There were some excellent individual performances in the Premier League yesterday (Saturday 19th October). This article uses our Stats Centre’s Weekly Stats Area to show which players performed the best on Week 8 of the 2013/14 Premier League. Throughout the article you’ll find images from our Stats Centre visualising the Top 5 players on Saturday for a variety of stats.
Liverpool drop points
The early kick off saw Liverpool visit Newcastle United and the game did not disappoint as the hosts took the lead on two separate occasions. The second time Newcastle took the lead they were down to ten men which was even more impressive however Liverpool fans will be disappointed at the lapse in defending a set piece. Liverpool’s version of the SAS (Suarez and Sturridge) helped the visitors earn a point but it should have been much more as the Reds wasted chances with Newcastle there for the taking after losing a player in the first half. Newcastle’s performance is to be commended as they were the better side when the sides were even.
The star performer of the game was Steven Gerrard, he attempted the most passes (99), created the most chances (6) and attempted the most final third passes this weekend (45) on the Match Day. It had been a special week for Gerrard as he led England to the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil and scored his 100th Premier League goal however he was disappointed with two points dropped at Newcastle.
Hazard inspires Chelsea
Eden Hazard scored two goals and created one against Cardiff City as he starred for Chelsea in their romp at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea suffered an early set back going one down at home when David Luiz allowed a ball through to Cech not knowing it wouldn’t carry and Mutch punished the Blues with a cheeky finish, dinking Cech. Hazard, controversially, equalised as Eto’o stole the ball of off Cardiff’s goalkeeper whilst he was bouncing the ball.
After the game the referee confirmed that his initial thought was that David Marshall had dropped the ball. Had he known that the ball was intercepted whilst he was bouncing the ball a free kick would have been given to Cardiff. Chelsea pushed on and Hazard created for Eto’o to equalise, with Oscar and then Hazard scoring once more to finish off the team from Wales.
Stroll in the Emirates for Arsenal
Arsenal’s afternoon was slightly easier with an easy 4-1 win over Norwich at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s first goal is already being talked about as one of the goals of the season with a series of one-touch one-two’s between Cazorla-Wilshere-Giroud all in the final third finding Wilshere one-on-one with Ruddy and Wilshere finished with aplomb.
Giroud also set up Ozil for Arsenal’s second which was his second assist of the game. Giroud has been an impressive performer in Arsenal’s charge to the top of the league. He not only is scoring goals but creating goals this season too and now has the highest amount of goal assists in the Premier League in 2013-14. Aaron Ramsey came on in the first half and continued his excellent run and became the second highest scorer in the Premier League this season with his fifth. Not to be out-done Mesut Ozil put creativity a-side for the week and popped up with two goals – one of them a header!
City flatten the Hammers
Manchester City travelled to a buoyant West Ham United after the hosts beat London rivals Tottenham 3-0 comprehensively at White Hart Lane before the International break. However this game was a totally different affair with Manchester City looking in form and Sergio Aguero did not disappoint with his 40th and 41st goals for Manchester City in the Premier League. He also created a goal for David Silva making him one of the top performers this weekend. An overhead kick goal from Vaz Te had threatened a comeback from the hosts in the second half but Manchester City looked solid enough to hold out and scored their third to finish the Hammers off for the evening.
Kevin Mirallas starred for Everton in their win over Hull City scoring and creating their goals. The aftermath of the game had only one talking point with everyone questioning the decision of not to send off Gareth Barry for his challenges in the game – pundits after the game even concentrated on these incidents apart from the actual game. Even Mirallas’ goal was said to have got a touch from Gareth Barry who was in an offside position when Mirallas attempted the shot.
Steve Bruce was not happy that the decisions went against them in this game and thought that his side did well to get back into it. Everton though dominated the possession and had more chances to score but were lucky to have ten men on the pitch after Gareth Barry’s two challenges.
Best of the rest
Manchester United’s struggles continue as they dropped two points to Southampton at Old Trafford. With three points in their sight United conceded in the last two minutes to allow Southampton a share of the spoils. That’s not to say that Southampton didn’t deserve it – they did and the stats below indicate that they more than matched the current Champions in their fortress. David Moyes’ side have now won only two of their last six Premier League games and find themselves eight points off of Arsenal already.
#MUFC 1 #SFC 1 FT Possession%: 46-54 | Passes: 391-453 | Accuracy%: 79-78 | Final 3rd: 114-135 | Accuracy%: 68-62 | Shots: 12(5)-18(7) — EPL Index (@EPLIndex) October 19, 2013
West Bromwich Albion will be wondering how they aren’t celebrating an away victory today as Asmir Begovic earned Stoke City a draw at the Britannia. The stats below show the game as a close affair but it was West Brom that had more clearer chances with Sessegnon missing two that he should have scored from and Stephen Ireland missing an excellent chance for Stoke. This game also had a memorable attempt from Charlie Adam as he tried to chip the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper from the half way line forcing the save.
#SCFC 0 #WBA 0 FT Possession%: 50-50 | Passes: 402-399 | Accuracy%: 77-80 | Final 3rd: 111-101 | Accuracy%: 59-62 | Shots: 9(3)-11(5) — EPL Index (@EPLIndex) October 19, 2013
Swansea City scored four against Gus Poyet’s Sunderland with De Guzman scoring a beauty from outside the box for the second goal. The stats below clearly show that Swansea dominated Sunderland and thoroughly deserved their comprehensive win.
#swansfc 4 #SAFC 0 FT Possession%: 64-36 | Passes: 621-340 | Accuracy%: 88-77 | Final 3rd: 152-70 | Accuracy%: 81-43 | Shots: 14(7)-6(1) — EPL Index (@EPLIndex) October 19, 2013
