Sterling the star of the show from Saturday's Premier League performances

 

After another day of drama in the Premier League, with upsets and comeback victories to enjoy, we take our customary look into the man of the match performances from the seven fixtures this Saturday.

Dale Stephens - 8.04: Crystal Palace 1-2 BRIGHTON

While Anthony Knockaert’s stunning strike stole the headlines at Selhurst Park the excellent all round contribution of Stephens in the middle of the park for the Seagulls was pivotal to the win. The 29-year-old sprayed the long pass to set up the aforementioned Frenchman’s match-winner - his first assist of the season - while the Brighton man produced seven tackles, six clearances and three interceptions to keep the hosts at bay.

Josh Murphy - 7.81: CARDIFF 2-0 West Ham

He may not have been on the scoresheet as Cardiff picked up a crucial victory over the Hammers but Murphy posed a real threat to the away side. The winger registered the assist for Junior Hoilett’s early strike and created three chances in total, while testing Lukasz Fabianski with a shot on target and weighing in with two interceptions and three clearances.

Ryan Fraser - 8.55: Huddersfield 0-2 BOURNEMOUTH

Having been a little subdued by his early season standards in recent weeks the fact that Fraser returned to form when Callum Wilson came back from injury was no coincidence. The Scotland international set up the striker to open the scoring - becoming only the fifth player in Europe’s top five leagues to register ten assists this season - before his teammate returned the favour as the winger took his own goal tally to six.

 

 

Jamie Vardy - 9.17: LEICESTER 3-1 Fulham

After a frustrating first half of the season Vardy had a modest seven goals to his name in his opening 21 league appearances but the former England international is back on form under new boss Brendan Rodgers. The 32-year-old scored twice to earn Leicester all three points - taking his tally to five in his last five games - having also registered the assist for Youri Tielemans’ opener.

Ayoze Perez - 9.34: NEWCASTLE 3-2 Everton

Like Vardy, Perez had a hand in all three goals for Newcastle as Rafa Benitez’s side secured a dramatic win having trailed 2-0 at half-time. After Jordan Pickford avoided a red card for hauling down Salomon Rondon in the box and Matt Ritchie missed the subsequent penalty in the first half, the hosts clearly felt a sense of injustice that ultimately inspired them to victory. Perez was the second half hero, teeing up Rondon’s opener before scoring a late double of his own having had five shots, completed three dribbles, three tackles and created two chances.

Christian Eriksen - 7.72: Southampton 2-1 TOTTENHAM

The only man of the match winner to end up on the losing side from today’s action, Eriksen came as close as possible to ensuring Spurs avoided an upset. The Dane struck the woodwork with one of three shots - hitting the target with the other two - while creating four chances and chipping in with three tackles.

Raheem Sterling - 9.45: MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 Watford

 

Saving the best until last in Saturday's Premier League performances, Raheem Sterling ensured that a game that threatened to prove a stumbling block to City's title tilt was a smooth road after the interval. With the match goalless at the break the England international scored within a minute of the second half and had bagged a match-winning hat-trick within 15 minutes, taking his league goal tally to 15 in the process. With five shots in total and 37 accurate passes out of 38 attempts the 24-year-old was not only man of the match but man of the matchday.

Sterling the star of the show from Saturday's Premier League performances