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EA Sports Player Performance Index Premier League Weekend 29th November
Friday, 28th Nov 2014 09:08

A look at the other fixtures being played this weekend with all the stas brought to you by EA Sports Player Performance Index.

West Brom vs Arsenal - Saturday 12:45pm

West Brom fell to a 2-0 to league leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend, with Diego Costa and Eden Hazard supplying the finishing touches to further extend their lead at the top of the table.

Saido Berahino has been grabbing plenty of headlines this season and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows us exactly why he’s been so valuable for the Baggies this term. He leads the West Brom squad for total attempts on goal with 24, 62.5% of which have been on target. Berahino is 9/4 to score at any time with 888sport.com.

Midfielder Craig Gardner may lead the West Brom squad for fouls with 22, but he’s been more than making up for it with some of his tackle stats this season. He’s won an excellent 75.4% of his 57 attempted challenges so far this term.

Joleon Lescott has lost none of his bite since arrived at The Hawthorns. The big centre-half leads the West Brom squad for blocks this season (6) and is currently only one of two Baggies players this season to have moved into triple figures for defensive contributions (105) (clearances, interceptions, blocks, tackles won), the others being Craig Dawson and Craig Gardner (144 and 109 respectively).

Despite dominating for large periods of the game, Arsenal were unable to finish things off against Manchester Utd as Kieran Gibbs scored an own goal and Wayne Rooney supplied the winner, despite an Olivier Giroud consolation strike.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been approaching something like his best form in recent weeks, his pace and quick thinking providing all sorts of problems down the flanks for opposition defenders. He ranks third in the league, behind only Eden Hazard and Erik Lamela, for dribbles according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, with 38 to his name.

Summer signing Alexis Sanchez has been one of the stars of the season so far for Arsenal, his electric feet and incredible workrate already making him a favourite in the stands. However, it is not just how many times he manages to get in a position to shoot, but how often he works the goalkeeper when he does so. Of the players in the top ten in the league for attempts on goal, only Chelsea’s Diego Costa has a better shot accuracy rate that the Chilean forward, who has hit the target with 72% of his 25 attempts on goal this season. Sanchez is 13/10 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

Continuing to focus on Arsenal’s attacking players, Danny Welbeck has been in strong form in front of goal since moving from Old Tarfford in the summer. However, he has also been showcasing the industrious defensive attitude he has become known for throughout his career. As well as his 24 attempts on goal, he has also won 84.2% of his 19 attempted tackles.

Burnley vs Aston Villa — Saturday 3pm

Burnley won for the second time this season as Danny Ings struck twice in quick succession early in the first half to give Sean Dyche’s side all three points again Stoke in a 1-2 win at The Brittannia.

Striker Danny Ings has been at the centre of Burnely’s recent results, the frontman discovering the kind of form that could help propel his side further up the table. He’s scored three goals from his 19 attempts on goal and if he can get into good positions this weekend you wouldn’t bet against him adding to that total. Ings is 17/11 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.

George Boyd is known for his workrate and stamina but he took this reputation to new levels against Stoke last weekend. During this game he covered a remarkable 13.3km according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the highest total from an individual in a single game in the Barclays Premier League this season.

When teams are adapting to the attacking talents of some of the best in the Barclays Premier League, a willingness to physically defend is often a must. No one has epitomised this more for Burnley this season that Michael Duff, who’s completed a squad-best 15 blocks, a figure which also places him 3rd in the Barclays Premier League in this category.

An error from opposition ‘keeper Fraser Forster gifted Aston Villa the lead against Southampton as Gabriel Agbonlahor pounced, however they were unable to hold onto their lead eventually leaving with a point in a 1-1 draw.

Tom Cleverley clearly has a point to prove this season, with the midfielder, who is normally known more for his passing skills, hunting down defensive work as often as he can. He has attempted more challenges than any other Villa player this season with 40, winning 67.5% of them according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Cleverley is an industry best 10/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time this weekend.

Fabian Delph is known to be something of an all-round midfielder but he has particularly impressed when going forward for Villa this season. His 18 dribbles is the highest total in the Villa squad and marks him out as someone in Paul Lambert’s side who is certainly not afraid to take the game to the opposition.

Defender Alan Hutton has appeared rejuvenated this season and that new confidence has bred similar results on the pitch. He’s won a remarkable 95.2% of his 21 attempted challenges this season, conceding just six fouls. This makes him the most effective tackler in the Barclays Premier League this term.

Liverpool vs Stoke — Saturday 3pm

Liverpool’s poor run of league form continued as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace last weekend despite Rickie Lambert’s early strike.

Dejan Lovren has been pinpointed by some as a reason behind some of the goals conceded by Liverpool in recent weeks, however the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows him as compiling some very solid statistics this term. He ranks 3rd in the Barclays Premier League for total defensive contributions (clearances, interceptions, blocks and tackles won) this season, with 177 to his name.

Midfielder Jordan Henderson has been key in all areas for Liverpool this season, his stats marking him out as one of the most involved players in the team. He leads the Liverpool squad for tackles attempted with 41 (winning 80.5% of them), as well as completed passes in the opponents half with 301. Henderson is 24/5 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

For those who doubt whether Steven Gerrard’s commitment to the cause is waning, they need only take one look at the amount of distance the former England captain has covered to see how wrong they are. Gerrard continues to set the standard for his teammates, running for a total of 128.6km this season, a squad best by 13.1km.

A Jonathan Walters strike was not enough for Stoke as they saw Burnley leave The Brittannia with all three points in a 1-2 defeat.

Steven N’Zonzi will likely be the man to go head to head with Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park this weekend and the Stoke man has the stats to suggest that this could be an intriguing match-up. N’Zonzi has completed more passes in the opponent’s half than any other Stoke player with 303, and won 75% of his 24 attempted challenges. N’Zonzi is 17/1 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

Centre-half Ryan Shawcross is known as a formidable physical proposition for any forward but the Stoke captain is also a fine reader of the game. He has more interceptions to his name than any other Stoke player this season (23), meaning the movement of Liverpool’s forwards will have to be on point this weekend.

The loss of Victor Moses to a thigh injury will be a blow for the Potters. The Nigeria international has 39 dribbles and four assists to his name this season, both squad-highs. However, this does present the opportunity for someone to step up in his place so it will be interesting to see who Mark Hughes uses to fill the creative void he will leave behind.

Man Utd v Hull — Saturday 3pm

Manchester United will go into this game in buoyant mood, and will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce following their home victory over Crystal Palace and last weekend’s away win at Arsenal. United’s back to back victories have pushed

them into fourth position and they will be looking for a win to help close the five point gap between them and their rivals in third place, Manchester City.

One of the men who has inspired Untied on their ascent into the top four has been their inspirational shot stopper, Spain international David De Gea. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Red Devils’ number one made eight stops against Arsenal to guide them to three points, and has saved an impressive 68.1% of shots that he has had to deal with this season.

At the other end of the pitch, Wayne Rooney has found some good form, as illustrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. The England captain has netted four times already this season, converting 23.5% of his shots, also assisting two goals for his teammates. Hard work appears to be the key to his good form, and he has completed 97.7km in just nine appearances. He is 22/25 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

The other in form player for Manchester United is Angel Di Maria who does not cease to impress. The Argentina international’s prowess is highlighted by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, having bagged three goals and laid on a further six for his teammates. Having put 73 crosses into the box already this season, it would no surprise to see him threaten Hull with his delivery this weekend.

Hull will be looking for a reversal of fortunes come Saturday after three straight losses has seen them slip to 17th in the table, hovering ominously above the relegation zone. They will not come in to the game fearing the reputation of a big club though, having secured draws with Arsenal and Liverpool and will be looking to go one better on this occasion.

One man who will certainly be fired up is former Manchester United player Robbie Brady, who will be playing against his former club for the first time. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals that the tricky winger could pose a problem for United having completed six dribbles and six crosses and United will stifle his creativity. However, he is equally adept in defence having won 66.6% of his tackles and made 21 clearances.

Hull’s main man in the middle of the park is the calm and collected Tom Huddlestone. The English midfielder has been his imperious best as revealed by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index data, winning 22 tackles and making 22 interceptions. His ability on the ball has also been highlighted with two assists and an 80.2% pass completion rate. If he can get on the ball, he will create chances.

His midfield partner, Mohamed Diame, has been of an equal stature this season since his move from West Ham, again illustrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has bagged four goals, converting an impressive 33.3% of his shots taken this season. He has also won a staggering 41 tackles this season and racked up 15 interceptions and will be looking to dominate the midfield alongside Huddlestone. He is 17/2 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

QPR v Leicester — Saturday 3pm

QPR come into this clash of the newly promoted sides rooted to the bottom of the table, after defeat to the in-form Newcastle United last weekend. The R’s are now without a win in three and will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes at Loftus Road on the weekend.

In order for this to happen, the R’s will need their star man Charlie Austin firing on all cylinders, as the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that he is capable of doing. He has bagged six goals already this season, the English striker completing a highly impressive 520 sprints this season, and it is that work rate that will pose the biggest threat to the Leicester back line. He is 29/20 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

At the other end of the pitch, QPR still have the worst defensive record in the league and will be hoping that Steven Caulker is the man to fix that for them. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows us that he has racked up 104 clearances and 23 interceptions. He will be looking to add to his seven blocks already this season to ensure a clean sheet for the R’s.

In the middle of the park, Leroy Fer is the player who is most likely to take hold of the midfield for QPR. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals that the Dutch international has won 71.9% of his 32 tackles, also making 11 clearances and 11 interceptions. He has also hit the woodwork more than any other Premier League player this season, with three shots coming back off the frame of the goal, and will be hoping that one of his shots can find the net this weekend.

Leicester come into the game as the highest positioned of the newly promoted sides, yet still in the relegation zone. The Foxes come into the match looking for their first win in eight games and will be hoping to replicate some of their early season form that beat Manchester United at home and Stoke away.

Important to the Foxes getting back on track will be Argentinian forward Leonardo Ulloa. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals just how valuable he has been to Leicester this season having scored five goals, converting 38.5% of his shots. He also puts in a defensive shift for his side, having won 20 tackles and made 19 clearances. Leicester will need him performing more attacking duties this weekend though, and he is 23/10 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

He would also prosper from a partnership with fellow striker Jamie Vardy, as illustrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Whilst having only netted once this season, Vardy will certainly be looking to improve on his tally, but having assisted five goals, Vardy in combination with Ulloa will certainly threaten the R’s back line.

At the other end of the pitch, it is former Manchester United player Ritchie De Laet who has most impressed, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has won an impressive 75.4% of his 57 tackles this season, whilst also racking up 64 clearances and 35 interceptions. He has also grabbed himself an assist and will be hoping that he can once again turn provider this weekend.

Swansea v Crystal Palace — Saturday 3pm

After the last round of fixtures, Swansea now lie in seventh position in the league after their good form was halted with a defeat at Manchester City, in spite of taking an early lead through their talismanic striker Wilfried Bony. Back on home turf this weekend, Swansea will be hoping for a repeat of the last time they played at the Liberty Stadium and saw off the challenge of Arsenal, and continue their ascent up the league.

Key to this will be in form striker Wilfried Bony, whose form is highlighted by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. The Ivory Coast international has bagged himself five goals already this season and also grabbed an assist for good measure. He is not slouch when it comes to defending either, having won 75% of his tackles, but Swansea will want him focusing on his attacking prominence on the weekend. He is 28/25 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

In the middle of the park, Gylfi Sigurdsson has been in sensational form and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals just how good he has been. Whilst having scored twice already this season, he has created seven goals for Swansea already during his second spell with the club, and he will be looking to provide danger man Bony with plenty of chances come Saturday.

Also most impressive in the middle for Swansea has been Ki Sung-Yeung. The South Korean international has grabbed himself a goal but it is his distribution that has caught the eye of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has completed 91.9% of his passes, which is the best pass completion rate of any player in the Premier League this season. He will be looking to make things tick alongside Sigurdsson in the middle of the park for Swansea and dictate the play with his passing ability.

Crystal Palace will come into this fixture full of confidence after overturning a one-goal deficit to Liverpool, to win 3-1 at Selhurst Park last weekend. The win saw Palace jump out of the relegation zone and up into 15th place, but another win could see them climb as high as 11th.

Key to Palace getting their second win on the trot will be influential captain Mile Jedinak. The Australian skipper has been in sensational form as revealed by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, having won a mammoth 77.4% of his 62 tackles this season. He has also made 31 clearances and racked up 43 interceptions, and will certainly look to give Palace a stronghold in the match.

Up top, Dwight Gayle is the man in form having scored against Liverpool at home for the second year running, doubling his tally for the season. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows us that Gayle has actually scored with 50% of his shots so far this season, hitting the target with 75%. He will pose a threat to the Swans’ back line and is 33/10 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Another man in form for Crystal Palace, is Yannick Bolasie, who struck the post with a wicked shot before Gayle tapped home. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Congo international has scored once this season and will certainly expect himself to add to that tally. It is, however, his four assists that he will be likely to add to and he will look to create further chances on Saturday for his teammates.

West Ham v Newcastle — Saturday 3pm

West Ham still sit in sixth place in the table in spite of their defeat to Everton last weekend. The East Londoners will be looking to bounce straight back to winning ways on the weekend but will be under no illusions that it will be an easy game, as they are playing the league’s form team.

If West Ham are to come away with the points, they will be looking for the rock at the back Aaron Creswell to maintain his fantastic form, as demonstrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has played every minute of football for the Irons so far this season, winning 18 tackles, making 48 clearances and making 10 interceptions. He will need to remain in great form to deny a Newcastle strike force that has found its feet.

In midfield, Stewart Downing has been the form player for the Hammers and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index makes it clear for all to see. The 30 year old England international will be looking to improve on his goal tally of two, but will be happy with the five assists that he has from the season so far. He will be looking to further increase that tally, by linking up with in form striker Diafra Sakho.

Sakho has made a great start to his debut season in the Premier League with the Irons but will want to make sure that he continues that form. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals that he has bagged six goals so far this season at an average of 108 minutes per goal, scoring 75% of his shots that have hit the target. His danger is clear for all to see, and he is 33/25 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Newcastle will come into this game as the league’s in form team having won five on the spin, including away wins at West Bromwich Albion and Leicester. Their great run of form has seen them move up into fifth place in the league and they will be hoping that they are not yet finished ascending the table.

Key to this turnaround has been a team of players in every position all over the pitch. At the back, the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index singles out Dutch

fullback Daryl Janmaat as their star defender, with the Dutch international winning 73.9% of his 46 tackles, whilst racking up 28 clearances and 30 interceptions. He is no slouch going forward either, and don’t be surprised to see him venture forward looking to add to his goal and two assists.

In the middle of the park, Jack Colback continues to impress, having featured in all 12 of Newcastle’s games this season. The English midfielder has racked up 29 interceptions already this season, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, illustrating the level of his reading of the play. He has covered the most ground in the Newcastle squad by some distance, completing 138.98km already this season, and will provide the motor in the Newcastle engine room.

Up top, Newcastle will be looking to the services of Ayoze Perez, if his form stays true in accordance with the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. The 21 year old Spanish striker has already found the net three times this season, at an average of just 130 minutes per goal, illustrating the threat he holds. His accuracy in front of goal is also impressive, hitting the target with 75% of his shots. He is 29/10 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Sunderland vs Chelsea — Saturday 5:30pm

Sunderland face Chelsea in Saturday’s late kick off and will be hoping to go their fourth consecutive game unbeaten. The Black Cats sit in 14th place but only three points above the relegation zone. A loss against Chelsea could see them slip in to the drop zone, however a win could edge them closer to the top half.

Seb Larsson has been one of the most encouraging parts of Sunderland’s season thus far, showing plenty of energy throughout. Larsson has completed the sixth most sprints of any Premier League player, having sprinted 704 times in total this season. Larsson has also covered more ground than the rest of his squad (122.9km) and ranks inside the division’s top 20 for distance covered, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Steven Fletcher is Sunderland’s top scorer so far this season. The Scotsman has scored four goals, averaging a goal every 187 minutes, which is almost exactly a one in two ratio. Fletcher’s goals have largely come down to his shooting, and the striker has managed to test the goalkeeper and according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index has recorded 60% of his shots on target so far this season. Fletcher is 21/5 to score any time with 888sport.

John O’Shea has recorded some impressive statistics from the heart of the Sunderland defence this season, and ranks as the 14th most accurate passer of anyone who has featured in every game so far. O’Shea has completed 85.5% of his passes over the first twelve matches. Only three defenders rank above him in pass success rate, his two opponents Gary Cahill and John Terry, as well as Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren.

Chelsea are now on 32 points at the top of the league, and only two sides in the league (Manchester City and Southampton) are closer to them at the top than to QPR in 20th place. A win here would see Chelsea extend their lead on one of, if not both of City and the Saints, as they face each other on Sunday. Chelsea’s odds have shortened further to go unbeaten in the Premier League and they are now priced at 13/1 to last the season with 888sport.

Diego Costa scored yet again last weekend and now brings his tally for the season to eleven goals in ten games, and has averaged a goal every 76 minutes. An incredible 80.8% of Costa’s 26 shots have been on target this season, and the Spaniard scores a goal every 2.36 shots he has, which is quite astounding in comparison to the league’s top scorer Sergio Aguero, who averages a goal every 3.92 shots, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

At the other end of the pitch, Thibaut Courtois has been a key man in between the sticks. Courtois has featured in every Premier League match this season, and has kept three clean sheets so far this season. The Belgian keeper has recorded 2.4 saves to every goal he has conceded, and has let in under a goal a game (0.91 per game), according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Against West Brom last weekend, man of the match Cesc Fabregas set a Premier League record. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, Fabregas successfully completed 144 passes against The Baggies, which equates to 1.6 passes per minute. The next highest total in the Premier League last weekend was 93, recorded by Ryan Mason, a whole 51 passes less. Fabregas has now completed 923 successful passes this season, the most of any player in the division, and has covered the second most ground of any Premier League player (142.1km).

Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton — Sunday 4pm

Tottenham play Everton this Sunday in a bid to gain an advantage over the Toffees in the league standings. The two sides sit level on points, but Everton boast the superior goal difference and as such are above Spurs. This game could be seen as a potential six-pointer in the quest for European football and Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping his side can make a big statement by winning on Sunday.

Last weekend, Ryan Mason made the second most passes in the Premier League, behind Cesc Fabregas, completing 93 passes over the course of the game, averaging out at more than a pass per minute. Mason had a pass completion rate of 90.3% and this combined with other recent performances means Mason is beginning to become a firm favourite of Mauricio Pochettino.

On the subject of the manager’s favourites, Hugo Lloris is the only player to have played every minute of Premier League football for Spurs this season. The Frenchman has repaid his managers faith, making a total of 32 saves over the course of the first twelve games. Lloris is also well known for his footballing ability and being a ‘sweeper keeper’. He appears to have limited this a tad under his new manager, but nevertheless has still covered more ground (57.3km) than players such as Charlie Adam (57.0km) and Edin Dzeko (56.2km). With 888sport you can get odds of 17/5 for Tottenham to win with a clean sheet.

From covering ground to speed, Eric Dier has recorded Tottenham’s fastest sprint speed this season. The former Sporting Lisbon man was clocked running at 35.0km/h and has been proven tough to beat in a one on one situation. Dier has put his speed to good use this season too, having completed a total of 428 sprints in the games so far.

Everton will be keen to pull away from Tottenham by clinching a vital three points this Saturday, as Roberto Martinez will no doubt see Spurs as one of their main threats as they battle to finish in the top six this season.

Phil Jagielka has made an impressive start to the campaign, being the only ever-present outfielder in the Everton side. The skipper has made 117 clearances in the league so far, which ranks him 5th in the entire division for said statistic, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Romelu Lukaku has had a lot of pressure on him to justify his £28m transfer from Chelsea, but the frontman has managed to net five goals in twelve matches and has averaged a goal every 190 minutes, equating to almost a goal every other game. Lukaku has recorded fifteen of his 26 shots on target, which is a squad best, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Lukaku is 17/10 to score anytime with 888sport.

James McCarthy is now a regular in the heart of Everton’s midfield, and with good reason according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. McCarthy has covered 10.7km per league game on average; the most of any Everton player, and his energy has proved an important part of Everton’s style of play. In addition to his work rate, McCarthy has also completed more tackles than anyone else in his squad (30) and he is likely to be key if Everton are to earn a result this Sunday.

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team.

Photo: Action Images



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