Throughout the 2016-17 Premier League campaign, we’ll pick out a handful of standout footballers after each matchday concludes based on five different categories: The Gamechanger (MVP), The Finisher (most important goal-scorer), The Playmaker (creator of goals/chances), The Protector (standout defender) and The Stopper (top goalkeeper).
Here are our five selections from Matchday 13, including another brilliant performance from Alexis Sanchez and a jaw-dropping finish at the Liberty Stadium.
THE GAMECHANGER
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
For the first time since 2011, Arsenal have gone unbeaten in the month of November and it was the play of their Chilean superstar that sent the Gunners past Bournemouth on Sunday.
Sanchez completed his third brace of the season at the Emirates to help Arsenal keep pace near the top with a marvelous overall performance: 74 touches and five key passes on 72 per cent completion to go along with the pair of goals, causing fits for the Cherries and earning the well-deserved praise of his manager.
Bournemouth gave the Gunners a run for their money, and though a win was far from guaranteed for much of the match — Petr Cech literally saved three points with a stunning stop on Benik Afobe in the 75th minute — Sanchez was dangerous all game.
Arsenal are enjoying a run of 19 games unbeaten in all competitions, and while the team’s overall play has been rife with inconsistency of late, Sanchez has been anything but.
THE FINISHER
Fernando Llorente, Swansea
So that was the craziest Premier League game we’ve seen in a long while.
Up 3-1 in the 70th minute thanks to the second of Leroy Fer’s two goals, Swansea looked to have it in the bag. But Crystal Palace wouldn’t roll over, scoring three goals in a period of just nine minutes and the Swans looked to be toast as the game entered seven minutes of injury time.
Then up steps Llorente.
Brought in to bolster their attack, the Spanish striker had scored just one goal since signing with Swansea in the summer. A disappointment thus far, Llorente came to the rescue with a pair of late stunners.
Llorente’s heroics earned Bob Bradley his first win as Swansea manager, a game we’re not likely to forget any time soon.
THE PLAYMAKER
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
Aguero’s goal-scoring pace is almost unbelievable.
The Argentine has put the ball in the back of the net 33 times in his last 34 Premier League matches. Aguero has scored 112 goals and added 26 assists in 161 total League appearances for the Citizens.
And Aguero is showing no signs of slowing down this season. He’s recorded six games with at least two goals in all competitions so far for Manchester City, notching his fourth road brace over the weekend at Turf Moor.
THE PROTECTOR
Gareth McAuley, West Brom
Thanks to seven points from their last three games, West Brom find themselves in ninth place through 13 matches.
Tony Pulis’s side have been on a torrid scoring pace lately, but Saturday’s draw with Hull City saw just one goal, a first-half header from McAuley.
With his third goal of the season, McAuley now has more goals than Kevin De Bruyne, Paul Pogba, Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney. But it wasn’t just the North Irishman’s offensive prowess on display at KCOM Stadium; McAuley was a rock in the back for the Baggies, chipping in seven clearances, six interceptions, a blocked shot and a tackle to go along with West Brom’s lone tally.
THE STOPPER
Darren Randolph, West Ham
Old Trafford is a challenging place to play at the best of times, but Randolph’s play on Sunday made it a whole lot easier for West Ham to escape Manchester with a draw.
The Irish ‘keeper was spectacular against United Sunday, racking up seven stops in a stunning game-saving effort. From a toe-tip save on Marcus Rashford to a fingertip save on Paul Pogba, Randolph almost single-handedly secured a point for the now 16th-place Hammers.
