Six best ever Premier League solo performances after Mendy heroics vs Brentford
Edouard Mendy’s heroics against Brentford on Saturday needed to be seen to be believed.
The Senegalese stopper made a string of stunning saves as his Chelsea side survived a late Brentford onslaught to secure all three points for Thomas Tuchel’s table toppers.
His last-gasp fingertip save to deny Christian Norgaard’s acrobatic effort was the pick of the bunch and capped off an individual display which defied belief.
The 29-year-old’s heroics have led to further claims that he is currently the best goalkeeper in the world and reinforced the disbelief among players and fans alike at his baffling exclusion from this year’s Ballon d’Or list.
But Mendy isn’t the only player to steal the show in the Premier League with a scintillating solo performance.
Daily Star Sport takes a look at some of the best individual displays the league has witnessed over the years in some of the most memorable matches.
1. Luis Suarez (Liverpool) v Norwich City, December 2013
Where else to start than with Luis Suarez?
The Uruguayan simply loved playing against the Canaries, scoring 12 goals in six outings, and in December 2013 produced arguably the greatest individual performance the Premier League has ever seen.
The Liverpool forward hit four stunning strikes including a 40-yard lob, an arrowed drive after flicking the ball nonchalantly over an opponent’s head, and a sumptuous free-kick as the Reds’ number 7 embarked on his own Goal of the Season compilation in one match. Remarkable.
2. David Silva (Manchester City) v Manchester United, October 2011
In a match that needs very little introduction, Spanish wizard David Silva stole the show with a virtuoso performance as he guided City to a 6-1 thrashing over fierce rivals United at Old Trafford.
The Magician pulled the strings throughout the demolition job, playing a part in four of his side’s goals, including a classy finish of his own before assisting Edin Dzeko for City’s sixth with an outrageous volleyed through-ball from inside his own half.
3. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) v Newcastle United, October 2015
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Silva’s long-time City teammate was always going to make the list after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s finest ever forwards, but even by his lofty standards, this performance was staggering.
The Argentine scored five goals in the space of 20 minutes as City smashed Newcastle 6-1 in one of the most clinical displays of finishing you are ever likely to witness on a football pitch.
4. Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United) v Blackburn, November 2010
Aguero’s feat meant he joined an illustrious club containing only four other players to have hit five in a Premier League match, with one of them being Dimitar Berbatov, who managed the incredible achievement for city rivals United in their 7-1 trouncing of Blackburn Rovers five years’ previous.
For his hat-trick strike, the Bulgarian started and finished one of the finest counterattacking moves the league has ever seen, which featured a Berbatov backheel and sublime pass with the outside of his boot.
5. Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal) v Liverpool, April 2007
Perhaps one of the more surprising names on the list given his somewhat forgettable spell for the Gunners, Arshavin’s four-goal haul in this Anfield thriller will certainly be remembered for years to come.
In a pulsating match, the rampant Russian netted four of his 23 Premier League goals in one game alone with his final strike sparking iconic celebrations of a disbelieving Arshavin shaking his head with four fingers aloft in front of the adoring Arsenal away fans.
6. David De Gea (Manchester United) v Arsenal, December 2017
After Mendy’s heroics between the sticks on Saturday, it simply wouldn’t be right if we didn’t finish the list with a nod to another masterful display in goalkeeping.
While there have been many in the Premier League over the years, David De Gea’s performance against Arsenal at the Emirates back in 2017 was something else.
During United’s 3-1 triumph, De Gea made an astonishing 14 (that’s fourteen!) saves, including a special double stop to deny Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez from point-blank range.
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