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Casemiro might feel he is unfortunate to be included in this weekend’s worst XI but Mo Salah has no excuse. He’s joined in attack by a Forest flop.
Here is the worst XI from the Premier League matches over the weekend, according to WhoScored ratings…
GK: Alisson – 5.97
It was generally a strong weekend for Premier League keepers, with Alisson the only sub-six stopper. The Liverpool no.1 stood little chance with Bournemouth’s winning goal and he had only one other save to make – which he fumbled late on.
RB: Kenny Tete – 6.11
Again, a strong weekend for full-backs, with none rating lower than six. Kieran Trippier slipped up for Newcastle, while Leeds right-back Luke Ayling scraped a marginally higher score than Fulham’s Tete, who was dribbled past more times (three) than the number of tackles he made (two).
CB: Wout Faes – 5.20
The Leicester centre-back had an afternoon to forget, with Chelsea forwards running beyond him too easily before he lunged in to collect a daft late red card that rules him out of a clash with Brentford with the Foxes looking over the shoulder at the drop zone once more. Faes was dribbled past three times and came out on top of only half of his 14 duels.
CB: Daniel Amartey – 5.58
No clearances, blocks, interceptions or tackles from Amartey who lost the only duel he contested against Chelsea. The centre-back also missed a glorious opportunity to level for Leicester when they were one down.
He made it into our losers list.
LB: Jonny – 6.06
In the last two games, the Wolves left-back has come in for his first starts under Julen Lopetegui and, indeed, his first since October. He has looked reasonably solid defensively but struggled to get forward. Newcastle’s winner came down the Wolves left, but by that time, Jonny had already been hooked as part of a triple change 10 minutes earlier.
CM: Casemiro – 5.71
The Brazilian went 366 games for Real Madrid without a red card but now he’s picked up two in eight Premier League matches, ruling him out for four more. Man Utd fans reckon they’re still paying the price for their derby win.
CM: Remo Freuler – 5.66
Another game that passed the Forest midfielder by as Freuler’s ropey form continued. Steve Cooper spoke last week of the importance of his experience in the dressing room, but the Switzerland star was hooked shortly after Tottenham went 3-0 up. Since Forest’s last win, five games ago, Freuler has averaged 5.98.
AM: Jesse Lingard – 5.76
Cooper is rather less reliant on Lingard, who came in for his first Premier League start of the year only to be hauled off again at half-time. In 45 minutes as Forest’s attacking midfielder, Lingard lost all but one of his five duels; he was dribbled past three times; and offered no shots, crosses or key passes.
RW: Mo Salah – 5.59
It was a surprise to see Darwin Nunez replaced by Jurgen Klopp when Salah had been utterly anonymous for Liverpool at Bournemouth. The first sight he had of goal was from the penalty spot which Salah shanked wide of Neto’s net. Last week’s 10/10 against Manchester United feels a long time ago.
LW: Kamaldeen Sulemana – 5.95
The Southampton winger got absolutely nothing out of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Sulemana losing possession with a third of his 36 touches before being replaced as Saints sought a winner against 10 men. None of his three crosses found a team-mate; he failed in all four attempted dribbles; and lost all but one of his 11 duels.
CF: Ivan Toney – 5.87
A day in the back pocket of Everton’s centre-backs to forget for the Brentford striker, who escaped only once to miss a great chance to head the Bees level. Toney won less than a third of his duels (six of 19) while losing possession 22 times at Goodison.
