Hazard on fire: Saturday's Premier League man of the match winners
With seven games of varying quality to digest in today’s Premier League action we run through the man of the match performances around the grounds.
Son Heung-Min - TOTTENHAM 1-0 Newcastle
With the Magpies within minutes of another fantastic result and Tottenham on course for a first draw of the season, the hosts looked to a familiar face to swing the game in their favour. Despite only recently returning to the club from international duty the South Korean scored for a second game running with one of five shots at goal and completed four dribbles for a rating of 7.97.
Craig Cathcart - Brighton 0-0 WATFORD
Having scored in each of his previous two Premier League appearances Cathcart couldn’t make it a hat-trick but did earn a man of the match rating in a drab game at Brighton. The hosts had the better of the game but the Hornets centre-back was on top form, winning four aerial duels, two tackles and match-high figures of eight interceptions and ten clearances for a score of 8.46.
Nathan Redmond - Burnley 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON
So nearly the match winner at Turf Moor, Redmond could hold his head high despite Burnley’s late leveller and has been a player reborn under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. The 24-year-old opened the scoring with a fine strike to take his tally in all competitions to six under the Austrian having failed to score beforehand all season. A further five successful dribbles earned the forward a rating of 8.13.
Eden Hazard - CHELSEA 5-0 Huddersfield
On another day a number of Blues stars could have claimed the man of the match award as they bounce back in style from a humiliating defeat at Bournemouth but Hazard was simply unplayable. The Belgian scored his 11th and 12th league goals of the season from four shots in total but it was his dribbling that was just too hot for Huddersfield to handle. Not only did the 28-year-old complete the most in a single game all season, with 12, but he was successfully with every one of his attempts. His perfect 10 rating was thoroughly deserved.
Jeffrey Schlupp - CRYSTAL PALACE 2-0 Fulham
Ensuring all three points with a late goal against Fulham, Schlupp bagged his fourth of the season from one of four shots and was defensively assured too, chipping in with three tackles and three interceptions for a rating of 7.98.
Leander Dendoncker - Everton 1-3 WOLVES
It was a commanding display in midfield from the Belgian, who has had to bide his time to make an impact at Wolves. This was undoubtedly his strongest performance yet, capped by the visitors’ crucial third goal, and while he had three shots in total and completed two dribbles it was a match-high of eight tackles that ensured Everton couldn’t get a foothold in the game and a rating of 8.83 for his efforts.
Bobby Reid - CARDIFF 2-0 Bournemouth
On an emotionally charged evening in Cardiff summer signing Reid proved the match-winner for the hosts, scoring with both of his attempts at goal. With a further two dribbles and one tackle he was the pick of the bunch in a match of few chances, earning a rating of 8.14.
