As we head into mid March, the Premier League is in full swing. With two thirds of the games played we are beginning to get a good understanding of which teams are doing well, and which are underperforming. The title appears to be a shootout between the two English Goliath’s Liverpool and Manchester City. Whereas the battle for relegation survival heats up between the likes of Burnley, Watford and the surprising addition of Everton.
Like teams rise and fall, the synergy between players and their highs and lows is mirrored. This year we have seen some individuals emerge from the shadows and produce consistent 9/10 performances. Parallel to that, some of the well known Premier League stars have failed to live up to their heavy expectations. Big money transfers such as Romelu Lukaku and Jack Grealish have struggled to date. Though only time will tell if they are truly flops.
But today we are going to focus on those players that have ascended their league mates and produced performances that have equal parts amazed and delivered. To create this list I took in a number of factors. These included goals and assists (primarily with attackers), clean sheets (primarily for defenders), game ratings, man of the match awards and their overall impact on their respective teams. A lot of players who I would consider to have had stellar seasons may not have made a team with only limited spaces. Some positions have 3 or 4 players who are vying for that spot, and to show some love to the guys that didn’t make this list, I’ll quickly give them a mention. And of course most teams still have 12+ league games at time of writing, so by the time May roles around this starting XI could have changed considerably. And of course I’m only taking in to account Premier League performances and not players stats and measurables from other competitions.
Honourable Mentions:
Édouard Mendy (Chelsea Gk) – 10 clean sheets, 81% save percentage Andy Robertson (Liverpool Lb)- 9 assists, 7.49 whoscored rating Reece James (Chelsea Rb)- 5 goals, 6 assists, 2 MOTM Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea Cb)- 2 goals, 12 clean sheets, 87%ile passer Declan Rice (West Ham Cm)- 4.1 tackles+ints per game, 4 assists Kevin De Bruyne (Man City Cm)- 9 goals, 3 assists, 7.45 whoscored rating Riyad Mahrez (Man City Rw)- 10 goals, 4 assists, 95%ile progressive carries Son Heung-Min (Spurs Lw)- 10 goals, 6 assists, 7.31 whoscored rating Emmanuel Dennis (Watford St)- 9 goals, 5 assists, 2 MOTM
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) Goalkeeper
Back in August when Arsenal splashed the cash and bought Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for £30million, there was a mixed reaction amongs Premier League fans. On one hand, the 23 year old had suffered back to back relegations from England’s top flight with both Bournemouth and Sheffield, and even though Ramsdale was young, he made a lot of mistakes and was a very raw product. On the other hand, Arsenal already had their number one keeper in Germany’s Bernd Leno, who in the season prior kept 11 clean sheets. A couple months down the line and it looks to have been some inspired business for Arteta’s Gunners. 3rd in the league for clean sheets with 11, Ramsdale has consistently kept Arsenal in games with his heroic and acrobatic saves. The young stopper has saved 79% of the shots he’s faced so far, one of the highest percentages in the league. He has also contributed to the North London side with his fantastic distribution, often starting off attacks with his accurate long range passing. The main reason he makes it into this team however, is the fact that he has transformed a middling Arsenal team into a side that is currently competing for 3rd place.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) Right back
Last season, TAA was put heavily under fire by the media for his defensive ability with the exclusion of Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip in the starting XI. This season has been somewhat of a reemergence for the young Englishman with standout offensive and defensive displays. Trent contributed to 9 goals last term in 36 games and has already eclipsed that total in just 24 games with 2 goals and 11 assists. TAA’s ability to play in a cross or accurate through ball is second to none in the league and is instrumental in how Liverpool play their effective attacking football. He’s also a monster on set pieces and can play a pin point pass from the corner or the half way line. His individual performances this season have earned him an abundance of plaudits. So far this season, the scouse star has earned himself a 7.59 average whoscored rating, an elite rating, and 5 man of the match awards (one of the highest levels in the division). Though fellow Englishman Reece James has contributed 0.8 goals every 90 this year, I couldn’t look past Trent for a spot in this team.
Thiago Silva (Chelsea) Centre back
At 37 years of age, perennial winner Thiago Silva is rolling back the years. The term is often overused in modern day football but the Brazilian really is a Rolls Royce of a defender. Always cool and composed under pressure, he’s a commanding presence at the back who any manager will want out there controlling the back. Coming off the back of winning his first champions league aged 36, it was believed Silva would take a step back this year with the likes of established stars Rüdiger, Christensen and newly promoted star Trevoh Chalobah taking over the mantle. But Silva has performed at such a high level he’s competed in 22 of the Blues 26 games so far this term. Performing at an average level of 7.21 he has had some outstanding individual performances, including scoring against Spurs both home and away and a monumental game against Liverpool where Chelsea went down to 10 men early on. Though the former PSG man may not have long left in his career, he’s still showing the young guns how it’s done.
Rúben Dias (Manchester City) Centre back
Joining Thiago Silva at the back in this squad is last years Premier Legaue player of the season Rúben Dias. The Portuguese centre back has been a sensation since joining the Sky Blues from Benfica in the summer of 2020 for a reported £60million. He came in and instantly turned round Guardiolas defensive problems and made them a juggernaut that became nearly impossible to get past. Dias has 11 clean sheets in 25 games this season and he is in charge of commanding the back line which consist of multiple world class talents. Along with his defensive acumen, Dias has been in the goals this season, scoring 2 and assisting a further 3, putting him in the top 10% of players at his position for these statistics. He’s also in the top 2% for passes and progressive carries, showing he contributes a lot more to the Champions than just tackling. A real monster at the back, at only 24 it’s scary to think how good he could be in 5 years time.
João Cancelo (Manchester City) Left back
Back in 2019 when Cancelo made the move from Juventus to Manchester City in a deal totalling around £60million, expectations were very high. He didn’t get off to the best start in life in the blue part of Manchester as he couldn’t take Kyle Walker’s right back spot in the team. The COVID-19 break happened and Cancelo came back in a new position, left back. And he made the position his own. This season he’s pushed on even further and is showing why Pep Guardiola made the right decision in signing him back in 2019. Now a mainstay in the side, the Portuguese product is equally effective at defending as he is in attack. He produces 4.1 tackles and interceptions a game, allowing his side to quickly get the ball back into attacking transitions and offensively he completes 1.8 key passes a game. A lot of his attacking output has translated into goals, combining for 1 goal and 5 assists in 26 league games. These displays have warranted him earring an average 7.45 whoscored rating and 4 man of the match awards. Showing that he can impact a star studded team from the left back position.
Fabinho (Liverpool)- Holding midfielder
At 28 years old, Brazilian Fabinho is arguably the best holding midfielder in the whole of England. Some may even argue he’s the best in the holding role in the world. Fabinho is a fantastic contributor defensively and acts as a shield for an already solid Liverpool defence. Coming from Monaco in 2018 Fabinho plied his trade primarily as a right back, as the midfield positions were dominated by Timoue Bakayoko and João Mourinho, players who both moved on to the Premier League. The Brazilians numbers speak for themselves with 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game and 2.2 average long balls shows how influential he is by breaking up play and starting new attacks. The Afield star has also shown improvements in front of goal this term, scoring 4 and providing an additional goal for his teammates. The proof is on the pudding when deciding how influential he is for this Liverpool side, as the Reds have not been able to produce as dazzling performances without the Brazilian in the side.
Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace)- Central midfielder
Should Conor Gallagher continue his great stretch of form and make the team of the season, he would become the first Crystal Palace player since Andy Johnson back in 04/05 to do so. Gallagher has been massively influential since joining Patrick Vieira’s side on loan in the summer. Scoring 8 and assisting a further 3 has displayed just how good of a talent the 22 year old is. Great on the ball and wonderful technique when hitting the ball, he young Englishman is often the conductor of the Eagles attacks. Only one player aged 22 or under (Bukayo Saka) has contributed to more goals so far this season. But players like Saka have the privileged working alongside more talented players whereas (no disrespect) Conor is working for a team traditionally fighting to avoid relegation. This year however Gallagher has been one of the main contributing factors in the teams success as they currently sit 10th in the table. And his average whoscored rating of 7.28 this season tops other such young talents as Mason Mount, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. All players who are considered to be having great seasons. Gallagher performances haven’t gone unnoticed as he’s received 4 man of the match awards for his heroics.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)- Attacking midfielder
There were rumours during the summer that Bernardo Silva was considering his future in Manchester as he was out of favour with manager Pep Guardiola. Fast forward to the current day and the Portuguese standout is one of the leagues top performers this year. Pep is well known for rotating his team heavily throughout the season, and yet now Bernardo has started 27 of the 28 games played so far, which is most in the squad. His levels have raised drastically from prior seasons. Calm and composed on the ball, I believe there are no better players with the ball at their feet in the whole of England. The ball is practically glued to his foot and opposing defenders struggle to hack away at the micro magician as he runs circles around them. He’s improved in front of goal as well, scoring 7 goals and providing 2 assists. When you play for a team at the top of the league and you’ve been their best player, it just shows how influential you are. And with Bernardo’s average rating of 7.4 this season, not many can top his level of play.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)- Winger
If the Premier Legaue player of the season was announced today, Mo Salah would run away with it. The Egyptian has contributed to the most goals so far this year with 19 goals and 10 assists, which is miles ahead of second closest contributors Son Heung-Min and Jarrod Bowen with 16 apiece. If Liverpool are to catch the marauding Manchester City in the title chase this season then Salah will have played a major part. The word I’d use to best describe the 2018 player of the year is clutch. The speedy and tricky winger is always the man for the big occasion, with important goals coming in abundance. Salah’s average whoscored rating this term of 7.78 is #1 in the Legaue, and his 6 man of the match awards only emphasise his impact for Liverpool this year. If the Egyptian continues in this vein of form for the remained of the games, then this could go down as one of the best individual seasons in Premier League history. Will he be able to replicate the 17/18 season where he scored 32 and assisted 10? He’s already got the assists!
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)- Winger
The closest person to replicate how Mohamed Salah plays is possibly West Ham’s very own Jarrod Bowen. Tricky with the ball at his feet, the 25 year old Englishman has the canny knack of cutting in off the right onto his left foot and rocketing the ball into the back of the net. With 8 goals and assists this term, he tops all other English players in the division. These goals have helped West Ham into the top 6 for the second time in consecutive seasons. Over the last two years, manager David Moyse has got his team firing and has really developed some of his teams young stars. None have improved more than the former Hull Tiger Bowen though. Producing an average rating this year of 7.23 just shows how elite of a level he is playing at. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if one of the top teams came calling for his services in the summer. But I imagine a player of Bowen’s quality won’t come cheap.
Diogo Jota (Liverpool)- Striker
Though not a conventional striker, Jota has been banging in the goals for Liverpool this season. Coming from Wolves last season, the Portuguese international was mainly a big part player in Jurgen Klopp’s system. But this season he has come out and made the central attacking position his own, dislodging mainstay Roberto Firmino. In 24 games Jota has scored 12 goals, already his most in a season in England. And some of those goals have been vitally important, including scoring a double in a 2-0 win over Leicester and a goal against Manchester United in a 5-0 drubbing. He’s in the top 4% of players in the league for non penalty goals as well. Jota’s decisiveness in front of goal has landed him with 3 man of the match awards. Though his goals for the Reds have been decisive, he’s also been an asset in how they play without the ball. Making tackles in the middle of the pitch and pressuring defenders to make those all important mistakes. In fact Diogo falls in the top 3% of players for pressures in the entire division showing that he’s an incredibly talented multi faceted player.
Forgotten Footballers 