The very first Matchday of the 2018/19 Premier League season ended with a bang as it witnessed some mouth-watering matches which kept the audience on their toes.
We, at Mad About EPL, have already covered the three new signings who performed well in our previous article and in this piece, we will discuss three midfielders who have excelled in game week 1.
#3 Paul Pogba
Coming on the back of an excellent 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign, Paul Pogba once again starred in Manchester United‘s edgy win over Newcastle United.
The Frenchman, who was a key figure in France’s World Cup triumph earlier this summer, scored the opener with a coolly converted spot kick just minutes after the kick-off. But, aside from his goal, he played an integral role in United’s overall gameplay, completing six dribbles, more than anyone else on the pitch.
In addition, he also attempted four tackles, won two aerials duels as well as making a couple of clearances. It was evident that his partnership with Andreas Pereira and new signing Fred brought stability in the Manchester United midfield, which will be a promising side for Jose Mourinho, who will be keen on posing a strong threat for the title this season.
And Pogba, as the captain, could play a central feature by leading this rather young of United players, who are definitely showing a lot of potential in this new campaign.
#2 James Milner
James Milner enjoyed a peach of a game as Liverpool started their campaign in emphatic fashion with a 4:0 win over West Ham United.
The former Manchester City star played a key role in midfield alongside Fabinho and Naby Keita, both of whom enjoyed an impressive Premier League debuts. But, it was Milner who stole the show, thanks to his immense work-ethic and industry in midfield.
He completed as many as 110 passes with a stunning accuracy of 93%, more than anyone else on matchday 1 of this season’s Premier League. Additionally, he provided a great cross for Sadio Mane’s goal as Liverpool extended their lead just before halftime.
Milner was also spot on with his defensive work-rate, making two tackles, three blocks and one interception while winning two aerial duels. However, it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his consistency in the upcoming games.
#1 Roberto Pereyra
Arguably the second best player of the matchday after Sadio Mane, Pereyra played a starring role as Watford started their campaign with a 2:0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
The former Juventus star scored both of Watford’s goal and was a constant threat from midfield. His immense technical qualities coupled with his ball-carrying abilities made him a clear danger man for the Brighton defence, who clearly failed to cope with his dynamism in the final third.
Although Pereyra might not have acquired great statistics, unlike other players on this list, his tally of four shots reflects the influence he had over his side’s impressive performance against the Seagulls.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
