Premier League

Premier League: Brilliant Barkley dominates Everton

The former Toffees star ran the match in midfield for Chelsea, and is joined in the Top Five by two team-mates

 
9:00am on Tuesday 10th March 2020
By
Martin Macdonald
Ross Barkley
M, AM (C) - Chelsea - 26 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
9.8
Mar 8, 2020

Chelsea put in one of their most dominant performances of the season as Everton were defeated 4-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Ross Barkley running the show from midfield into the final third.

He contributed to the scoreline with two assists, with his first probably being the assist of the weekend as he sent a gorgeous first time pass in behind the Everton defence for Pedro. Willian was the beneficiary of his second assist after a neat pass into the feet of the Brazilian.

Even if you were to take away his assists he was fantastic, as he completed a remarkable 57/58 passes, 21 of which were sent into the final third.

He also made eight ball recoveries, and won 9/13 duels.

Harvey Barnes
AM, W (L) - Leicester City - 22 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
9.3
Mar 9, 2020

Harvey Barnes was in great form for Leicester as they beat Aston Villa 4-0 on Monday night, with him contributing two goals.

He was given a massive helping hand for his first, though, as Pepe Reina inexplicably ran out from goal to close him down, only to miss the ball completely. Barnes did show impressive composure to still find the back of the net despite various defender being in his way.

From there the confidence was flowing, as displayed by how emphatically he scored his second with a lashed first-time effort at the near post after the assist from Marc Albrighton.

He had 12 touches inside the Villa box, which was more than anyone else this weekend.

Willian
W (RL) - Chelsea - 31 yrs
71'
8.7
Mar 8, 2020

Willian was another excellent performer for Frank Lampard's side, as he recorded a goal and an assist.

His goal was probably the best of the day as he picked up the aforementioned pass from Barkley before drilling a low strike into the bottom left corner, with the perfect connection leaving the keeper with no chance.

To give Chelsea their fourth, he exchanged a quick one-two with Billy Gilmour from a corner before sending a first time cross to the back post for Olivier Giroud to score from close range.

That was one of five successful crosses he sent into the area.

Virgil van Dijk
D (C) - Liverpool - 28 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
8.5
Mar 7, 2020

Virgil van Dijk put in a commanding outing for Liverpool as the Reds got back to winning ways after two straight domestic defeats.

He contributed to the second goal with an assist for Sadio Mane, threading a lovely ball through the middle after showing composure inside the centre circle.

His distribution from the back was, quite frankly, outrageous, as he completed 121/131 balls to team-mates which was more than anyone in this round of Premier League fixtures, while he also enjoyed 137 touches of the ball.

Defensively, he won 8/12 duels and 7/11 aerial duels.

Mason Mount
AM, M (C) - Chelsea - 21 yrs
60'
8.5
Mar 8, 2020

It was a toss up between Willian and Mason Mount as to who scored the best goal of the game for Chelsea against Everton, as the latter's was a belter also.

It was Mount's that actually opened the scoring 14 minutes in. After some good work by Pedro down the left wing, the Englishman received the ball to feet a yard inside the box and took one touch before swivelling sharply to send a half volley into the bottom left corner. All done in the one motion, too.

Thereafter the goalscoring would belong to his team-mates, but he still looked extremely confident and contributed with 40/43 passes and 8/10 duels won.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Dani Ceballos (8.5) was Arsenal's pass master of the game as he completed 86/98 balls to team-mates, 33 of which were sent into the final third. Only Ilkay Gundogan of Man City sent more into the final third this week.

They had to rely on Bernd Leno (8.5) being on form between the sticks as he made six saves to earn his clean sheet.

The best save of the bunch came in the second half as he stood tall in his goal to stretch out a hand and claw away a header from Michail Antonio, while he also rushed off his line to confront Sebastian Haller who was through on goal previously.

ROUND TO FORGET

Ederson (4.4) may love playing out from the back, but after nearly gifting Anthony Martial a goal against Man Utd with a poor touch, he eventually did concede after an error after he sent a ball out straight to the feet of Scott McTominay.

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