Best XI, worst signings, best young players and more

The top of Tuesday’s Chelsea–Leicester City match on Tuesday marked the tough halfway level of the 2020-21 Premier League season. With the coronavirus nonetheless looming massive, it has been a fraught and largely crowd-free affair, one which has produced a fairly tight race: 5 groups are presently inside 5 factors of the league lead, we have had 9 totally different groups occupying first place at one time or one other, and 10 are inside 5 factors of a Champions League slot. However to commemorate what we have seen up to now, let’s hand out some midseason awards, from greatest participant to worst summer time signing.

Be aware: as a result of groups have performed anyplace between 16 (Aston Villa) and 19 video games (10 groups) as a result of postponements, any point out beneath of what place a workforce is in reference to per-game totals, not general totals.

Leap to: Best player | Best manager | Best goal | Best game | Disappointing XI | Worst signing | Best signing | Best young player

Participant of the season

5. Son Heung-Min, Tottenham Hotspur. You recognize it has been a great yr for attackers when Son can produce a tempo of 24 targets and 12 assists … because the second-best attacker on his personal workforce. That he is scored 12 targets on simply 34 photographs is unbelievable: the opposite six gamers with double-digit targets up to now have averaged 57 photographs between them.

4. Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City. We take the 29-year-old Belgian without any consideration at this level. His crowning glory has been a bit off — his 57 photographs have produced 8.4 xG, however solely three targets — however his passing is nearly as good as ever: he is second within the league with 10 assists and third with 51 possibilities created (assists + key passes, i.e., the cross earlier than a shot try).

3. Jack Grealish, Aston Villa. Whereas Son’s major contribution has are available in placing the ball within the web, Grealish has thrived at organising photographs for others. His 55 possibilities created are essentially the most within the league, and 7 of them have turn into assists. He is additionally scored 5 occasions and is successful 62% of his duels, essentially the most amongst attackers with 1,000-plus touches.

2. Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United. United seem like respectable contenders in January for the primary time since what, 2013? Fernandes is the first cause. He is on tempo for 22 targets and 14 assists, and whereas half of his targets are penalties, he is nonetheless the inventive engine of the third-best scoring unit within the league. Since signing him on the finish of final yr’s January switch window, United have misplaced simply thrice in league play and have generated extra factors than anybody else.

1. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur. At occasions in latest seasons, Kane appeared like he was enjoying with an added weight on his again, the regular stream of minutes and key matches placing severe mileage on the odometer. However an damage layoff, mixed with the coronavirus stoppage, appeared to provide him again his legs. The 27-year previous is on tempo for an unbelievable 24 targets and 22 assists this season; he’d by no means dished greater than seven assists in a season, and he is already as much as 11. His partnership with Son has given Spurs a two-man offense ok to maintain them within the league’s prime 5 regardless of a scarcity of a gentle Plan B.

Supervisor of the season

3. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United. United started the league season slowly and bombed out of the Champions League with three losses in its final 4 matches. However regardless of these early setbacks, Solskjaer has related properly with the squad and guided it on a hell of a run: the Pink Devils have pulled 30 factors from their final 12 league matches and reached the midway level in first place.

2. Brendan Rodgers, Leicester Metropolis. An damage to defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, plus the sale of fullback Ben Chilwell to Chelsea, prompted Rodgers to take a extra cautious strategy early this season. However regardless of younger gamers enjoying rising roles, the Foxes have taken 20 factors from their final 9 matches and stay a cussed third general, averaging two factors per recreation. Not that it must be mentioned at this level, however Rodgers is a extremely, actually good supervisor.

1. Carlo Ancelotti, Everton. Ancelotti has received Champions Leagues and guided most of the richest golf equipment on this planet. Everton shouldn’t be poor by any means, however he is coping with fewer expertise benefits than he is used to, and he is nonetheless producing.

The Toffees have been seeming like a flash within the pan, successful their first 4 league matches, however then simply one in every of their subsequent seven. However they beat Chelsea, Leicester Metropolis and Arsenal consecutively in December, and regardless of star addition James Rodriguez‘s type sliding a bit from his early brilliance, Everton retains cranking out factors. They’re on tempo for 70+ factors for the primary time since 2014.

Objective of the season

Is it recency bias? Possibly. But it surely’s onerous to make a case for every other aim we have seen now that we have seen Tanguy Ndombele‘s totally outlandish back-of-the-foot scoop in opposition to Sheffield United from this previous weekend.

No one.

Completely nobody.

Tanguy Ndombele… #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/5Qo6EMrtQK

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 17, 2021

What’s your favourite half? Is it the shot itself, an ideal arc with excellent weight that in some way one-upped what had been a stunning, inventive cross from Steven Bergwijn? Is it the truth that Ndombele thought to aim the shot in any respect, with no cause to count on success? Is it the truth that, within the final replay angle within the clip above, you possibly can see Blades keeper Aaron Ramsdale clearly mutter a phrase that begins with “F” as he realizes the ball is clearly arcing into his web and there is nothing he can do about it?

The right reply, in fact: all the above. What a aim.

Finest XI

With half of the Premier League’s 20 groups formally on the midpoint of their campaigns, we have seen greater than sufficient to pick the superlatives, place by place, up to now.

GK: Nick Pope, Burnley. Goalkeeper stats are so loaded with context that it is onerous to know what to make of them, however do that one out: Stats Carry out’s Targets Prevented class compares the xG of the photographs in your aim to the precise targets you enable. Pope simply leads the league at +6.4 in the mean time; he is on tempo for the most effective season on this regard since David de Gea‘s +13.7 in 2017-18, however I doubt he’d complain if his Burnley teammates gave him rather less work to do.

RB: Kyle Walker-Peters, Southampton. On this XI, the 23-year-old is the right associate for the roaming Cancelo. He isn’t closely concerned in assault, however he thrives doing Ralph Hasenhuttl’s soiled work: he is second amongst league full-backs (min. 1000 minutes) with 110 ball recoveries, and he is first in each deal with success charge (57%) and fouls dedicated in opposition to him (26). Misplaced within the shuffle a bit at Tottenham Hotspur previously, he is thriving down south.

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CB: Jannik Vestergaard, Southampton. You need to catch Southampton in transition since you in all probability aren’t going to attain as soon as the Saints have settled in behind the ball on protection. Vestergaard is as chargeable for that as anybody: he is received 68% of his duels and 72% of aerials, which, contemplating he is 6-foot-6, in all probability isn’t surprising. He is a prepared (however not too prepared) tackler, and he is added three set-piece targets as well. He is been enormous, actually and metaphorically, for the overachieving Saints.

CB: Kurt Zouma, Chelsea. Chelsea’s protection ranks sixth in photographs allowed per possession and third in xG per shot, and Zouma has performed a serious position in that — he is one in every of solely two central defenders (min. 1,000 minutes) to win at the very least 60% of his tackles, 65% of his duels and 70% of his aerials. However he additionally leads central defenders with 4 targets, all from corners. That is a hell of a mix, even when it does not persistently guarantee him a spot in an altogether not sure Chelsea lineup.

LB: Joao Cancelo, Manchester Metropolis. He is performed left again and proper again. He generated 5 scoring possibilities in two matches on the best wing. His cross map is likely one of the most … complete you will see.

Pep Guardiola has massaged Metropolis’s identification a bit this yr, making an attempt to shore up weaknesses in transition protection whereas various its assault. Cancelo has been key in each regards.

CM: Mason Mount, Chelsea. Of the 27 primarily “central” midfielders who’ve performed 1000 minutes to date, Mount has created by far essentially the most possibilities (48) and has accomplished essentially the most crosses (33) with the second-highest completion charge (39%). He additionally has the second-most photographs on course (10) regardless of taking most of his photographs outdoors the field. Regardless of all the cash Chelsea spent on attacking expertise this offseason, a great portion of their extra profitable assaults have gone via this 22-year previous holdover/youth academy product.

CM: Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester Metropolis. Certain, De Bruyne performs a majority of his minutes in additional of an attacking midfield position, however he is equally harmful in each — he has averaged 0.67 assists per 90 in attacking midfield and 0.63 in central midfield, and his cross completion charge is greater from the latter position. So we’re squeezing him in right here. And anyway, this workforce’s much more enjoyable with each him and Fernandes in it.

RW: Mo Salah, Liverpool. He did not fairly match into the highest 5 gamers listing above, however he is nonetheless been the most effective right-winger within the league. He and the Reds’ assault have fallen right into a little bit of a funk, however he is nonetheless on tempo to prime 25 targets for the primary time since 2017-18.

CAM: Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United. United is near the league lead, and Fernandes leads United in touches, possibilities, assists, crosses tried and accomplished, targets, photographs and ball recoveries within the attacking third. He is the United assault.

LW: Jack Grealish, Aston Villa. It is actually pick-your-flavor right here. If you need extra of a creator, it is Grealish. For those who want perhaps a bit extra ending with a workforce that already options Mount, de Bruyne and Fernandes, then perhaps you go along with Son. Cannot go improper both approach.

CF: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur. Fingers crossed that we get a full, injury-free season from Kane and Son, simply to see the numbers they’re able to producing. To this point: 24 targets and 17 assists mixed in simply 18 matches. Loopy.

Second XI/Honorable Mentions

GK: Alphonse Areola, Fulham RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Manchester United CB: John Stones, Manchester Metropolis CB: Harry Maguire, Manchester United LB: Ben Chilwell, Chelsea DM: Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester Metropolis CM: James Ward-Prowse, Southampton CM: Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester Metropolis RW: James Rodriguez, Everton CF: Jamie Vardy, Leicester Metropolis LW: Son Heung-Min, Tottenham Hotspur

Match of the season

Few season debuts find yourself being a superbly correct preview of every thing to come back, however that is precisely what Liverpool 4-3 Leeds United was. Liverpool’s Salah netted a hat trick, paving the best way for his present scoring lead. Liverpool suffered a few mind-blowing defensive glitches, which outlined the early season for principally each heavy-possession, vulnerable-to-counter-attacks-rich-team within the sport.

Most of all, Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds proved prepared to permit a lot of scoring possibilities within the title of making a lot of their very own. They adopted this match with a 4-3 win over Fulham, and so they’ve each scored 5+ targets twice and allowed 4+ 4 occasions. Their knife’s-edge model might make them a risk to steal a Europa League slot late within the season… or it might result in a month-long droop that provides them relegation anxiousness. Both approach, it is onerous to take your eyes off of them, and that is been true from the opening kick.

Most disappointing XI

play

Mark Ogden seems at ESPN FC’s listing of the worst Premier League transfers up to now this season.

Not every thing might be fantastic and completely dwell as much as expectations, in fact, so we should always in all probability cowl a number of the extra disappointing performances within the league as properly.

GK: Jordan Pickford, Everton. England‘s first-choice keeper has rebounded from a woeful begin, however mentioned begin remains to be affecting his season-long numbers. That Targets Prevented measure referenced above? He was at minus-4.1 9 matches into the season. (He is at plus-2.8 since.)

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool. Once more, that is about expectations. TAA has nonetheless produced the third-most probabilities of any fullback (24) and the fourth-most ball recoveries (98). He is nonetheless fairly good, clearly, however he is failing to clear the bar he set for himself final yr: his capturing stats are down, and he is gone from averaging 2.5 possibilities created per 90 to 1.7. He’ll bounce again, however Liverpool would very a lot respect it if that occurred shortly.

CB: John Egan, Sheffield United. The Blades’ woeful begin (19 matches, 5 factors) has been pushed primarily by a complete lack of ability to attain. However at the same time as they struggled in that division final season, they nonetheless had a sturdy protection to depend on. This yr, not a lot. Egan has gone from successful 63% of his aerials to 55%, from 42% of his tackles to 34% and from 61% of his duels all the way down to 53%. Opponents are taking the third-most photographs per possession, and Egan’s not stopping as lots of them.

CB: Branislav Ivanovic, West Bromwich Albion. The 36-year-old former Chelsea star was introduced in to assist hold the again line sturdy and arranged, and whereas expectations weren’t excessive, wherever the bar was he is not clearing it.

LB: Ben Davies, Tottenham Hotspur. Davies was perhaps the most effective fullback within the league in 2017-18, producing two targets and 6 assists amongst 47 possibilities created. However he is been looking for his previous self since returning this time final yr from a severe ankle damage. Within the final calendar yr, he is created 14 possibilities and no targets. He is largely superb defensively and largely superb general, however “superb” is disappointing in comparison with two or three years in the past.

CM: Mateo Kovacic, Chelsea. In his first two seasons in Chelsea blue, the Croatian midfielder averaged 1.3 possibilities created and seven.0 ball recoveries per 90. Whereas Mount has achieved properly, Kovacic has struggled to seek out his place on this new lineup and is averaging simply 0.9 possibilities and 5.0 ball recoveries. He is mixing into the surroundings a bit.

CM: Joao Moutinho, Wolves. Moutinho has been so necessary to the identification of Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad because it carved out a distinct segment within the higher half of the Premier League, and it is onerous to consider him when it comes to disappointment. However his manufacturing has trailed off dramatically this season: after averaging 81 possibilities created and 256 ball recoveries in his first two seasons in Wolverhampton, the 34-year previous is on tempo for less than 40 possibilities and about 170 ball recoveries this yr.

CM: Kai Havertz, Chelsea. The most costly signing of Chelsea’s prolific offseason was additionally essentially the most complicated. The Blues had already added Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech to their deep set of attackers after they introduced the 21-year previous Havertz in, and Frank Lampard has bounced him between central midfield, attacking midfield and the best wing in an try to discover a position for him. And after scoring 17 targets within the Bundesliga final yr, he has only one after 19 league video games.

RW: Nicolas Pepe, Arsenal. It has been a double-disappointment of kinds for the 25-year previous — after producing 22 targets and 11 assists for Lille in 2018-19, he managed solely 5 and 6 for the Gunners final season. He is additionally didn’t in any approach earn Mikel Arteta’s belief, and a yr after coming to London for an $88 million switch payment, he is scored twice with no assists in beneath 500 minutes.

CF: Timo Werner, Chelsea. The 24-year-old scored 28 targets with 53 possibilities created for RB Leipzig final season, serving to to steer the membership to the Champions League semifinals. That Chelsea was capable of purchase him for beneath $60 million felt like a steal. However Lampard has deployed him primarily as a left winger — he was a centre-forward throughout his greatest RBL seasons — and as with a lot of the Chelsea assault, issues have not actually clicked but. He is received simply 4 targets and 4 assists this yr.

LW: PIerre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal. The excellent news: the 31-year-old is coming off of his greatest efficiency of the season producing a brace in a 3-0 win over Newcastle. The dangerous information: he had solely three targets earlier than that. After scoring 22 targets in every of the final two seasons, he is simply barely on tempo for double digits after re-signing with the membership this offseason. He is nonetheless doing higher than his counterpart on the best, nonetheless.

Worst signings of the season

5. Jamal Lewis, Newcastle. The Magpies spent a great chunk of their switch price range on this former Norwich Metropolis fullback, however the 22-year-old has but to seek out his area of interest — he is discovered little position in assault, however he has struggled to create disruption on protection both.

4. Timo Werner, Chelsea. It is early in his London tenure, and his observe document is just too sturdy for him to not ultimately adapt and thrive. However he hasn’t but.

3. Donny van de Beek, Manchester United. Solskjaer has but to determine what to do with the $42 million signing. The 23-year-old averaged 9 league targets and 44 possibilities over his final three seasons at Ajax, however he is been relegated primarily to cup play up to now and has produced a single aim and two possibilities created in 251 league minutes so far.

2. Rhian Brewster, Sheffield United. United spent a club-record $28.6 million on the Liverpool prospect. To this point, it is purchased them 657 minutes, 10 shot makes an attempt and 0 league targets.

1. Kai Havertz, Chelsea. Once more, this felt very very like a “We’ll do it as a result of we will” signing for Chelsea, and Lampard has on no account discovered how or the place to deploy the teenager.

Finest signings of the season

Now again to optimistic issues!

5. Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa. After a monstrous 2019-20 marketing campaign for Brentford (26 targets, albeit in 49 league matches together with the promotion playoff), Watkins has stuffed in properly up prime for a balanced Villa assault. He is averaging 0.21 xG per shot, and whereas he is been unfortunate to place solely six balls within the web from 9.1 xG up to now, (a) he is nonetheless on tempo for double-digit targets and (b) nothing in his observe document suggests he is a poor finisher. His conversion numbers will possible enhance quickly.

4. Kyle Walker-Peters, Southampton. Southampton acquired probably the greatest younger fullbacks within the league for $14.6 million. Cannot beat that piece of enterprise.

3. Diogo Jota, Liverpool. Generally your worth is introduced most clearly in your absence. Jota felt virtually like a luxurious merchandise when acquired from Wolves, however in all competitions this yr, Liverpool have averaged extra targets and extra factors when Jota performs than when he does not. Harm has restricted him to only 501 league minutes, however he scored 5 occasions and created six possibilities in that span. It is no shock that the Reds’ drought (one league aim since beating Crystal Palace 7-0 in mid-December) has coincided with the Portugal attacker’s newest damage.

2. Tomas Soucek, West Ham United. After a strong mortgage audition final yr, West Ham knew what it was getting from Slavia Prague: a certain aerials and duels winner and chaos creator in defensive midfield (6.8 ball recoveries per 90) and an occasional offensive presence as properly (5 targets, seven possibilities) with nice passing contact (71% lengthy cross completion charge). West Ham are a extremely annoying workforce to play this season, and 25-year-old Soucek has in all probability been their greatest participant.

1. James Rodriguez, Everton. 5 league matches into his Everton profession, James had scored three targets and created 15 possibilities with three assists. That proved unsustainable, however he stays a catalyst. Regardless of lacking 5 matches, he nonetheless leads the workforce in possibilities created, anticipated assists and thru balls, and he is drawn the second-most fouls.

Not dangerous for a free switch.

Younger gamers of the season

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Mark Ogden reacts to ESPN FC’s greatest younger gamers within the Premier League up to now this season.

The Premier League is not essentially the most youngster-friendly league on this planet, however there are nonetheless fairly a number of 21-and-under gamers who’re greater than holding their very own.

10. Illan Meslier, Leeds. Meslier is essentially the most fascinating goalkeeping prospect within the league. The 20-year-old former Lorient keeper is closely concerned within the possession recreation and has the most effective completion charge of any beginning keeper, each on lengthy passes and general. He additionally has a fairly low save share (68%) and seemingly chooses to parry the ball away on a regular basis as an alternative of holding onto it. However he is additionally solely 20!

9. Ferran Torres, Manchester Metropolis. Acquired from Valencia this previous offseason, the 20-year-old striker is a little bit of a face within the crowd at occasions, however he has three targets in 590 league minutes and does a strong job of passing and sustaining possession within the attacking third.

8. Curtis Jones, Liverpool. Thrust into midfield motion as a result of accidents, Jones is one in every of maybe solely two youngsters to carry their very own within the EPL this season. He completes 91% of his passes within the attacking third and has mixed 9 shot makes an attempt with seven possibilities created. He additionally grades properly on the panache scale, which all the time helps.

7. Wesley Fofana, Leicester. Brendan Rodgers deserves huge credit score for his steering of a largely younger Leicester roster, however the membership’s entrance workplace retains unearthing wonderful children so as to add to the combination. It is like a real-life Soccer Supervisor construct. The sturdy, 6-foot-3 Fofana, added from Saint-Etienne in October, is the newest of the bunch.

6. Tariq Lamptey, Brighton. The Chelsea academy product, 20, is busy on the best aspect of Brighton’s midfield, transitioning the ball properly from the defensive third upfield and infrequently getting concerned in assault, too (one aim, 10 possibilities created).

5. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chelsea. Chelsea has too many wingers, and the 20-year-old solely has 413 league minutes due to it. However he is created extra possibilities per 90 than anybody on the workforce however Mount, he is scored extra incessantly than any non-centre-forward, and he is received the most effective cross completion charge of any attacker within the attacking third. He must be enjoying extra.

4. Phil Foden, Manchester Metropolis. That is proper, Foden remains to be solely 20. The midfielder continues to be a protected passer and splendidly correct level-to-level passer, although he hasn’t been fairly as concerned within the attacking part this season. (He is made up for it by scoring twice for England this season.)

3. Bukayo Saka, Arsenal. Arsenal spent some huge cash on gamers over 30 this offseason, however their greatest participant has been a youngster. The 19-year previous Saka roams the left midfield between Aubameyang and Kieran Tierney, however he is been in all places within the field, combining 4 league targets (third on the workforce) with 21 possibilities created (second) and a pair of.6 anticipated assists (first). Saka and 20-year-old Emile Smith Rowe are offering a smidgen of optimism for the Gunners in a irritating season.

2. Reece James, Chelsea. Contemplating what number of excellent left-wingers there are within the Premier League, enjoying right-back is a fairly fraught place. But the 21-year-old academy product has performed it largely properly, exhibiting the velocity to maintain up whereas successful 72% of his aerials and 55% of his duels. He is additionally contributed a aim and 17 possibilities in assault. Very, very well-rounded.

1. Pedro Neto, Wolves. Attacker Raul Jimenez stays out after struggling a fractured cranium in November (yikes), Joao Moutinho is instantly exhibiting his age, and costly younger switch Fabio Silva has been as inconsistent as you’d count on an 18-year-old to be. However in Neto, Wolves have a dang star on the left wing. He leads the workforce in cross completion charge (89%), possibilities created (37), assists (3), crosses (123), cross makes an attempt within the attacking third (279) … and likewise targets (4) and shot makes an attempt (35). Inside the league, solely Grealish has created extra possibilities from the left wing, and solely Grealish and Manchester Metropolis’s Raheem Sterling have extra anticipated assists.

Oh, and he scored on his Portugal debut in November, too! And he does not flip 21 for one more month-and-a-half!