Who Is Hot and Who Is Not in World Football After Weekend of Dec. 26-29
Our regular look at which individual players in world football were particularly standout over the weekend continues this week with one notable difference: it's Premier League stars only.
The winter break in other major European leagues, coupled with seasons having ended in the Americas, means we'll focus our attentions on this occasion only on England's top flight, looking at who is hot and who is not for a variety of reasons.
From match-winners and great displays to error-strewn performances and moments of madness, here's our latest selection to enjoy.
Hot: Eden Hazard
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Chelsea's Eden Hazard is first up, after the Belgian continued delivering on his enormous talent this season in his side's win over West Ham United and then the draw against Southampton.
Hazard claimed an assist in the first game with a clever pass, before netting a vital equaliser against Saints on Sunday.
The left-sided attacker has been in tremendous form and is one of the league's best performers right now.
Not: Papiss Cisse
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Papiss Cisse can get ready for a nice spell on the sidelines. He might have protested his innocence, but it's very much in vain.
The Newcastle United striker was plainly seen to have struck Everton's Seamus Coleman across the face, with his elbow, on two or three occasions in the penalty box as they both awaited a corner kick.
The Senegalese striker wasn't seen by the ref and later scored in the match, but this is an instance for post-game retrospective action and a three-match ban. Not very clever at all. Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling, from the Swansea vs. Liverpool game, could yet face similar suspensions if they are charged with far more innocuous happenings.
Hot: Adrian
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West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian didn't see his team pick up a single point over Christmas, but the Spanish stopper was immense in both games regardless.
Against two tough opponents—Chelsea and Arsenal—Adrian showed great quality to make a number of top-class saves, showed awareness and ability to command his box and also his consistency.
Still sixth in the table, West Ham are in a good position to have a fine season and Adrian's form is one big reason why.
Not: Sylvain Distin
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Everton defender Sylvain Distin has struggled for game time this season, but unfortunately he has also struggled for performances when he has been on the pitch.
That trend continued at the weekend with a poor display against Newcastle, where the French veteran showed that perhaps his time at the top of the game is all but over as he struggled to get to grips with basic aspects of defensive work such as making challenges, stopping players running past him unopposed and controlling the ball.
Everton have been poor all-round defensively this term; they have the second-worst defensive record and are 12th in the table.
Hot: Philippe Coutinho
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On the other side of Merseyside, Liverpool seem to be getting back on track with performances and results of late, culminating in the 4-1 destruction of Swansea City on Monday night.
Philippe Coutinho was central to all the best work the Reds managed, finding spaces between Swansea's midfield, driving into the final third and setting up countless chances with his incisive passes and vision.
The Brazilian was in sublime form, a key tactical component of the side and a hard-working one too, receiving a huge ovation from the Anfield crowd when he was subbed with one minute to play.
Not: Lukasz Fabianski
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In the same game, one goalkeeper had been getting massive criticism for his distribution and performances of late—but it was Simon Mignolet's opposite number, Lukasz Fabianski, who ended up making the telling blunder of the match.
Dallying over a kicked clearance in open play, the Polish stopper was closed down by Adam Lallana and, instead of going long, tried to place a pass past his opponent—and only succeeded in hitting the Liverpool player, with the ball looping back over Fabianski and into the net.
That gave Liverpool a two-goal lead and was ultimately the winning strike.
Hot: Hugo Lloris
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Three goalkeepers on our watch list this week!
Spurs' stopper Hugo Lloris was in tremendous form against Manchester United at the weekend, making a number of crucial saves and blocks to keep a clean sheet for his side and preserve a 0-0 draw.
A great dive to his left clawed away a shot bound for the top corner, he blocked a close-range almost-certain goal for Robin van Persie with his feet and generally looked the top-class, assured presence that he most frequently is.
Hot: Toby Alderweireld
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A central defender for our final hot slot, as Toby Alderweireld picks up some deserved recognition for a monstrous performance for 10-man Saints against Chelsea, where his aggression and tenacity repelled the league leaders as they sought out a late winner.
The Belgian has been a star in recent weeks, both in defence and in midfield, with Southampton's own form picking up again in tandem with Alderweireld showing his great qualities.
Southampton are back in the top four after beating Crystal Palace and holding Chelsea.
