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Premier League Weekend: Heroes and Villains

As another weekend of Premier League action passes us by, it’s time to take stock and decide which players were a help or a hindrance to their sides over the weekend.

Hero: Mo Salah 

On Saturday Liverpool were faced with a not so friendly reminder of just how tough life in the Premier League can be for any side, even one sitting top of the table. Watford clocked in at Anfield with an upset on their minds and had it not been for some lousy finishing from their hapless forwards they may have got one.

Oh, and Liverpool have that Mo Salah fella up top, so, nothing doing for the visitors this weekend. The Egyptian was in fine form as he notched two vital goals for the league leaders and helped them extend their lead at the top of the table. That’s now 57 times that Salah has been either scored or assisted in 52 matches at Anfield. Nice.

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Villain: Ismaila Sarr 

If Liverpool have their star forwards to thank for their form this season, then Watford can certainly tip their cap to their misfiring attackers for the measly nine goals they have registered in 17 games.

Their big-money summer signing Ismailia Sarr was at the heart of their stuttering in front of goal at Anfield as the away side queued up to waste good chances to punish Liverpool.

Sarr fluffed his lines with the goal at his mercy in the first-half and then missed a one-on-one in the second period. For the first chance the Senegalese youngster failed to make any kind of contact with the ball and was duly zapped of all confidence for the rest of the match.

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Hero: Teemu Pukki 

Where oh where do you start with this fella? Not only has the affable Finn scored more goals than anyone else in England since the start of last season, but he has also managed to notch an impressive nine goals for a side stranded in 19th place in the league. Oh and he also played for most that game against Leicester with a fracture in his foot! Hero!

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Villain: Kelechi Iheanacho 

Go and look up snide in the dictionary, or Google it if you under 30, and you will likely see a picture of Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho. Despite all the naff rule changes this season, the unwritten etiquette of giving the ball back to the other side after a stoppage due to injury still applies, at least to everyone but Iheanacho.

After Emiliano Buendia’s treatment on the pitch, the Canaries politely waited for the Leicester forward to return possession from a throw in, only to watch as the Nigerian sprinted towards the opposition box in search of an equaliser.

He was duly scythed down by a hoard of furious Norwich players and tried to milk an injury to get Todd Cantwell sent off. Snide! And he was also then hooked by Brendan Rodgers before half time. Not such a beautiful human being, eh Brendan!

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Hero: Kevin De Bruyne 

Kevin De Bruyne take a bow! The Belgian was at his absolute best as he pulled Arsenal apart almost single-handedly on Sunday. Yes, Arsenal gave him too much space and tracked back with all the enthusiasm of Pep Guardiola in the post-match interview, but De Bruyne was devastating as he notched two well-taken goals either side of putting it on a plate for Raheem Sterling.

This game was over by half-time thanks to this masterclass by the Belgian maestro.

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Villain: Andy Carroll 

Saturday afternoon’s snooze fest between Burnley and Newcastle was pretty dire to say the least, however, it took a turn for the nasty as former Liverpool record signing Andy Carroll reminded everyone that he is still being paid to play football by landing a sharpened elbow into the face of Ben Mee.

It was a pretty brutal incident which luckily saw the Burnley defender escape serious injury and also somehow, Carroll avoid a red card despite VAR looking at the video footage from all 137 angles. Pretty dire stuff all round to be honest.

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