Italy players in Premier League: Vicario returns, worst Tonali of the season | OneFootball

Guglielmo Vicario was victorious on his Tottenham Hotspur return over the weekend, but it was a disappointing day for Sandro Tonali and Newcastle as they suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Here is how the Italy players in the Premier League got on this weekend.

Victorious Vicario keeps clean sheet on Tottenham return

Guglielmo Vicario had spent 11 weeks out injured after suffering a fractured ankle during a 4-0 win over Manchester City in November. Spurs had only kept two clean sheets from 12 Premier League matches in Vicario’s absence.

The Italy back-up required surgery, and has recently revealed that he had two screws inserted in his ankle to overcome the injury.

Vicario made his return from injury at the weekend, going straight back into Ange Postecoglu’s starting XI for the 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday. After James Maddison went off in the second half, the Italian also assumed the captain’s armband.

Italy international Guglielmo Vicario claps the fans during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Destiny Udogie was also back in the matchday squad for the first time since his recent hamstring injury, but was left an unused substitute on this occasion.

Tonali criticism in the local press

It was a tough day at the office for Tonali and his Newcastle teammates as they suffered a 4-0 defeat by reigning champions Manchester City, largely thanks to an Omar Marmoush hat-trick within the space of 15 minutes in the first half.

Local outlet the Shields Gazette gave Tonali a rating of 4/10, and given that he has been a consistently decent performer this term, labelled his display on Saturday as his worst of the 2024-25 season.

James McAtee scores his team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Newcastle United FC at Etihad Stadium on February 15, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Newcastle have largely been in impressive form this season, particularly over the winter period, but have now won just one of their last four Premier League outings. They still sit seventh in the table, two points off Chelsea in sixth and three off Man City in the Champions League spots.

How did the other Italy players get on in the Premier League?

Two Italy players in Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho came off the bench in the second-half as an injury-hit Arsenal recorded a late 2-0 win over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.

Caleb Okoli played the full 90 minutes at centre-back for Leicester alongside Belgium international Wout Faes for the 2-0 loss to Arsenal.

Emerson Palmieri was a starter as usual at left-back for West Ham, but they fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Brentford. Former Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode came off the bench in the second half for the Bees.

Italy’s Federico Chiesa was included in the matchday squad for Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, but was also an unused substitute. He has still played for just 25 minutes across three substitute appearances in the Premier League this season.