Grealish, Jesus and Pepe among New Year's Day man of the match performances

Over nine hours of football, there was a full day of televised Premier League action to ensure New Year's Day was spent firmly entrenched on the sofa. Nine matches, nine man of the match performances, which we run through here...

Reece James - Brighton 1-1 CHELSEA

It was an impressive all round display from youngster James, who returned from injury to start at right-back and made up for lost time. The 20-year-old made four tackles, four interceptions and won four aerial duels, while posing a threat going forwards with three dribbles and two shots, earning a rating of 8.07.

Jack Grealish - Burnley 1-2 ASTON VILLA

Were it not for the most marginal of offside decisions, Grealish would have had a brace to his name. As it was he had to make do with a solitary match-winner, firing home with his only shot at goal, whilst playing a key role in Wesley's opener to boot. Grealish completed two dribbles, created three chances and won four free-kicks for a rating of 8.26.

Wilfred Ndidi - Newcastle 0-3 LEICESTER

In what was another impressive attacking display from Leicester it was another dominant midfield performance from Ndidi that ensured Newcastle couldn't get a foothold in the game. The Nigerian registered an assist, made five interceptions and won nine aerial duels to secure a rating of 8.53.

Jack Stephens - SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 Tottenham

Playing his part in both key aspects of the result for Saints, Stephens delivered the ball for Danny Ings to score the only goal of the game and made a significant contribution to the clean sheet too. Two tackles, two interceptions and eight clearances helped keep a disjointed Tottenham side at bay and earned the defender a 7.99 rating.

Adama Traore - Watford 2-1 WOLVES

While he may have ended the game on the losing side it was a remarkable performance from Traore so far as his electric dribbling was concerned. The Spaniard completed a monumental 15, which was the most in a single Premier League game since WhoScored started receiving data from Opta in 2009 and more than the other 27 players in action at Vicarage Road combined (13). His rating, as a result, was 8.59.

Gabriel Jesus - MAN CITY 2-1 Everton

More than justifying his selection ahead of Sergio Aguero, Jesus was a livewire all game and could easily have had more than the two goals he did manage against the Toffees. The Brazilian had eight shots in total, hitting the post when on a hat-trick, whilst creating two chances and completing two dribbles for a 9.18 rating.

Emiliano Buendia - NORWICH 1-1 Crystal Palace

It was a sensational all round performance from the Argentine for the Canaries, earning his fourth WhoScored.com man of the match award in his last six appearances. The 23-year-old registered the assist for Todd Cantwell's opener with one of five key passes, whilst completing six dribbles and a whopping nine tackles for a 9.33 match rating.

Mark Noble - WEST HAM 4-0 Bournemouth

It was a captain's performance from Noble in David Moyes' first game in charge back at the club, with the midfielder scoring twice in a crucial victory. The first was heavily deflected and the second a penalty but the Hammers stalwart also chipped in with two tackles and two interceptions to help earn a rating of 9.12.

Nicolas Pepe - ARSENAL 2-0 Manchester United

The Ivorian will hope his latest performance can kickstart his Premier League career, opening the scoring before hitting the woodwork with a fine effort from distance. The winger created four chances, completed four dribbles and completed 100 per cent of his passes, earning an 8.72 match rating.