Sunderland and Newcastle stars league’s best in key area this past weekend

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Sunderland and Newcastle United both picked up a point each at the weekend.

Sunderland’s Lamine Kone and Newcastle United duo Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles made more effective clearances than any other player in the Premier League at the weekend.

Newcastle posted what arguably was the most impressive result at the weekend, coming from two goals down to claim a point at Liverpool in a fascinating 2-2 draw.

The Magpies looked dead and buried at half-time as they entered the interval two goals down, yet goals from Papiss Cisse and Jack Colback pus some sturdy defending earned them a valuable point.

Liverpool have been in superb form of late, scoring goals in abundance therefore it was undoubtedly a brave effort from Rafa Benitez’s side’s defence to hold out amid waves of late attacks.

Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles put their bodies on the line on more than one occasion, and between them they managed to contribute with a remarkable 19 effective clearances.

As shown by the table provided by Opta, the Magpies duo posted more clearances than every other Premier League player at the weekend bar one – Sunderland centre-back Lamine Kone.

The former Lorient man was instrumental in helping the Black Cats keep a clean sheet against Arsenal, and earning his side a point as neither team could find a breakthrough.

Kone has been an excellent player for Sunderland since joining the club in January, and his presence is really making an impact of late as three clean sheets in their last four games has given the club a fighting chance.

Sam Allardyce’s men moved out of the bottom three on goal difference at the weekend, and considering their good form of late, you wouldn’t back against them surviving come the end of the season.