTS Player Performance underlines this as it shows that Puncheon has made a total of 440 attacking contributions (based on passes in the opposition half, crosses, dribbles and shots on target), the second most in the Palace squad. You can find Puncheon at 14/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game at the weekend.
Manchester City vs Fulham 15:00
Manchester City will be looking forward to hosting struggling Fulham this weekend following their victory against Hull. Pellegrini’s men recovered from Vincent Kompany’s early dismissal to comfortably beat Hull City last weekend which saw them move up to second in the Premier League table; keeping the pressure on leaders Chelsea. Inspired by David Silva, City looked to have put the miserable week, which saw Pellegrini’s men knocked out of both the FA Cup and Champions League, behind them.
David Silva proved inspirational to the 10 man City following Kompany’s dismissal. The Spaniard responded to the captains frustrating red card with a superb strike, which settled the visitors nerves; preventing Hull from seizing momentum. In addition to his goal, Silva was also integral to City’s attack. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he made 41 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, passes and crosses); bringing his season total to an impressive 900. You can find Silva at 9/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal on Saturday.
Dzeko once again comfortably filled the void left by Agüero who is currently injured. A period of breath-taking build up culminated with the Bosnia and Herzegovina international combining with the outstanding Silva, to slot past McGregor and double City’s tally. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he had a 100% shot accuracy and has now scored 21 goals this season.
Gael Clichy rose to the occasion following Kompany’s red card after 10 minutes. Making 16 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, clearances and interceptions) the French international ensured Hull did not capitalise on their numerical advantage. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Clichy won 83.3% of his tackles.
Fulham kept their hopes of top-flight survival alive after Ashkan Dejagah scored the winner against Newcastle last weekend. The victory which brought a much needed 3 points to their survival hopes, was also Felix Magath’s first in his four games since taking charge and the teams first league win since New Years day. Fulham are currently bottom of the Premier League, four points from safety but will fancy their chances against a City side without captain Vincent Kompany and Argentinian front man Agüero.
Fulham fans will be hoping for a repeat performance from 19 year old Cauley Woodrow who looked full of promise. The Englishman proved to be a vital creative influence to the Premier League strugglers. As well as playing a vital part in Heitinga’s shot which was millimetres from putting his side ahead, the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the youngster made 22 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, passes and crosses) and had a shot accuracy rating of 100%. Woodrow is 19/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the match on Saturday.
Magath will be relying on Fernando Amorebieta this weekend to lead the way in defence against Manchester City’s intimidating attacking threat. The South American won 80% of his tackles last weekend and made 24 defensive contributions (based on tackles, interceptions, blocks and clearances), and will prove integral to containing David Silva.
Steve Sidwell has 6 goals this season and is currently Fulham’s top scorer, the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he has a shot accuracy of 42.3%. The Englishman will be hoping to make the most of the questions raised over City’s defense in recent weeks and get his name on the score sheet.
Hull City vs West Brom 15:00
Hull will be disappointed they did not come away with more after entertaining Manchester City last weekend. The hosts had looked the brighter side with plenty of possession and when City captain Kompany was dismissed early in the first half, it looked as though Hull were about to end a miserable run which had seen them lose four and win just one of their last seven top-flight matches at home. Steve Bruce described the fixture as a frustrating afternoon for his side and fans will certainly be frustrated after Meyler’s goal was disallowed and the referee dismissed two late penalty claims.
Tigers’ fans will have been encouraged by their sides performance at the start of the game. Elmohamady and Jelavic looked menacing in the face of City’s defence and when Kompany received red for outmuscling Jelavic after 10 minutes, it seemed likely that the pair would be rewarded for their efforts. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Elmohamady made 41 attacking contributions; equal to that of City’s David Silva.
Livermore was also an inspirational influence for Steve Bruce’s men. The Englishman radiated creativity, completing 40 passes in the opposition half. He was also unlucky not score from long range after firing a shot just wide. You can find Livermore at 19/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game at the weekend.
Liam Rosenior coped well with Man city’s impressive attacking firepower winning 100% of his tackles. Fellow Englishman Curtis Davies also played an integral role in Hull’s defense; making 25 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, interceptions and clearances).
West Bromich Albion will be hoping to capitalise on Hull’s recent form and build on their nail-biting victory against Swansea. The result moved West Brom to 16th in the Premier League, three points clear of the relegation zone and just one point behind 14th-placed Swansea. Pepe Mel described his players as intelligent as they turned the game around and showed much more attacking intent.
Sessegnon levelled the scoring from outside the Swansea area; curling a powerful low shot into the bottom corner. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the 29 year-old had a shot accuracy of 66.7% and made 25 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, passes in the opposition half and crosses)
Midfielder Graham Dorrans and defender Jonas Olsson look to be the Baggies best hopes of containing Hull City’s attacking threats which worried Manchester City so much last weekend. The Scotsman won 100% of his tackles last weekend in the midfield whilst the latter led the way in defense; the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Swede made 14 defensive contributions (tackles, blocks, interceptions and clearances)
West Ham vs Manchester United 17:30
Manchester United fans, players and boss David Moyes will all be hoping that their side’s impressive Champions League win over Olympiakos can be a turning point in their disappointing season. In a rollercoaster week which has seen the Reds lose to bitter rivals Liverpool at home 3-0 before over turning a 2 goal deficit to defeat Olympiakos in the Champions League, Moyes’ men will be hoping to gain a much needed 3 points against West Ham before their titanic clash with Manchester City.
Wayne Rooney responded to what he described as the nightmare of losing to Liverpool with an impressive demonstration of his ability against Olympiakos. The England star made 37 attacking contributions (shots on target, passes, crosses and dribbles) against Liverpool but failed to inspire a struggling United side. The 28 year-old has 11 Premier League goals this season, joint first with Dutchman Robin Van Persie who bagged a hat-trick at Old Trafford last night before going off injured. United fans will be hoping that, with Van Persie’s potential absence from this week’s must win game, Rooney will continue to justify his price tag with another impressive performance against West Ham. Rooney is 9/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game at the weekend.
Michael Carrick will prove integral to United’s attacking creativity this weekend. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the England international has completed 775 passes in the opposition half so far this season and has made an impressive 786 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, crosses and passes in the opposition half); the most at the club.
With skipper Nemanja Vidic suspended and England’s Chris Smalling out with a hamstring injury, defensive duties will rest on the shoulders of Phil Jones this weekend. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the England international won 85.7% of his tackles last weekend against Liverpool; making 18 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) in the process. Jones has a tackle win percentage of 76.6% this season and has made 202 defensive contributions.
West Ham will be eager to put last week’s frustrating defeat at the hands of Stoke behind them as they travel to Old Trafford. Despite making the perfect start, the Hammers were unable to secure the win. West Ham fans will be left frustrated following a penalty claim for handball against defender Marc Muniesa which was waved away by referee Craig Dawson,
With Old Trafford’s reputation as a fortress somewhat weakened in recent weeks and England hopeful Andy Carrol’s return to goal scoring ways, Hammer’s fans will be looking forward to their encounter with the Red Devils. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Englishman had a 66.7% shot accuracy rating against Stoke and made 17 attacking contributions (shots on target, crosses, passes and dribbles)
Mark Noble will be hoping to capitalise on United’s defensive woes this weekend. With both Smalling and Vidic absent from the team sheet, he will be hoping to continue his fine attacking form this season which has seen him make 747 attacking contributions this season; 13 of which were against Stoke last weekend.
Sam Allardyce was less than complimentary about his sides defending against the second goal last week. The Hammers will be hoping to return to the impressive defensive form which has been one of their strong points this season. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that James Collins has made 383 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, blocks and interceptions) this season whilst Guy Demel has won a staggering 93% of his tackles this season. Both Demel and Collins will prove vital in containing the threats posed by Januzaj and Rooney.
Sunday 23rd March
Tottenham vs Southampton 13:30
Tottenham head into this fixture looking to bounce back following a bitterly disappointing defeat to North London rivals Arsenal. They host Southampton, buoyed by their victory over strugglers Norwich.
Tim Sherwood claimed that his side were robbed, stating that Arsenal were ‘outplayed’ by Tottenham and the stats from the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index go some way to backing up the manager’s claims. Andros Townsend, Younes Kaboul and Kyle Naughton led the way with the trio completing an impressive 28 passes in the opposition half each. Townsend is 14/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game on Sunday.
Townsend also showcased his undeniably brilliant dribbling skills against the Gunners, with his probing runs down the flank causing headaches for Arsene Wenger’s men all game. His 3 dribbles took his tally for the season to 61, the second most in the Spurs squad and the most of any Englishman in the league.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed narrowly off target as Tottenham desperately searched for an equalizer, and considering his excellent shooting record this season, it was a surprise not to see him hit the target at the very least. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he boasts an excellent shot accuracy record this term, hitting the target with an impressive 69% of his efforts.
Tim Sherwood will be pleased that Younes Kaboul is returning to full fitness, as he is undeniably an excellent central defender. His tackling has been a particular highlight, as he has won an impressive 86% of his attempted challenges this term.
An exhilarating end to Southampton’s victory over Norwich involved four goals in the space of 18 minutes, but despite the late drama, the Saints held on to snatch the three points.
Pochettino described his team as ‘superior’ to the Canaries, and the performance of Morgan Schneiderlin certainly adds substance to the Argentinean’s claims. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Frenchman completed 46 passes in the opposition half – more than any other Southampton player and the fourth most in the league.
Another player who impressed with his passing was young Englishman James Ward-Prowse. The promising midfielder has been one of the Saints’ standout players this term, and he completed a pass in the opposition half at an excellent rate of a pass every 2.7 minutes.
Compatriot Jay Rodriguez has been another shining light for Southampton this campaign with the former Burnley man’s threat down the left flank a key asset for the Saints’ offensive play. In addition to his goal, Rodriguez completed 4 dribbles on Saturday which was the second most in the league, and took his tally for the season to an impressive 37. Rodriguez is an industry best 15/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game on Sunday.
Rickie Lambert will consider himself unfortunate if he misses out on Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad this Summer as he has had an excellent campaign, and hasn’t let England down whenever he’s been called upon. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates his effectiveness for the Saints this term as it shows that he has made a total of 17 goalscoring contributions (based on goals and assists) – the most in the Saints squad.
Aston Villa vs Stoke 16:00
Aston Villa will be full of confidence as they host Stoke this weekend following their victory over Chelsea. Villa made their numerical advantage count last weekend against league leaders Chelsea in what Villa manager Lambert described as a ‘mammoth’ display. In the 82nd minute Fabian Delph finished Marc Albrighton’s low cross with a superb back-heel. Lambert’s men are currently 10th in the Premier League with a 9 point gap separating them from 9th placed Newcastle.
Fabian Delph scored the game’s only goal last weekend; finishing Albrighton’s cross with a skilful heel flick. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the Englishman had a shot accuracy of 66.7% and made 29 attacking contributions (shots on target, dribbles, crosses and passes) bringing his season total to an impressive 620; the highest at the club.
Villa fans will be hoping that their side’s top scorer Beneteke continues to find the net and adds to his total of 9 goals this season. The Belgium international has a shot accuracy rating this season of 53.1% and was unlucky not to feature on the score sheet against Chelsea after his long-range effort narrowly missed. Benteke is 9/2 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the game.
Dutchman Ron Vlaar has proved vital to Villa this season in defence, with 256 defensive contributions (tackles won, blocks, clearances and interceptions) to his name so far this season. Following Stoke’s 3 – 1 rout of West Ham last weekend, Lambert will look to the likes of Vlar and Ciaran Clark, the latter of which has won 82% of his tackles this season, to contain the Potter’s confident attacking threats.
Stoke will be buoyed by their 3-1 demolition of West Ham last week which saw them draw level on points with Aston Villa in 10th place. The Potters will hoping to continue winning ways and replicate the impressive form which has seen them defeat Manchester United and Arsenal this season. Hughes described his side as the better side and will be hoping that they can stretch their form to an unbeaten run of 4games having lost just one in the last seven.
Peter Odemwingie bagged a brace last weekend deflecting a goal in from Peter Crouch, before finding the net from an acute angle in the 79th minute. The Nigerian has impressed since his January arrival from Cardiff and has found the net 4 times so far this season. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he had a 100% shot accuracy rating last weekend.
Glen Whelan demonstrated his creative ability last weekend with an impressive 33 attacking contributions (shots on target, crosses, dribbles and passes). Potters’ fans will be hoping he demonstrates similar attacking intent against Villa this weekend and continues to build on his total of 408 attacking contributions to date. Whelan is 32/1 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the match on Saturday.
Marc Muniesa played an important part in closing down the West Ham attacking threat last weekend. The Spaniard made 16 defensive contributions last weekend and will need to rise to the challenge again against Villa following their victory over Chelsea. Defensive duties will also rest heavily on Ryan Shawcross following the announcement that Robert Huth will miss the rest of the season with a knee operation. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Shawcross has made 347 defensive contributions(tackles won, blocks, interceptions and clearances) so far this season.
