There weren’t obscene scorelines to analyse or goal fests, unlike last week where Liverpool demolished Watford with their attacking trio scoring and assisting at will. Even Chelsea decided to finish with a sane scoreline instead of the one where Eden Hazard competed with the likes of Coutinho, Firmino and Mane for our wee bit attention. Teams were visibly tired after an unwanted International break and it was one of the reasons for the conventional scorelines across the top-flight.
While there were many defenders who stood out along with strikers, who won matches for their sides, we will now take a look at 3 midfielders who stood out and contributed to their team’s wins.
YAYA TOURE (MANCHESTER CITY)
WHAT.A.COMEBACK. Pep Guardiola gave many people a shock when Yaya’s name was announced on the team sheet against Palace. Toure had apologised on behalf of his agent but it was understood he was still far down in the pecking order.
Thus, to see him in the starting 11 in a Premier League away game was indeed a shock. But nonetheless, the big Ivorian made his detractors look like fools as he scored a brace on his return and won the game single-handedly for the Sky Blues. He is almost like a new signing for City, with the busy December period settling in.
JUAN MATA (MANCHESTER UNITED)
The much-hyped match between Arsenal and Manchester United failed to live up to the expectations. While it was widely believed the Gunners would be bossing the game given their current form, it was business as usual as they stepped on to the Old Trafford grass. They were disjointed and lacked belief.
But giving credit where it is due, United were the better side and their dominance was rewarded when Juan Mata arrived in the box to slide a sweet first-time shot after getting at the end of Herrera’s perfect cut-back. The Special Juan, as the fans are calling him, has been United’s best player till now.
ETIENNE CAPOUE (WATFORD)
The former Tottenham man just can’t stop scoring this season. After covering for a wafer thin attacking midfield initially and scoring 4 goals in the process, he had gone back to fortifying the midfield which is his primary position. But along with strengthening the midfield and doing his defensive work admirably, he also scored his 5th goal of the season which contributed to his side’s 2-1 win over reigning Champions Leicester City.
Watford thus remain in the 8th position and have Capoue to thank for covering admirably for their misfiring strikers. Mazzarri seems to have formulated a way to squeeze the best out of Capoue, which bodes well for the forthcoming matches.
