Mousa Dembele- It was just a matter of time before he got his name on the scoresheet. The Belgian international has been manager Mauricio Pochettino’s favourite for a long time and one cannot just explain how significant his involvement has been in the team. The 29-year-old snatched his first goal this season against Bournemouth when Spurs ran riot over the Cherries last week.
The absence of either Toby Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen for the most part of the season has always forced central midfielder Eric Dier to take his position at the heart of the defence. And if not for Dembele’s brilliant displays alongside Victory Wanyama in the middle of the park, Tottenham would be lingering with the likes of Everton and Stoke City that had been the case in the past with them.
If Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli have been Spurs’ best playmakers this season, Dembele is definitely the one pulling the strings from deep midfield.
Xherdan Shaqiri- His importance in the Stoke City side is unimaginable. Although Mark Hughes has done brilliantly without the injury-plagued winger, whose league appearances have been reduced to just 16 appearances so far, Stoke City looks a totally different side with the Swiss international on the side.
The 25-year-old has scored four goals and registered two assists only, and last week’s game against Hull City was one of those games. He set up the first goal for Marko Arnautovic right in the sixth minute and his teammate repaid it in the closing minutes as Shaqiri’s goal sealed the game for the Potters.
Ander Herrera- His performance seemed like the completion of the full circle that had started from Manchester United’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup quarters. Jose Mourinho’s tactics were hardly different that day but it didn’t click as the Spanish international was sent off quite early in the game.
It was not to happen this time as the 27-year-old came fully prepared. He hardly gave any breathing space to Hazard on the right attacking midfield and when the ball struck his hand falling kindly to his feet, he provided the silkiest of passes to pick up Marcus Rashford behind David Luiz. Chelsea were left with no plan B as N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic lacked creative attributes to set up Diego Costa.
Jose Mourinho has been mulling over the options of Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger as a perfect partner for Paul Pogba for almost the whole season, and it seems like his search has finally ended.
