Perez finally coming of age
Aside from scoring the deciding goal in the game, Perez turned in a performance that may finally represent his coming of age in a black and white shirt.
While he may still have his detractors, who will point to the fact that one swallow does not make a summer, the Spaniard had possibly his best game for Newcastle and demonstrated why Benitez continues to trust him in the number 10 role.
It was a display laden with his usual work-rate, making two tackles, one interception and three clearances, and intelligent movement out of possession as he once again defended from the front, but he combined that with clever use of the ball in tight situations and an uncharacteristic robustness when it came to retaining it.
His pass that began the move for his goal, a cultured one-touch stroke out to Christian Atsu, epitomised the improvement Perez has experienced under Benitez’s tutelage.
