Sport
Race to POTY – Matchday 1
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Who will stand out as the best player in the Premier League over the 2018/19 season? @DaveTindallgolf provides Colossus Bets with a brand new feature, analysing who are the most effective and consistent players across the whole of the campaign. Let’s see who tops the rankings after the first weekend…
1/ Sadio Mane
After excellent goals on opening day in the last two seasons and ending the previous campaign with an equaliser in the Champions League final, Mane looked a good contender to start the season fast. He did so with two in a 4-0 Liverpool romp against West Ham, twisting to fire home James Milner’s cross and, despite being suspiciously (okay blatantly) offside, again turning sharply to thump home in the second half. He also looked to strike up a useful partnership with former Leipzig teammate Naby Keita. The standout of Liverpool’ deadly attacking trident at the weekend.
2/ Richarlison
So this is why Everton forked out what looked like silly money for the Brazilian in the summer. Richarlison started his debut season with Watford in eye-catching fashion but faded horribly, failing to score with any of his last 53 shots in a Hornets shirt. He probably just needed a break and after getting it with his first goal following a lucky bounce he took his second with aplomb. Two goals on your debut for a new club…. what a way to silence the doubters.
3/ Raheem Sterling
Zero goals in the World Cup or in his last 26 games for England but put him back in a Man City shirt and the script changes. Sterling looked bright from the start and got City’s opener thanks to a sideways dribble and thumping shot past Peter Cech. A nice way to bring up 50 Premier League goals and, in terms of impact, that’s now five goals and seven assists in his last 12 Man City appearances.
4/ Paul Pogba
The Premier League’s biggest enigma but his display in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Leicester on Friday night was more World Cup winner Pogba rather than last-season’s disgruntled soul in red. The Frenchman was given the chance to set the tone on just three minutes and, despite a strange trotting run-up, blasted his penalty into the back of the net. After that, cool, composed and classy.
5/ Roberto Pereyra
The Argentine striker has struggled to justify the £13m fee paid to Juventus two years ago but showed his obvious class with a double in Watford’s 2-0 win over Brighton. The right-foot volley to open the scoring was an early goal-of-the-month contender and his curled second wasn’t bad either. Now can he do it again better calibre of opposition?
6/ Wilfried Zaha
Popped up with the killer second goal to wrap up the points for Palace v Brighton and delight fantasy managers up and down the land.
7/ Naby Keita
Worth the wait. Loads of promise in his much-anticipated debut for Liverpool.
8/ Mohamed Salah
Same old, same old. Liverpool play, Salah scores. A tap-in sent the Reds on their way.
9/ N’Golo Kante
All the usual good stuff and added a goal too in Chelsea’s 3-0 cruise at Huddersfield. He’s having a nice summer.
10/ Ruben Neves
Brilliant fee-kick pulled Wolves level against Everton and he set up the second equaliser for Raul Jimenez.
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