'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Premier League season is back and it has already been full of surprises, twists and turns. There have been plenty of star performers already like Diego Costa, Sergio Aguero, Phillipe Coutinho and Eden Hazard.
However, there have also been some star names who have not played upto their potential and have struggled to impress this season. Without much ado, let us take a look at 5 star names who have struggled:
#5 Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace)
Once an integral part of the French national team’s midfield. Yohan Cabaye is now struggling to have an impact at Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace. He is described as a player who possesses "excellent vision, great ball control", and "provides technical quality", but all that quality which Cabaye undoubtedly possesses has struggled to come to the fore this season.
This season, the experienced Frenchman has not lived up to expectations and Alan Pardew’s side have struggled without their star man in prime form. Currently sitting at 17th in the Premier League table, Alan Pardew will be hoping that his French midfield general rediscovers his form soon and pulls the strings in the Palace midfield again.
The below video gives us an estimate of Cabaye’s skills:
#4 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
2015/16 PFA player of the year award winner Riyad Mahrez is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in the Premier League. However, he, like his Leicester City team-mate Jamie Vardy, has struggled to rediscover his best form this season.
A supremely talented dribbler and capable of making the extraordinary look ridiculously easy, Mahrez has shown glimpses of his immense skill in the Premier League so far, but is yet to consistently torment opposition defenders like how he did last season.
However, things are looking slightly promising for the Foxes as Mahrez seems to have struck up a good partnership with fellow Algerian striker Islam Slimani and Ranieri will be hoping that Mahrez shakes off his malaise and starts performing at the level he is capable of once again.
The video below shows why Mahrez deserved the PFA player of the year award last season.
#3 Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Leicester City’s incredible Premier League triumph in 2015/16 season had a few standout stars and Jamie Vardy was definitely one of the heroes last season. The Englishman’s goals played a major role in their incredible success with Vardy becoming something of a cult hero among the Leicester City fans.
This season, however, Vardy, like the rest of the Leicester squad has struggled to have any sort of impact in the Premier League. in 12 appearances so far, the striker has netted only 2 goals.
The foxes are currently sitting 14th in the Premier League table and a major reason for their struggles has been Vardy’s shortcomings in front of goal. The defending champions will be hoping that Vardy gets his party started once again.
This is when Vardy was having his party last year:
#2 Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham’s club record signing, Moussa Sissoko has had a season to forget so far. The former Newcastle United man was wanted by plenty of top clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea and PSG, but Spurs were successful in convincing the Frenchman to join them.
However, Sissoko has struggled to have a positive impact with even Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino criticising the Frenchman’s impact, completely leaving out Sissoko from the matchday squad against Chelsea:
“Football is not about money,” Pochettino said when asked about Sissoko’s absence. “It is about players being better, and that they show on the training ground that they are better than another team-mate and that they deserve to be involved or not. In my opinion, I need to take the decisions and I believe that the players that started in the game [on Saturday] and the players on the bench deserved to be involved in the game.”
Sissoko will definitely need to do a lot more if he is to justify his hefty price tag. The below video shows why Tottenham were so keen on signing:
#1 Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United)
The Armenian’s inclusion in this list might be slightly surprising since he has had only 4 Premier League appearances, but Mkhitaryan has not had a good time at Old Trafford with Jose Mourinho not trusting the Armenian during key matches.
The 27-year-old was in impressive form for Dortmund last season, and his move to United for a fee of £27 million was labelled as one of the best deals of the summer. However, the move has not gone according to plan with Mourinho speaking about Mkhitaryan’s performances:
“He is trying. Obviously, he is not happy, but he is transforming his frustration in a good way, which is to close the mouth, work hard and try to adapt. He needs less pressure and better conditions for him to express his qualities.”
Manchester United fans will be hoping that the Armenian international soon shows what he is capable of.
Honourable mentions: Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Vincent Janssen (Tottenham).
More Football news, transfer rumours, analysis and features at Sportskeeda.com. Also if you are attending a football game anywhere in the world and/or have a news tip for us drop us an email at football (at) sportskeeda (dot) com
