Premier League Top 50: Reevaluating the season’s standout players
The title competition is … reignited? The Premier League features three teams within four points of the top spot.
And the battle for Champions League positions is … more intense than ever? The difference between fifth and 13th place is merely seven points.
There could be a relegation battle as well, with 18th-place West Ham United having secured two consecutive victories, placing them five points ahead of 19th-place Burnley and five points behind 16th-place Nottingham Forest. However, our focus today is not primarily on the lower end of the standings.
Or, perhaps it is? We return with another installment of ESPN’s Premier League Top 50, our assessment of the league’s top players. What was once a straightforward task—primarily featuring players from Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea—has evolved into a more tightly contested and competitive landscape. While the leading teams still boast considerable talent, the average Premier League squad now resembles that of a typical Champions League team.
In this newly competitive setting, how does the top 50 shape up?
Ranking Methodology and Eligibility Criteria
This is not merely a compilation of the league’s most renowned players; we evaluate players based on a blend of actual performance—those actively participating in Premier League matches and contributing to their teams—and inherent talent. For instance, if Marcos Senesi were to join Arsenal, he might see a reduction in playing time and subsequently drop from these rankings. However, since he is with Bournemouth, he is logging significant minutes and excelling, thus earning a spot on the list.
Assessing individual players is quite challenging. Consider the players Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal acquired last summer who have not made a substantial impact for their new clubs. Although numerous statistics are referenced throughout, this process is more of an art than a science, and we can be more assured about the rankings at the top than those at the bottom.
This version of the list emphasizes players who have accumulated more playing time, with only two individuals not reaching the 900-minute mark. Additionally, if a player is currently injured, they are not eligible; therefore, Tyler Adams, Rúben Dias, Alexander Isak, and Josko Gvardiol have all been excluded.
Now, let’s delve into the Premier League Top 50 …
50. Amad Diallo, winger/wingback, Manchester United
49. Kevin Schade, forward, Brentford
48. Igor Thiago, forward, Brentford
The league’s second-highest scorer is unable to break into the top 40? He has converted five penalties and is currently three goals ahead of his expected-goals (xG) figure, which provides a more accurate assessment of what this list aims to reflect.
His per-90 statistics resemble those of a slightly above-average forward rather than a standout player. Nevertheless, he has logged significant minutes—an important factor—and he may be the league’s top defensive forward.
According to data from Gradient Sports, he has made 35 pressures that resulted in the ball being won in a “dangerous position,” defined as “an area where the player could create a chance to score.” No other player in the league has even reached 30.
47. Leandro Trossard, winger, Arsenal
46. Matheus Cunha, forward, Manchester United
He may fall off the list if interim head coach Michael Carrick continues to overlook him for United’s starting lineup. However, United were performing well prior to Carrick’s arrival, and Cunha was getting more playing time.
While he scored a remarkable goal to secure a victory against the top team in the world last weekend, it is worth noting that, according to Gradient, Cunha has completed 12 dribbles involving some form of “trick”—the highest in the league this season.
45. Sandro Tonali, midfielder, Newcastle United
44. Daniel Muñoz, fullback, Crystal Palace
43. Reece James, midfielder/fullback, Chelsea
42. Cristian Romero, centerback, Tottenham Hotspur
41. Robin Roefs, goalkeeper, Sunderland
40. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, forward, Leeds United
39. Ollie Watkins, forward, Aston Villa
38. Michael Kayode, fullback, Brentford
He ranks among the most athletic fullbacks globally. His passing has seen significant improvement since the start of the season, and there’s this chart—once again.
This illustrates the expected possession value generated from throw-ins, with EPV indicating how much a specific action enhances a team’s scoring chances. Kayode may excel at throwing the ball into the box more effectively than anyone else at any other task.
37. David Brooks, attacking midfielder, Bournemouth
36. Rayan Cherki, attacking midfielder, Manchester City
Taking shots and generating chances constitutes, I would estimate, 80% of being an effective attacker. And, well …
The only reason both Brooks and Cherki are not ranked higher is their playing time, which is around 900 minutes, the threshold I’ve set for this chart. In contrast, Erling Haaland has exceeded 1,900 minutes.
35. Jean-Philippe Mateta, forward, Crystal Palace
34. Florian Wirtz, attacking midfielder, Liverpool
Wirtz’s raw output has not yet reached expected levels. He has only three goals and one assist, despite Liverpool investing a nine-figure transfer fee to sign him.
However, his underlying metrics have improved to approximately 0.5 xG+xA per 90—a commendable figure for an attacking midfielder. He has played a pivotal role in numerous promising possessions that were overlooked due to missed opportunities or Liverpool’s inability to capitalize.
Wirtz has made 104 passes into dangerous areas—the highest in the league.
33. Anthony Gordon, winger, Newcastle United
32. Jack Grealish, winger, Everton
Only one player in the league has generated more possession value than Grealish this season. He has made five ball carries that led to clear chances, according to Gradient, which is precisely what it implies. No other player in the league has accomplished this more than three times.
31. Rodri, midfielder, Manchester City
30. Antoine Semenyo, winger, Manchester City
play1:24Does Antoine Semenyo play with more freedom than other Man City players?
The ESPN ‘FC TV’ crew discuss Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
29. Jan Paul van Hecke, Brighton & Hove Albion
28. Micky van de Ven, centerback, Tottenham Hotspur
27. Mohamed Salah, winger, Liverpool
play1:11Laurens not convinced Salah will keep his Liverpool starting spot
Julien Laurens suggests that Mohamed Salah did not do enough to secure a starting position against Bournemouth upon his return to the Liverpool lineup versus Marseille.
26. Morgan Rogers, attacking midfielder, Aston Villa
Many data-oriented analysts are somewhat doubtful of Rogers, primarily due to his expected goals and assists metrics being merely average for his role. His actual output, however, is significantly higher, and it is unlikely to remain at that level indefinitely.
Nonetheless, Rogers is not just an inconspicuous player who rarely touches the ball and only contributes when scoring spectacular goals. He is among the finest off-ball movers in the league, consistently finding space between the lines and aiding Villa in advancing the ball. His goal tally this season has led some to suggest he should be a starter for England, but his true value lies in all the actions he takes before a shot is made or a chance is created.
He has received 96 passes in dangerous areas, with no other player in the league surpassing 88.
25. Elliot Anderson, midfielder, Nottingham Forest
24. Adam Wharton, midfielder, Crystal Palace
Both Anderson and Wharton could, and likely will, transfer for around $100 million in upcoming transfer windows.
According to Gradient, Anderson has completed the most passes that break through multiple opposition lines, while Wharton leads the league in passes that penetrate the midfield line. Anderson ranks first in xPV added from defensive actions, with Wharton in second. Anderson is 23 years old, while Wharton is 21. The future of England’s midfield appears secure for a considerable time.
23. Martín Zubimendi, midfielder, Arsenal
22. Marcos Senesi, centerback, Bournemouth
After losing two centerbacks to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, what is the solution? Replace them with a player who is an even superior passer.
Gradient evaluates every pass made by each player in the Premier League every weekend, using a scale from minus-2 to plus-2, in increments of 0.5. (They then normalize each player’s overall grade for the season or match on a 0-to-100 scale.) Senesi has completed 16 passes rated at 1.0 or higher, with only one other player in the league reaching double digits.
21. Ryan Gravenberch, midfielder, Liverpool
I don’t believe he is responsible for any of Liverpool’s challenges, as he is performing at the same level as last year—possibly even better. According to Gradient, he is the highest-rated ball-carrier in the league and the only player who has received the ball while opening his body to goal at least 100 times.
The only moments when Liverpool’s possessions gain any real momentum this season occur when Gravenberch navigates through pressure and advances past a couple of defenders.
20. Jérémy Doku, winger, Manchester City
He has yet to master scoring, but it raises questions about how much of that is by Pep Guardiola’s design. Additionally, it prompts consideration of how significant it truly is:
Everyone else on this list has played at least 1,500 minutes, while Doku has not even reached 1,200.
19. Jordan Pickford, goalkeeper, Everton
Shot-stopping statistics can vary significantly from season to season, so I prefer to analyze data over a longer period to assess who the top goalkeepers truly are. Here’s how all Premier League goalkeepers compare this season and last in terms of goals prevented. In other words, this reflects the number of goals they have conceded below what the Stats Perform model indicates they should have, based on the difficulty and volume of shots faced
