5 Premier League players who really need to turn their form around

The Boxing Day fixtures did bring about a lot of surprising results and with initial table toppers Leicester City appearing almost toothless against a Liverpool side who are defensively shaky. Arsenal were comprehensively beaten by Southampton with many believing that the 4-0 scoreline did not do justice to Arsenal’s miserable outing.However, there was consistency in terms of floundering teams as Manchester United, Newcastle United and Sunderland lost while Chelsea and Aston Villa drew. We have a look at players from the aforementioned teams who need to turn it around this season.

#1 Memphis Depay - Manchester United

The Manchester United number 7 arrived at Old Trafford as the leading young player in the world according to many. Five months down the line the Dutch prodigy is undergoing one of the toughest times of his life.

As if the goal drought was not enough, he was responsible for the opening Stoke City goal on Boxing Day, heading a weak back pass only for Glen Johnson to latch onto it.

Depay has scored only four goals in 20 outings and created a chance every 90 minutes, an attacking stat that reflects poorly on his performances. He has lost possesion with regular frequency and his passing has been rather untidy, presenting the opposition a chance to break.

With Louis van Gaal’s future in doubt, Depay could be left to rue the missed opportunities under a new manager. While there is no doubt about his abilities as a footballer, his ability to adapt to a faster, physical league is under immense scrutiny at the moment.

#2 Aleksandar Mitrovic - Newcastle United

Aleksandar Mitrovic, like Depay, moved to England on the back of an impressive season with Anderlecht. The Serbian bagged an incredible 28 goals in all competitions for the Belgian club and finished as his side’s top scorer.

Fast forward a season and a £13 million pound transfer later and Mitrovic is finding the going tough at the Tyneside. He was still coming to terms with English football before being sent off against Arsenal, thus leaving his teammates to fend off the Gunners’ attacks with only 10 men.

His temperament has been an issue, especially in a league where defenders tend to tug at the opposition’s jersey at every opportunity. Mitrovic has often lost his focus. At times he has looked off pace when operating up top and his national teammate Branislav Ivanovic deemed Mitrovic ‘sluggish and overweight’.

With 3 goals in the last 10 games, the figures have improved for the Serbian but only marginally. Newcastle, currently 18th in the table, already have a relegation battle at hand and need their number 45 to fire on all cylinders to ensure they escape the troubled zone.

#3 Jack Rodwell - Sunderland

The failed transfer to Manchester City seems to have set the English midfielder’s career back a few years. Currently plying his trade at Sunderland, Rodwell hs failed to bring the best of his game to the Stadium of Light.

The 24-year-old, who was termed as the future of English football during his time at Everton, is now being used as an example to showcase to youngsters how a move fuelled merely by monetary gains can bring down a flying career.

Rodwell, who has featured sporadically for the Black Cats this season, has failed to impress. He has been excessively aggressive, flying into tackles and giving away needless fouls in critical areas. His work rate seems to have taken a dip and he has failed to add any muscle to the already deficient Sunderland midfield.

With no attacking impetus to show for at the moment, Rodwell is slowly ebbing away into footballing obscurity.

#4 Jack Grealish

Time and again, football fans across the world are presented with numerous examples of young players who could have been. To see it happening live can have a saddening effect and we believe Jack Grealish needs to sort his off-field antics before it gets too late.

Grealish is a bag full of talent with the ability to take his man and beat him without breaking a sweat. The pacy winger, who has been in the news for more reasons off the pitch than on it, has a solitary goal and zero assists to show for in outings and has failed to live up to expectations.

Remi Garde is a manager short of quality players at his disposal and his situation has been worsened by Grealish’s off-field antics. While failing in his attacking duties, he has also failed to perform his defensive duties at times, leaving his teammates exposed.

For the love of football, we hope the Frenchman can bring the young midfielder with immense potential back on the right track.

#5 Eden Hazard - Chelsea

Eden Hazard has been one of the most underwhelming performers of this season. The magical winger, who was instrumental in Chelsea’s title-winning campaign, seems to have lost his mojo this season, with defenders across the league showing an incredible understanding of his game.

While the 24-year-old Belgian has been the creator in chief of his side with 44 chances, his performances over this season pale in comparison to the last season when he was skipping past defenders without wasting a breath. He has failed to score for this Chelsea side despite being presented with numerous opportunities, frustrating the Blues faithful worldwide.

Interim manager Guus Hiddink has already issued a public challenge asking the Belgian to “get his ego back”. With the likes of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas floundering, Hiddink seems to have pinned his revival hopes on the Belgian superstar and Hazard will need to averge better numbers per game to ensure Chelsea have a fruitful end to the season.