Alexis Sanchez, Daniel Sturridge, Mbabu… Names of the Premier League, week 7

Names of the Premier League is our weekly wrap on Just Football of the star names of each week’s top-flight action. Here are the star men you need to know about from week 7….

Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez had hit 53 shots in the Premier League without scoring prior to Arsenal’s game this weekend, but that barren spell was finally ended when the Chilean international tucked away three of his seven shots against Leicester City in a 5-2 victory.

Saturday’s hat-trick at the King Power Stadium will have eased concerns over the way Sanchez had started the season at Arsenal. He was clinical in ending Leicester’s unbeaten start to the season, helping his side come from behind to record an important victory. The 26-year-old joined Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud on the scoresheet to cancel out a brace from Jamie Vardy, doubling Arsenal’s goal tally for the season to ten.

Vamos por más arsenal … we go for more Arsenal ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/T60ZqL0Fru

— Alexis Sánchez (@Alexis_Sanchez) September 26, 2015

SEE ALSO: Player Analysis – Is Mesut Ozil living up to expectations at Arsenal?

Eric Dier, Tottenham

Tottenham’s 4-1 demolition of Manchester City this weekend will have delighted Spurs fans for a number of reasons, not least of all Harry Kane getting off the mark for the season and banishing memories of their midweek League Cup defeat to rivals Arsenal in the process. However, the victory also highlighted the promising ability of Eric Dier, who continues to be a revelation in defensive midfield for the north London side.

The England Under-21 international, partnered in midfield by fellow England youngster Dele Alli, kept a far more experienced City midfield quiet for much of the game, and his goal from outside the box just before half-time did his growing reputation no harm either.

Dier, more accustomed to playing centre-back, sent a rocket skimming across the turf at White Hart Lane and into the bottom left corner to equalise after Kevin De Bruyne had put City ahead, setting his side up perfectly for a dominant second-half performance in which goals from Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and Erik Lamela gave Tottenham a memorable win.

Juan Mata, Manchester United

Manchester United’s game against Sunderland was in danger of being considered a formality with the visitors on such a poor run, but goals from Memphis Depay (his first in the league), Wayne Rooney, and Juan Mata ensured that the Red Devils avoided any complacency to secure a comprehensive 3-0 victory and return to the top of the Premier League for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign.

Rooney narrowly avoided an unwelcome record of going 1000 minutes without a Premier League goal when he added to Depay’s first-half injury time opener early in the second half, but the standout performance, however, came from Mata, who, having provided Depay with United’s first, then sealed the victory with a goal of his own in the final minutes, rounding off an impressive midfield display that allowed his side to take full advantage of City’s early kick-off slip up at Spurs.

Happy days! @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/sOBF3U1N8S

— Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) September 26, 2015

SEE ALSO: How does Juan Mata perform in the big games for Manchester United?

Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool

They say timing is everything in football, and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers might be thanking his lucky stars that Daniel Sturridge timed his recovery from hip surgery to coincide with the Reds’ game against Aston Villa.

Having missed the majority of last season, the England international returned to start a game that many were speculating could be Rodgers’ last if Liverpool were to lose.

James Milner eased the pressure almost immediately by scoring the quickest goal of the season so far to give Liverpool the lead, but two well-taken goals from Sturridge proved crucial as Rudy Gestede twice hauled Aston Villa back into the game.

Sturridge showed no signings of having lost his predatory instincts during his lengthy spell out, making the most of his chances to give Rodgers a much needed three points.

Sturridge now boasts a better Premier League scoring record at Liverpool than the likes of Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler; his 37 goals in 57 appearances representing a goal to game ratio of 0.65, edging second placed Torres’ ratio of 0.64 from 65 goals in 102 appearances.

Ima Count my blessings… Result was a wavedown, 3 points in the bag. #redordead #dstudge https://t.co/vPqQvxLs4k

— Daniel Sturridge (@D_Sturridge) September 26, 2015

Kevin Mbabu, Newcastle United

More than a few eyebrows were raised when the line-ups were announced for Chelsea’s visit to St James’ Park on Saturday night, with Kevin Mbabu handed his Premier League debut at left-back and given the simple task of keeping World Cup winner Pedro quiet.

The biggest shock will have been to Mbabu himself, who reportedly learned of his debut just an hour beforehand, but many Newcastle fans were also surprised to see the 20-year-old start as a result of manager Steve McClaren’s reluctance to break up the partnership of Fabricio Coloccini and Chancel Mbemba in central defence; the latter of which might have represented a more experienced replacement at left-back.

The former England manager’s decision was ultimately rewarded however, as Mbabu put in an almost faultless performance to earn Newcastle an unlikely, and important, point against last season’s champions to continue Jose Mourinho’s difficult record at St James’ Park with a 2-2 draw.

After building a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Ayoze Perez and Georginio Wijnaldum, Newcastle might feel disappointed not to have secured their first victory of the season, but goals from Ramires and Willian in the final ten minutes to pull Chelsea level could have been among many more had Mbabu not been solid in the left-back role. Mbabu won 9 tackles – more than any other player on the pitch.

Romelu Lukaku, Everton

Monday night, 2-0 down, away from home and your team is in big trouble. What do you do?

Well, if you’re Romelu Lukaku the answer is simple: pull your socks up, fire in one goal, set up an equaliser, score the winner and then leave the field to a standing ovation from all four corners of the pitch.

It was a show of class from West Bromwich Albion supporters to clap off Lukaku after witnessing him tear their team apart at the Hawthorns, turning dreams of a routine win over Everton to dust. But not as classy as Lukaku’s second half display, in which the Belgian international was, simply, unplayable.

Named in the #JF60 best young players in the Premier League this year, Lukaku perhaps doesn’t get enough credit given how young he is – still under 23 despite seemingly being around forever. Another assist – his second in five games compared to five in 36 last season – also shows encouraging signs of improvement in his all-round game. Another reasons for the Toffees, up to fifth, to be satisfied. (JF)

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