Names of the Premier League is our weekly wrap on Just Football of the star names of each week’s top-flight action. While everyone gets their knickers in a twist about the Gabriel / Diego Costa handbags, here are the main players who did their talking on the field….
Anthony Martial, Manchester United
Anthony Martial continued his remarkable start to life at Old Trafford by bagging a brace as Manchester United came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory at Southampton.
The 19-year-old once again left those who called the Frenchman a waste of money after his deadline day move feeling a little sheepish by scoring two well-taken goals, the first in particular demonstrating composure and technique beyond his 19 years. A beautiful turn inside the area lost Saints defender Virgil Van Dijk, leaving Martial with a simple finish to level the game after Graziano Pelle had given Southampton the lead.
Martial then showed great strikers instinct to put United ahead by capitalising on a poor back pass from Maya Yoshida, scoring his third Manchester United goal in just three attempts on target.
50' – GOAL!!!!!! Southampton 1 United 2. Martial with his second. #mufc pic.twitter.com/0U8HkJBvKr
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 20, 2015
The youngster seemed to handle the pressure of his first Premier League start with ease, cutting the figure of a far more experienced striker, demonstrating great composure and confidence on the ball as he helped United up to second in the table.
SEE ALSO: Why Man United new boy Anthony Martial can become one of the world’s best strikers
Odion Ighalo, Watford
After a resounding 2-0 defeat away at West Ham on Monday night, Newcastle fans might have been forgiven for thinking that a home game against newly-promoted Watford was exactly what Steve McClaren’s side needed to get their season back on track.
Watford striker Odion Ighalo quickly shattered those illusions, however, when he got his side off to a perfect start in the 10th minute, beating Tim Krul at the near post. The striker had spurned a number of chances prior to his first goal, but made no mistake with his second, rounding the Newcastle goalkeeper to put the Hornets two goals up after just half an hour.
The afternoon could have been much worse for Newcastle fans had Watford capitalised on their first-half dominance, but a markedly improved second half showed some brief glimpses of promise.
The performance of Daryl Janmaat was one reason for optimism as the Dutch full-back continued to be Newcastle’s most dangerous player going forward, scoring their first goal since the opening game of the season.
Newcastle fans made their frustrations clear both during and after the game, but credit must go to Watford and Ighalo in particular for taking full advantage; the Nigerian international now boasts 20 goals in 24 league games in 2015.
Newcastle 1-2 Watford. Odion Ighalo has more goals than anyone else in the top four tiers in 2015 (20 in 24 games) pic.twitter.com/S7OUioNzP7
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 20, 2015
Matt Ritchie, Bournemouth
The 1,200 Sunderland fans who made the 700-mile round trip to Bournemouth can at least say that they witnessed an early contender for goal of the season.
Unfortunately, their side conceded it, Matt Ritchie sending a sensational volley right into the top left hand corner from outside the box after controlling the ball on his chest. Ritchie’s superb 9th minute volley was befitting of an excellent overall Bournemouth performance, who look to be starting to enjoy life in the Premier League as they coupled their first home win with their first clean sheet in a 2-0 victory.
The Black Cats fans have little to be cheerful about at the moment – bottom of the table following a fourth defeat of the season. Ritchie isn’t new to scoring spectacular goals, but much to the dismay of Sunderland fans, his first cracker in the top flight might just be his best.
SEE ALSO: Matt Ritchie and 9 other Fantasy Premier League bargain buys for your team
Winston Reid, West Ham
West Ham’s victory at league leaders Manchester City was all the more remarkable given that City had yet to concede a league goal prior to the game, but perhaps the most impressive achievement from the Hammers was limiting a City side who were chasing the game for almost the full 90 minutes to just one goal.
Instrumental to this accomplishment was centre-back Winston Reid, who successfully kept at bay over £300 million worth of City players determined to get back into the game, after Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho had given West Ham a 2-0 lead.
Kevin De Bruyne did find a way through to get a goal on his debut, but Reid made the most clearances (21) and interceptions (four) during the match, while he also won back possession for his side (nine) more than any other player to grind out a 2-1 victory for West Ham.
The victory maintained West Ham’s 100% away record, the London side looking increasingly like a side who like to hit teams on the break following impressive away wins at Arsenal and Liverpool.
Heung-Min Son, Tottenham Hotspur
The nation’s headline writers will be enjoying Tottenham forward Heung-Min Son’s current goalscoring form, as the South Korean added to his midweek Europa League brace by scoring the winner in a closely fought game against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The 23-year-old #JF60 alumni has settled into life in the Premier League quickly following his switch to White Hart Lane from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, demonstrating the strength and tenacity needed to succeed in the English game.
These attributes and more were on display as Son powered past Palace defender Brede Hangeland and smashed the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to score the winner, as Spurs secured their second successive 1-0 victory in the league.
Son: "I'm really happy that we've won and I've scored. This is a very good win for us and it was hard work." #COYS pic.twitter.com/wpGnboIj30
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 20, 2015
Saido Berahino, West Bromwich Albion
After a deadline day fiasco in which Saido Berahino took to Twitter to declare he would never play for Jeremy Peace again, many Baggies fans said the only way they could ever forgive the young striker was if he were to get the winner against Aston Villa in the Midlands derby.
Shortly after the 40th minute of this weekend’s game against Villa at the Hawthorns, West Brom fans were singing Berahino’s name. James Morrison’s shot from outside the box came rifling towards him, and the 22-year-old managed to stick out a toe to divert the ball past a helpless Brad Guzan and into the back of the net.
The goal was Berahino’s only touch in Aston Villa’s penalty area during the game, but West Brom fans might just forget about that infamous tweet if his next few touches in the opposition box yield similar results.
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