In the latest round of Premier League action, several standout performances captured attention, particularly from Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, and Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen, whose absence underscored the team's defensive frailties.
Liverpool's emphatic 6-3 victory over Tottenham was a showcase for Alexander-Arnold's exceptional talents, particularly his pinpoint delivery to Luis Diaz. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville praised the right-back's crossing ability, stating, "The cross is something else... It is precision. There are very few players in Premier League history who can land it on a sixpence like that, with that level of accuracy, speed and whip. It is absolutely perfect." Alexander-Arnold's performance included four successful crosses from open play, matching his personal best in the Premier League and echoing a similar display against Tottenham two-and-a-half years ago.
Beyond his crossing prowess, Alexander-Arnold's expansive passing range distinguishes him from his peers. Under the new management of Arne Slot, he has been taking calculated risks with impactful passes. This season, he leads the league with 205 progressive passes, averaging 19.1 metres per pass—the longest of any Liverpool outfield player. His ability to penetrate defensive lines is noteworthy, with an average of 11.5 passes per 90 minutes breaking through. Against Tottenham, he surpassed six opponents with seven of his passes, a feat he had not achieved in over a year, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s elite passers.
In contrast, Aston Villa's 2-1 triumph over Manchester City saw Morgan Rogers deliver a performance that impressed both fans and pundits alike. Pep Guardiola remarked, "He exploded last season and this season. I think he's a really top-class player. England have another exceptional player," following a match where Rogers significantly influenced the outcome by assisting Jhon Duran’s opening goal and scoring the second himself. With five goals and three assists this season, Rogers is establishing himself as a pivotal figure for Villa, particularly in high-stakes encounters. His contributions place him among the league's top players in completed dribbles and through-balls, and his performance against City included five successful dribbles, reminiscent of his impactful display against Arsenal.
Villa manager Unai Emery emphasised Rogers' ability to connect with the team, stating, "We needed to connect... One of the qualities he showed was his drives. He did a fantastic drive, he broke the lines and we could get through him. And he scored a fantastic goal." Despite earlier fitness concerns, Rogers’ resurgence is proving vital for Villa's ambitions this season.
On the other hand, Leicester City faced a challenging outing against Wolves, suffering a 3-0 defeat that raised significant concerns about their goalkeeping situation. Mads Hermansen's absence was keenly felt, with Danny Ward stepping in but struggling to replicate Hermansen's capabilities. While none of the goals conceded could be directly attributed to Ward, his performance starkly contrasted with Hermansen’s solid presence.
According to Opta statistics, Hermansen has been instrumental in keeping Leicester competitive, having prevented more goals than any other Premier League goalkeeper this season, with 6.44 goals prevented despite facing the second-highest number of shots. His absence could prove critical, especially as Leicester grapples with a precarious position reminiscent of their relegation struggles last season.
Ward's less effective statistics suggest he concedes nearly 0.28 goals per 90 minutes more than Hermansen’s average of 0.42 goals prevented. This discrepancy could translate to two additional goals conceded every three matches, a worrying prospect as Leicester aims to navigate the season without their key goalkeeper. The defeat against Wolves serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Leicester may face in Hermansen's absence, emphasising the goalkeeper's crucial role in the team's aspirations this season.