Lucas Paqueta earned high praise from former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy for his “tenacious and brave” performance in West Ham United’s 1-0 win against Southampton.
The Hammers leapt out of the relegation zone up to 14th in the Premier League table thanks to Nayef Aguerd’s header in the first-half at the London Stadium.
After a big money move last summer, Brazilian midfielder Paqueta has fallen short of expectations in his first season in the Premier League with just two goals and two assists in 19 league appearances, but the Lyon signing was one of the standout performers in the 1-0 win against Saints.
READ MORE: Why Nayef Aguerd stuck up for Kurt Zouma as Lucas Paqueta breaks 10-year West Ham record
Initially signed for his creativity, flair and ability to score and create goals, the 25-year-old showcased another side to his game on Sunday. With ten tackles, 15 duels won and possession won on 12 occasions, Paqueta ranked first in all three stats, earning plaudits from Murphy who picked the Brazilian out as the star man.
“I’ve picked out Paqueta because he’s had a little criticism recently, he came in for a lot of money, big expectation. One thing I saw [against Southampton] was that he is up for a fight,” said Murphy on BBC ’s Match of the Day 2.
“He put a real shift in, especially second half when the game was a bit flat and the fans went flat, Southampton trying to get back into it. He showed a real desire to go after the ball, win it back. He’s always got quality on him, we’ve seen that many times.
“This is what I’m talking about, winning tackles. They’ve been too heavily reliant on Declan Rice in the middle of the pitch for a long time and [Paqueta] stepped up today. It was as tenacious and as brave a performance as I’ve seen from him, adding those little bits of quality as well.
“He plays a little bit ahead and you expect to see a lot more creativity from him in a West Ham shirt but I think now coming into the latter stages when they’re down the bottom this is what they want to see more of, that running back, pressing.
“He did get a chance to cap his fine performance off but missed it. I think physically now he’s used to it [the Premier League], he looks better physically.
“There’s the stats to show what he was about [against Saints]. Not many games this season he’s played in a West Ham shirt where he has been first with those type of stats - tackles, duels won and possession won.”
READ NEXT
Every word West Ham's David Moyes said on Southampton win, Nayef Aguerd and Brendan Rodgers
David Moyes drops Gianluca Scamacca hint as West Ham face crucial Premier League run-in
‘We’re thrilled’ - David Moyes gives verdict on West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta after Southampton win
West Ham player ratings: Nayef Aguerd and Lucas Paqueta star in crucial Southampton victory
West Ham’s David Moyes makes honest Europa Conference League claim amid relegation battle
