EA Sports gives us their unique preview to this weekend's match against West Brom.
An excellent display from a Southampton side that had supposedly been greatly weakened over the summer was not rewarded with the points it deserved as a late strike from Daniel Sturridge snatched a draw away from the Saints. Nathaniel Clyne finished off a fine team move to draw Southampton back level after they fell behind but Ronald Koeman’s side’s superb team performance was not quite enough to see them head back to the south coast will anything to show for their efforts.
Powerhouse Saints midfielder Victor Wanyama made a typically robust start to the season last weekend. The tough-tackling Kenyan won the joint highest number of tackles in the first round of fixtures (9), placing him level with Crystal Palace’s Mile Jedinak. This gives Wanyama a tackle success rate of 81.8%, a figure that his manager Ronald Koeman will be hoping can be maintained throughout the season as Wanyama protects the Saints back four.
According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, centre-back Jose Fonte appears determined to continue his exceptional reading of the game from last term into the new season. The Portuguese defender completed six interceptions, placing him second in the league behind only Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt.
Morgan Schneiderlin turned in a typically committed and technical performance as the midfield anchor against Liverpool, showing some of the touches that have made the Saints so keen to retain his services. His total of 25 completed passes in the opponent’s half was the highest of any Southampton player at Anfield and his incisive distribution will no doubt be a key factor in their campaign this season.
Youngster James Ward-Prowse has been tipped for big things by those in the know at Southampton but he showed last weekend that he’s willing to put in a shift as well as pick a pass. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, only Morgan Schneiderlin covered more ground than Ward-Prowse, who ran for an excellent 11.8km against Liverpool.
A double from Saido Berahino was not enough to secure all three points for West Brom as they eventually drew 2-2 with a game Sunderland.
Berahino’s two goals unsurprisingly marked him out as his side’s most effective attacking force against Sunderland. His overall shot accuracy rate of 75% from four attempts is something Baggies’ fans will be hoping he can maintain as the season progresses. You can Berahino at just 11/4 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Midfielder Youssuff Mulumbu once again marked himself out as one of the key defensive lynchpins of this West Brom side last weekend, his tough tackling and reading of the game creating space for the players in front of him to flourish. He completed the joint highest number of defensive contributions (blocks, clearances, tackles won, interceptions) of any West Brom player last weekend with seven to his name.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.