Midfield:
Ramires (Chelsea)
Not only was Ramires overrun in midfield by a rampant West Bromwich Albion side – particularly in the second half – he also dived dreadfully to con the referee into giving him a penalty.
Ramires has been at his best for Chelsea when able to drive forward with the ball into space, and does not appear to be a disciplined holding player alongside Frank Lampard.
Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur)
Moussa Dembele was slow and ponderous in possession during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle United, meaning that Spurs’ pace on the flanks could not be utilised to the full as the Magpies were able to quickly get back into position.
Dembele was outclassed and out-passed by Yohan Cabaye and physically beaten by Cheik Tiote, and his partnership with Paulinho in the Tottenham midfield appears limited.
James Milner (Manchester City)
One thing James Milner always provides is relentless consistency – a guaranteed 7/10, no more and no less, every single match.
That makes his lax performance against Sunderland all the more difficult to explain, and we can only assume something terribly traumatic happened in his private life.
Milner was at fault for Sunderland’s goal, as Phil Bardsley shrugged him off, and the Yorkshireman will expect better from himself in future.
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