Liverpool pair Firmino and Salah among perfect 10 recipients this season

 

As we gear up for the return of Premier League football, we take a look at the best individual performances in England's top tier so far this campaign, looking at those to have earned a perfect WhoScored 10 rating. Liverpool dominate this list, while stars from Manchester City, Brentford and Leicester also make the cut. 

 

Roberto Firmino - Liverpool (vs Bournemouth) 

 

Starting the list comes from the biggest win of the season, where Liverpool won their first league game of the campaign as they beat Bournemouth 9-0. Roberto Firmino, who is leaving the Reds this summer, was at the forefront of the win, contributing to five goals with a brace from five shots, and a hat-trick of assists. The Brazilian was a constant threat, with his trio of assists coming from four key passes, including one big chance, and he registered 12 touches in the opposition box, which only Mohamed Salah (14) could better. 

 

Luis Diaz - Liverpool (vs Bournemouth) 

 

Given it was such a huge scoreline, it is no surprise that there was a second perfect 10 for a Liverpool player against the Cherries. Luis Diaz, a player who Liverpool have sorely missed due to injury, scored a brace from just two shots, and registered a key pass. He also completed two dribbles and maintained a pass success rate of 95.7%, which was the best of any starting player, and won possession in the attacking third more times (2) than any other player. 

 

Ivan Toney - Brentford (vs Leeds) 

 

The third perfect WhoScored rated performance in the Premier League came just a week after Liverpool’s perfect pair with Ivan Toney leading Brentford to an emphatic 5-2 win over Leeds. It took the England international just 58 minutes to score a hat-trick, two of which were goals from outside of the box and the other a penalty, coming from a total of six shots. Toney was successful with his two attempted tackles and completed his one attempted dribble, while no player won more fouls (3) than than the Brentford star to receive a perfect 10 rating. 

 

Erling Haaland - Manchester City (vs Manchester United) 

 

There was almost no doubt that Erling Haaland would be on this list, and a game where he scored his third hat-trick for Manchester City was deemed a perfect showing. It was also Haaland’s first Manchester Derby, which ended 6-3 in his side's favour. In total, the Norwegian was directly involved in five goals. To go with his hat-trick from six shots, Haaland also registered two assists from a total of four key passes, the most in the game. Haaland won two aerial duels and registered the joint most touches in the opposition box (12) that day too. 

 

Phil Foden - Manchester City (vs Manchester United) 

 

Haaland wasn’t alone in earning a perfect WhoScored 10 rating in that Manchester Derby. Phil Foden was just as key to that big win for Pep Guardiola’s side as he too recorded six shots in the 6-3 win, and just like Haaland, maintained a 50% conversion rate to score his first career hat-trick. Only one of his 22 attempted passes didn’t find a teammate, while he made a tackle and an interception as well in a superb showing. 

 

James Maddison - Leicester (vs Nottingham Forest) 

 

Back in October, James Maddison produced a fine display to also earn himself a perfect WhoScored 10 rating on a Monday night. In their first meeting since Nottingham Forest’s promotion to the Premier League, Leicester beat their East Midlands rivals 4-0 and clinch their first league win of the season. Maddison contributed to three of the goals with an assist and two goals, which included a direct free-kick. In the resounding victory, he created two big chances, maintained a pass success rate of 91.5% and made the joint most dribbles (3), while contributing defensively, too, with two tackles and two interceptions. 

 

 

Mohamed Salah - Liverpool (vs Manchester United) 

 

The most recent recipient of a perfect WhoScored 10 rating, and the third to do so for Liverpool this season, against Manchester United no less, is Mohamed Salah. Jurgen Klopp’s side ran rampant just over two weeks ago, as his side won 7-0 against their fierce rivals. Salah was one of three players to score a brace at Anfield, doing so from three shots. Additionally, he also provided the assist for both Cody Gakpo and Roberto Firmino’s goals from a total of three key passes registered, the joint most in the game. The stats reinforce a perfect performance as the Egyptian completed one dribble, made a tackle and won more fouls (6) than any other player.

Liverpool pair Firmino and Salah among perfect 10 recipients this season