Premier League Is Back! …These Players Have Points To Prove 

The Premier League is back – and there is a lot on the line for clubs and players.

The three-month break due to coronavirus has given clubs and players a chance to regroup and several stars who have had difficult campaigns now have the opportunity to finish on a high.

Sportsmail takes a look at which players have the biggest points to prove in the remaining fixtures of the season.

Manchester United – Paul Pogba

It’s been the transfer saga of the season – will he stay, will he go? Talk of Pogba’s future at Manchester United has refused to go away despite the midfielder spending the majority of the campaign on the sidelines.

But for all it looked like the Frenchman was destined to leave Old Trafford, the break has given Pogba the chance to return to the United team and help them secure Champions League football for next season.

Arsenal – Alexandre Lacazette

Striker Lacazette has struggled to replicate his impressive form of the 2018-2019 season and went three months without a goal between December and February.

The Frenchman’s form had started to pick up again just before the suspension with strikes against Olympiacos and West Hamtaking his total to nine for the season.

With captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal future looking uncertain, Lacazette needs to prove he can step up and be the main man when called upon.

Chelsea – Kepa Arrizabalaga

It’s been another frustrating season for Chelsea’s goalkeeper. The 25-year-old lost his starting place to Willy Caballero in February but did come back to play in a 4-0 win over Everton in the last game before the break.

The Spaniard has one of the worst records in the league this season, conceding 32 goals and keeping just six clean sheets.

With Chelsea battling it out for a Champions League spot, Kepa simply has to prove he can be their No1 for the foreseeable future.

Crystal Palace – Christian Benteke

It’s fair to say Benteke has been overshadowed by strike partner Jordan Ayew this season. Benteke has managed just one goal to Ayew’s eight and the Belgian has also only managed one assist.

It’s perhaps no surprise that Palace are one of the lowest scoring teams in the division.

Benteke has one more year to run on his contract at Selhurst Park and, at the age of 29, he really needs to find his scoring boots fast if he wants to stay at the club beyond next season.

Everton – Moise Kean

Forward Kean was always expected to take time to adapt to the English game but the 20-year-old has struggled to get going since his arrival at Goodison Park.

The appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, a fellow Italian and an admirer of Kean, was supposed to kickstart his career in Merseyside but he’s only managed one goal and one assist (two in total) since the manager arrived.

This is a good opportunity for the striker to put the past behind him and show fans why he was signed last summer.

Tottenham – Dele Alli

Eight goals and four assists in the league this season are not terrible stats by any means, but such are the high standards the midfielder has set for himself people are always expecting a little bit more.

Alli admitted his side had not been good enough before the break and the England international is one of a number of players who has struggled in the absence of Harry Kane.

The 24-year-old Alli will miss Jose Mourinho’s side’s first game back after he was disciplined by the FA for a social media post which should only make him more determined to hit the ground running when he returns.

Wolves – Pedro Neto 

The winger has been impressive in his first season in the Premier League and looks to have a bright future at Molineux.

Most of his appearances have been as a substitute but he has had to compete with Adama Traore and Diogo Jota for a starting place.

But the 20-year-old could stake a claim in the final games of the season.

Liverpool – Takumi Minamino

Forcing your way into a team 25 points clear at the top of the table was never going to be easy.

Minamino was seen as a steal when Liverpool signed him from RB Salzburg for £7m in January but the midfielder is yet to have a proper run in the side.

Minamino excited the Anfield crowd in the Champions League for his old team earlier this season but they’re yet to see him produce that type of play in a Liverpool shirt. He should have plenty of opportunities to prove himself before the end of the campaign.

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

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