Five silent achievers to watch this weekend BIG MATCH PREDICTIONS

The big names like Wayne Rooney, Alexis Sanchez, Eden Hazard tend to grab the headlines every English Premier League weekend. But there are also a number of under-rated gems out there quietly doing their thing away from the spotlight. Our EPL analyst Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) singles out five to watch if you are looking for something a little different ...

Tottenham Hotspur vsLiverpool

Dele Alli

Spurs, jersey No: 20

Should 412 minutes of Premier League football — no matter how impressive — be enough to earn an England cap?

I don’t think so, but fortunately for Dele Alli, Roy Hodgson does, and I wouldn’t argue with the 68-year-old’s assessment that the Spurs whiz kid is already international class.

At just 19, the elegant central midfielder is tall and athletic, and can run all day — and against a Liverpool side fired up by the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, he’ll need every bit of that youthful energy at a frenzied White Hart Lane this evening.

Eric Dier’s suspension means there’s a greater onus on Alli to hold the engine room together and match the excellence that helped him shine so brightly in last month’s 4-1 win over Manchester City.

Alli isn’t all legs, though. Graceful in possession, intuitive in tight areas, and with a hint of Frank Lampard’s timing inside the final third, Tottenham have recruited a box-to-box midfielder who has got the full package. He will be some player in the coming years.

If he runs the show tonight, Alli’s arrival on the big stage will be well and truly confirmed.

Southampton vsLeicester City

Steven Davis

Southampton, jersey No: 8

After captaining Northern Ireland to a famous Euro 2016 qualification, scoring in a 3-1 win against Greece, Davis is sitting astride cloud nine feeling rather pleased with himself, and rightly so. It was also his first-half goal that sparked Southampton’s sensational 3-1 comeback success at Chelsea too. The usually understated midfielder is in the midst of a proper purple patch.

Tonight’s clash with red-hot Leicester City is just the type of blood and thunder contest he relishes.

He’ll press, hassle and close opponents down to his heart’s content, making life easier for Sadio Mane, Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle to steal the glory. He’s a team man, and a valuable part of Ronald Koeman’s side.

This is an encounter I expect the Saints to dominate, and although he’s not especially showy, Davis is likely to be a driving force.

Watford vs Arsenal

Heurelho Gomes

Watford, jersey No: 1

PSV Eindhoven fans nicknamed Gomes “The Octopus” as a term of endearment, but when he came for crosses (and missed them) as a Tottenham Hotspur player, that moniker was flipped around and turned against him. He was known as a calamitous flapper at White Hart Lane.

Not now, he isn’t. Back in the Premier League with newly-promoted Watford, having been a key man in their advancement from the Championship with 15 clean sheets from 44 matches, the 34-year-old Brazilian has found a place in England he can call home. The Hornets fans adore him.

Conceding just seven goals so far this season — and just the one on home turf — Gomes, who has also kept three clean sheets, has been in sensational form.

With a penchant for the spectacular, several of his stops are already on the Save of the Season shortlist. To keep Arsenal at bay, Watford will need their Samba star to produce yet more heroics.

Everton vs Manchester United

Brendan Galloway

Everton, jersey No: 32

As soon as I set eyes on Everton’s 19-year-old left-back, one name immediately sprung to mind: Ashley Cole.

Sharp on his feet, snappy in the tackle, and bursting with the self-belief to stride past opponents when gallivanting forward, Brendan Galloway looks the real deal to me. He isn’t fazed by the big stage. When Leighton Baines returns from injury, he might not walk straight back into the side.

This evening, Galloway has a big job on his hands. Manchester United’s right back (Matteo Darmian or Antonio Valencia) will pile forward constantly, while Juan Mata will confuse matters by slipping inside just when the teenager’s looking the other way. Anthony Martial is likely to pull over to his side and open his legs in a foot-race on occasion too.

Everton’s latest young gem doesn’t look the type to get frightened, though. I think he’s up to the task.

Newcastle United vs Norwich City

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Newcastle, jersey No: 45

He may have got off on the wrong foot by scything down opponents and picking up a stack of silly cards, but Newcastle United’s big summer signing is actually a very promising striker.

Whenever a ball is flung into Norwich’s box tomorrow, they had better make sure they know where the Serbian is, for there are very few more menacing centre forwards than Mitrovic in the air. He’s a tour de force when attacking crosses.

I also like the 21-year-old’s hold-up play too. Nice and strong, he won’t let defenders bully him, and he’ll bring others into play with intelligent passes. Having broken his duck with a goal at Manchester City last time out, this could be the day when Mitrovic announces himself as a hero at St James’ Park. Bottom of the table, the Magpies need him to.

Adrian Clarke sticks his neck out and takes a shot at guessing the outcome of the big matches ...

Manchester City vs Bournemouth

Eddie Howe’s Cherries aren’t the type to sit back and defend, so this could be a beautiful game of football to watch. With far fewer players away on international duty, Bournemouth will also have had lots more time to come up with a decent game plan. This one might not be as straightforward as it looks.

Prediction: Man City 2 Bournemouth 2

Watford vs Arsenal

Fans at Vicarage Road have witnessed only two goals scored in four matches since Watford got promoted, but I’ll be amazed if this one doesn’t at least double that tally. The Gunners are finding their feet as an attacking force, and should have too much quality for a team that’s so far punched above expectations.

Prediction:

Watford 0 Arsenal 2

Everton vs Manchester United

Tactically Louis van Gaal got it wrong at the Emirates last time out, so I’m expecting a backlash from the men in red. The Toffees will fly at their old rivals from the off, but I just can’t see United making the same mistakes again. They’ll keep it tight, and hope to pinch something on the break.

Prediction:

Everton 0 Man United 1

Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool

What a match this should be! How differently will Liverpool perform with a new gaffer in their dug out? Can the Spurs reproduce the magic they showed when spanking leaders City in their last run out at the Lane? Whatever happens, this won’t be an easy start for the charismatic German.

Prediction:

Spurs 1 Liverpool 1

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

If the Blues can’t bounce back from their horror show against Southampton, against a Villa side that has seen almost all of its confidence drain away in recent weeks, then Jose Mourinho’s crisis is even worse than we thought. Home wins used to be guaranteed at Stamford Bridge, and this one should revive that tradition.

Prediction:

Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 0

About the author:

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of the English game. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many publications worldwide.

TV TIMES:

Saturday:

Tottenham v Liverpool (7.45pm; Singtel Ch102 and Starhub Ch227)

Everton v Man Utd (10pm; Ch102 and Ch227)

Chelsea v Aston Villa (9.55pm; Ch103 and Ch228)

Man City v Bournemouth (9.55pm; Ch104 and Ch229)

Crystal Palace v West Ham (9.55pm; Ch105 and Ch230)

Southampton v Leicaster (9.55pm; Ch106 and Ch231)

West Brom v Sunderland (9.55pm; Ch107 and Ch232)

Sunday:

Watford v Arsenal (12.30am; Ch102 and Ch227)

Newcastle v Norwich (11pm; Ch102 and Ch227)