10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of January 16-19
Another weekend in world football is fast approaching, with several big games of interest set to take place around the globe—and plenty of players attracting attention within those matches.
As well as the Premier League, European winter breaks already ended in Spain, France and Italy, and now, we welcome back the Dutch Eredivisie, too. It's not all about the clubs, though, as with two international tournaments on the go at present, we've got a mixed look at the early stages of 2015.
Here are our top 10 players to watch this weekend.
Arkadiusz Milik, Ajax
1 of 10
We start on Friday night and in the Netherlands, where reigning champions Ajax will be hoping to close the gap on leaders PSV when they host Groningen.
Striker Arkadiusz Milik will be key to Ajax's hopes if he can maintain his pre-winter break scoring record; the 20-year-old Polish forward scored eight goals in his final 11 games for club and country in 2014 and is Ajax's top scorer this term, with eight in the Eredivisie.
Groningen currently sit in eighth, the final Europa League play-off spot, while Ajax can go to within a point of PSV with a win.
Alexandre Lacazette, Lyon
2 of 10
To France, and Ligue 1's new leaders are Olympique Lyonnais, who shot to the top after both Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain lost last weekend.
Forward Alexandre Lacazette has really established himself as one of Europe's top young forwards this term, scoring 19 so far, seven more than his nearest rival in the top-scorer department. His consistency as much as his talent has impressed this term, and he looks determined to take his side as close to glory as possible.
Lyon are away to Lens this weekend, who sit in 19th place after just one win in their last six games.
Samir Nasri, Manchester City
3 of 10
To the Premier League, and one of the most intriguing matchups this weekend sees Manchester City face Arsenal, with the home team chasing the title and the away side looking up toward the top four.
Samir Nasri has been in superb form for City over the past six weeks or so and is capable of being one of the key difference makers in this fixture—perhaps even more so considering his past with the Gunners.
A win for City re-establishes their title credentials, while Arsenal would be left perhaps four points off of the top four.
Raheem Sterling, Liverpool
4 of 10
Liverpool welcomed back two forwards into their squad at training this week: Daniel Sturridge returned from America where he has been in rehabilitation for a longstanding muscle injury, while Raheem Sterling's midseason break to recharge has also ended.
It might be another week or two before Sturridge returns to action, but Sterling should be fit and raring to go, thrust straight back into the starting XI for Liverpool at Aston Villa this weekend.
They have no choice but to win; the Reds could move to within a point of Arsenal if results go their way, while Villa have not won and have scored once in their last six league games.
Xherdan Shaqiri, Inter Milan
5 of 10
To Serie A and Italy now, where Inter Milan gave a full debut to Lukas Podolski last weekend. Xherdan Shaqiri had to make do with watching his new team from the sideline.
The Swiss international star should be ready to play this time around, though, with Inter away to Empoli, struggling just outside the relegation zone and winless in six Serie A matches.
Although Inter haven't been winning too many games, a positive result here would make it six games without defeat, and Shaqiri is the type of player who, even if the team is not playing tremendously well, can make all the difference in the final third.
Gerard Pique, Barcelona
6 of 10
Over to Spain, and La Liga's big match last weekend saw Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid. While the forwards rightly got all of the praise and the headlines, centre-back Gerard Pique put in a much more resolute and impressive performance for Barca, too.
The Spanish international has no shortage of talent, but consistency and concentration have long been his biggest enemies.
In and out of the team at the start of the campaign, he now simply has to use his last performance as a springboard to much better things. He must become the dominant defensive leader he should be and show he can remain at the club and be a key figure for years more. Barcelona play Deportivo La Coruna this weekend, a side who struggle to create and score goals.
Pique cannot let his game drop against relatively mediocre opposition.
Denis Cheryshev, Villarreal
7 of 10
Villarreal play Athletic Bilbao in another terrific-looking match in Spain's top flight. It's a matchup pitting a fast-paced, technically sound side chasing the top four against the team who took fourth place last term—but have struggled badly this year.
The Basque team have been especially vulnerable down the flanks...which is just where Villarreal's big strengths lie.
Denis Cheryshev, a direct and lightning-quick player, can cause mayhem down the left side in this match, either crossing low and early or running straight in behind the back line to shoot at goal himself. Expect plenty of chances.
Robbie Kruse, Australia
8 of 10
To the international scene now and, firstly, the Asian Cup, which is already well underway. The final round of group games takes place over the weekend, with Saturday's Australia vs. Korea Republic match being the all-important clash.
It wouldn't be too far-fetched to suggest this could have even been the final itself.
Australia may start as favourites, being more free-flowing and offensive in their games so far, so Robbie Kruse will be key to continuing that run. The left-sided attacker has recovered from the ACL injury which saw him miss the World Cup and looks in fine form once more, using his great pace and trickery to be a real threat in the final third.
Both teams sit with two wins from two, so top spot is up for grabs.
Asamoah Gyan, Ghana
9 of 10
Saturday also marks the start of another tournament, the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
On Monday, we witness the first hugely enticing group clash, as Ghana play Senegal in Group C. The group also contains Algeria and South Africa, making it the most group of death-looking collection of the tournament.
National team captain and top goalscorer Asamoah Gyan will be counted on to lead his side to glory, and it all starts in this game. There is not any margin for error, as Nigeria found out; the reigning holders didn't even make it to the finals.
Gyan is the most experienced player in the squad and, despite continuing to play club football with Al-Ain, still has a remarkable scoring record at the international level.
Romelu Lukaku, Everton
10 of 10
Our final selection reverts to club football and a Monday night game, as Everton face West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.
It's a game that sees two sides struggling for form come together, with the home manager Roberto Martinez under some pressure to improve results and Baggies boss Tony Pulis being newly installed. The group at the bottom end of the table are closely bunched—five points separate Everton, 12th, from the bottom—and wins and consistency are imperative at this stage to avoid a season-long struggle against the drop.
With such congestion among the teams, anyone who can score goals could be a club saviour this season, so the expectation will be on home forward Romelu Lukaku to step up and deliver. With two goals in his last three, he's looking more like the player of last term, but he will have to come up with the goods against his old side in more emphatic fashion than opposite number Saido Berahino.
