3 Up, 3 Down: Featuring Everton and Stoke stars

Add as preferred source on Google

Up: Maarten Stekelenberg

Embed from Getty Images

Goalkeeper has looked like a problem position for Everton for a couple of seasons now, but if Maarten Stekelenberg can continue his form from the weekend, Ronald Koeman won’t have any need to worry.

Helped by the titanic Ashley Williams in front of him, Stekelenberg constantly kept Manchester City at bay, saving two penalties in the process. His saves from Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero were both at a comfortable height, but it was still a remarkable achievement nevertheless.

He had a brilliant game, and had he been anything less than perfect, Everton would have been given a hiding.

Up: Junior Stanislas

Embed from Getty Images

Bournemouth have had a quietly good start to the season up until their thrashing of Hull, which brought them right into the limelight, and Junior Stanislas has probably been one of their best players up until now.

Along with Jordon Ibe on the other wing, Stanislas terrorised the disorganised Tigers’, scoring twice, assisting another and hitting the bar from a free kick that eventually swept in by Charlie Daniels.

Stanislas rarely gets much praise, but he has been brilliant so far this season.

Up: Joe Allen

Embed from Getty Images

There were clear signs when under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool that Joe Allen was transforming himself into a much better all round midfielder, and Stoke City are seeing the benefits of this change now.

Before Saturday, Allen had been winless Stoke’s only real bright spark, and a fourth goal in three games (5 in 4 if you include the international break) gave the Potters a maiden victory against Sunderland.

If Stoke didn’t have Allen, their start to the season would have been so much worse than it has been. At £13 milion he looks like a steal.