We pick an XI from the weekend’s Premier League action who simply didn’t do themselves justice.
The first full weekend of Premier League action in 2015 has now drawn to a close following the hiatus for the FA Cup first round – and Manchester United’s shock home defeat to Southampton was the biggest story of the action.
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Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City also had disappointing results – but how many of their stars make it into our worst XI of the weekend?
GK) Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart did make a handful of impressive saves as his side drew at Everton, but the England international’s fallibility was exposed again as he misjudged Leighton Baines’ delivery for the late equaliser.
RB) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)
Right back Geoff Cameron is usually a solid and dependable player for Mark Hughes and Stoke City, but he had a nightmare in the defeat at Arsenal as Alexis Sanchez left him with twisted blood.
CB) Jores Okore (Aston Villa)
Villa have one of the best defensive records in the Premier League, despite their failings in attack, but the usually dependable Jores Okore was given the runaround by the impressive Leonardo Ulloa at Leicester.
CB) Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City)
Ryan Shawcross was booed every time he touched the ball as Stoke traveled to Arsenal and it seemed to affect the usually solid centre back – his positioning was awry constantly as Arsenal breezed to victory.
LB) Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland)
Former Chelsea man Patrick van Aanholt’s recent return from injury has been hailed as a big boost for Sunderland, but he never got to grips with Lazar Markovic as his side were beaten by Liverpool at the Stadium of Light.
RM) Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur)
Winger Andros Townsend has been in decent form for Tottenham Hotspur but, like his team, the England international failed to hit those heights at Selhurst Park – Townsend was horrendously wasteful when he got on the ball.
CM) Karl Henry (Queens Park Rangers)
Karl Henry is the sort of overpaid, not Premier League class player that is likely to send QPR straight back down and he put in a dreadful performance as Rangers lost yet another away game, this time at Burnley.
CM) Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Danish international Christian Eriksen had to drop deep in search of the ball at Crystal Palace, leaving Harry Kane isolated, and he was wasteful when he was able to get into possession.
LM) Angel di Maria (Manchester United)
Manchester United record signing Angel di Maria has only recently returned to full fitness and, on the evidence of his ineffectual display against Southampton, he may have been rushed back too soon.
SC) Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)
It is understandable that Benteke tried to do everything on his own for Villa at Leicester, considering the lack of options around him, but nothing came off for the Belgian and he had a terrible afternoon.
SC) Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
Radamel Falcao was left out of the United squad for the defeat to Southampton because Louis van Gaal didn’t feel the game was right for him – but Robin van Persie was as ineffectual as the Colombian could possibly have been.