Premier League round-up: Salah, Pogba and De Bruyne among star man performers

 

Here we run through the WhoScored Man of the Match awards from the nine completed Premier League matches from the weekend’s action.

 

Leicester 0-1 Newcastle - Fabian Schar - 8.15 rating

 

Newcastle took a giant leap towards securing their Premier League status for another season after winning 1-0 away to Leicester on Friday night. Newcastle managed just 28% possession against the Foxes and did magnificently well to hold on to a clean sheet. Fabian Schar turned in yet another eye-catching display at the back for the away side, making seven clearances and completing 10 tackles and interceptions combined.

 

Tottenham 4-0 Huddersfield - Lucas Moura  - 10.0 rating

 

Lucas Moura turned in a very timely performance in Tottenham’s thumping 4-0 win over Huddersfield, netting his first hat-trick for the club. With Harry Kane expected to miss the rest of the season, Tottenham need others to step up with goals and Moura proved on Saturday he is ready to deputise for his team-mate. Moura hit the target with all four of his attempts and completed two dribbles to garner the only perfect WhoScored 10 rating across the weekend’s Premier League action.

 

Southampton 3-1 Wolves - Nathan Redmond - 8.92 rating

 

Southampton are now eight points clear of the bottom three after capitalising on Wolves’ FA Cup hangover from last weekend. Nathan Redmond scored twice in the victory to take his tally for the season to five in the league. The 25-year-old hit the target with three of his four attempts on goal and completed four dribbles in another impressive display under Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

 

Fulham 2-0 Everton - Ryan Babel - 8.49 rating

 

Fulham are already dead and buried but showed heart to grind out their first Premier League victory since the end of January. Ryan Babel has fluffed his lines in crucial moments this season but found his verve against Everton, playing a direct hand in both goals. Babel assisted Tom Cairney’s first league goal of the season before finishing off the game with more than 20 minutes remaining. The 32-year-old registered three key passes in total, completed as many dribbles and tackles.

 

Brighton 0-5 Bournemouth - Callum Wilson - 9.16 rating

 

Bournemouth scored 20% of their away league goals this season in Saturday’s 5-0 victory away to Brighton. Callum Wilson played a direct hand in three of Bournemouth’s goals to take the WhoScored Man of the Match award from team-mate Dan Gosling. Wilson scored from his only shot of the goal and registered two assists from his only key passes.

 

Burnley 2-0 Cardiff - Chris Wood - 9.15 rating  

 

Burnley held off Cardiff’s best efforts to run out 2-0 winners and move to within touching distance of safety. Chris Wood took his league tally for the season to 10 goals after a two-goal salvo against Cardiff, while also being denied by the woodwork. Wood hit the target with three of his five shots, while registering two key passes and winning six aerial duels. The 27-year-old also made two clearances to help his side keep a clean sheet.

 

 

Manchester United 2-1 West Ham - Paul Pogba - 8.01 rating


Manchester United were fortunate to come away with three points at home to West Ham by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s own admission. Paul Pogba put talk about his future to one side and showed great composure from the penalty spot on two occasions to win it for the home side. Pogba had four shots on target, won two aerial duels and made three tackles and interceptions combined.The 26-year-old now has 13 league goals for the season and nine assists.

 

Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester City - Kevin De Bruyne - 9.16 rating

 

Pep Guardiola’s decision to rest Kevin De Bruyne in midweek was vindicated after the Belgian turned in a man of the match performance in a vital 3-1 win away to Crystal Palace. De Bruyne registered two assists from six key passes and fired off four attempts on goal. The 27-year-old had 96 touches and found team-mates from two crosses. Not only that, but he also completed two dribbles and won more tackles than any other team-mate (five).

 

Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea - Mohamed Salah - 8.62 rating

 

Liverpool responded to Manchester City’s win on Sunday by defeating top-six rivals Chelsea on home soil for the first time since 2012. Liverpool scored twice in the space of two-second-half minutes to wrap up all three points, with Mohamed Salah doubling Liverpool’s advantage with a long-range thunderbolt. Salah burst into life after his goal and finished the match with three shots on target, four key passes and as many dribbles.

Premier League round-up: Salah, Pogba and De Bruyne among star man performers