5 Premier League Players With It All To Prove This Season, feat. Liverpool and MUFC stars

By Harvey Lewis

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Many have fallen under the harsh, fast paced, unforgiving nature of the Premier League with the world class Angel Di Maria leaving Manchester United due to never settling in England and Roberto Soldado heading through the exit door at Spurs after failing to hit the form he once portrayed.

Now the limelight is shone on others. TBR has picked out five players who are on their final chance to show they really can cut it in the Premier League or they could be waving goodbye. Do you agree?

Samir Nasri

While City fans are happy with the way the team has progressed under the ‘Arab Money’ reign, there have been few rave reviews about Samir Nasri.

The Frenchman signed for £25m in 2011 has never fully nailed down a place in City’s starting eleven and even with a free pass to operate as a left winger, he failed to take the chance, leading to Silva being placed ahead of him in the pecking order.

Mancini had a love-hate relationship with Nasri, openly admitting he ‘would like to punch him in the face’ after a very inconsistent vein of form and now the Frenchman finds himself as a backup under Pellegrini.

Nasri has impressed during phases of his City career, most notable a Man of the Match performance against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup, but his desire and hunger have been questioned ever since he made what Arsenal fans call a ‘money motivated’ move from the London club in 2011.

Now, Nasri has to perform. With the expensive addition of Raheem Sterling on the wing and Delph in the centre, Nasri has to prove he is the best of the bunch to ensure he isn’t warming a seat on the bench this season, the French international however has stated he is determined not to be the ‘fall guy’. Maybe the desire has kicked in, 4 seasons to late? That’s for others to answer.

Mario Balotelli

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Super Mario has had so many chances, almost he knows this is his last. Or maybe he doesn’t, his behaviour shows he isn’t to bothered about being exiled from Liverpool’s first team picture. Recent videos of him being smothered in champagne prove evidence of this.

However, the Italian has got undoubted talent along with a fair share of arrogance. He’s a player that has divided opinion wherever he’s gone, none more so than when he joined Liverpool for a reported £16m fee.

4 goals in all competitons last season show that he’s playing on borrowed time whenever he makes an appearance for The Reds as his poor focus hasn’t pleased the Anfield faithful.

This is his final chance. Liverpool was a lifeline for his career and with offers from Serie B clubs, signs show the once potential world-beater will end up collecting millions in a country like Qatar.

However, when partnered with Sturridge, like he was against Spurs last season, he looked sharp and willing to work of his English strike partners work ethic. If he focuses and gets to play with Sturridge, he may become a fruitful asset for Rodgers, signs show this won’t happen.

Erik Lamela

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The Argentinian prodigy that has a devastatingly skillful pair of feet moved for record fee to Spurs during their spending of the Gareth Bale money. Lamela has failed to replicate the Welsh international.

The record signing maintained a spot in Pocchetino’s line up last season and is looking to build, like Nasri, on inconsistency. The famous Europa League rabona goal showed fans his potential but he is yet to progress in to the player his transfer fee merits.

A third season at Spurs could be his last. The performance level has to be turned up a notch and Lamela needs to add both goals and assists to his game.

With Pritchard signing a new contract, it’s clear he’s going to be given a chance at Spurs. Lamela firstly needs to ensure it’s not him that’s removed from the starting sheet before making sure he’s not sent through the White Hart Lane exit doors next summer.

Radamel Falcao

After an atrocious showing for Manchester United last season, it was a massive surprise to see the Colombian join Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

However, the self proclaimed ‘Special One’ may have made the most psychological piece of business this summer. With many doubting that the striker has the talent and sharpness he had before his knee injury, Mourinho knows the praise he’ll get if he gets Falcao firing.

The Colombian will know he isn’t going to get another chance in the Premier League after Chelsea. Falcao will be determined to impress and show he’s over the devastating knee injury.

His eagerness is clear to see, unlike Balotelli, which works in his favour and the determination to succeed may enable him another crack of the metaphorical Premier League whip.

Phil Jones

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With Jones starting the season injured, he’ll be playing catch-up for at least half the season before he hits full fitness. United fans could have run the rule by then, meaning it’s to late to prove Sir Alex Ferguson true when he stated Jones would be an ‘Old Trafford great’.

Blind and Smalling in the meantime have kept two clean sheets from two. Blind has been praised for his impressive passing ability while Smalling is Van Gaals ‘third captain’ if there is such a thing.

The form of these two make it hard for fans and pundits alike to see how Jones fits in, especially as Darmian has already made the right back spot his own. As well as defensive midfield never being Jones’ strong point, as much as he tried.

The England international has to come back fighting, being fitter and stronger than ever to prove that Van Gaal has the 3 centrebacks he needs to challenge for the title.

Otherwise Jones could replicate Johnny Evans who is tipped to leave United. United fans wouldn’t want that, for Sir Alex’s sake.

Featured image: All rights reserved by chao1989

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