Which players are statistically making the biggest impact?
Wednesday 25 March 2015 06:49, UK
With the international break now upon us, Sky Sports is asking which players have been the Premier League's top performers so far this season?
We asked our partners at WhoScored.com to name the best 10 players in the English top flight, based on their statistically calculated ratings - and you can read the results below.
There are a couple of notable omissions from the list - including Tottenham striker Harry Kane, whose WhoScored rating of 7.43 is enough to rank 12th at present. The Spurs man took his league tally to the season for 19 with a hat-trick at the weekend but six substitute appearances at the start of the campaign hold his rating back. However, if he continues in the same vein between now and the end of the season, he should comfortably crack the top 10.
Elsewhere, the likes of Raheem Sterling (7.36), Branislav Ivanovic (7.35) and Martin Skrtel (7.35) narrowly miss out.
WHOSCORED.COM'S TOP 10 PLAYERS OF THE SEASON SO FAR
10. Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton) - 7.47
Morgan Schneiderlin has been central to Southampton's season as Ronald Koeman's side have surprised many. Only Pablo Zabaleta has averaged more tackles per game this season than the midfielder's 3.6, with an 89.4% pass accuracy from an average of 62 passes per game helping to earn a rating of 7.47 from WhoScored.com.
9. Yaya Toure (Manchester City) - 7.47
Some have criticised Yaya Toure's performances this season, but City's form in his absence during the Africa Cup of Nations highlighted his continued importance to the team. The 31-year old has scored seven league goals from midfield this season and averaged a league high of 90.7 passes per game for a WhoScored.com rating of 7.47 - down on last season's 7.55.
8. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) - 7.51
There's very little denying that there are few more influential central midfielders in the Premier League than Nemanja Matic. The Serbian has made more tackles than any other player in England's top-flight this season (98), whilst also averaging 65.1 passes per game and completing 43 of 53 dribble attempts for a rating of 7.51 from WhoScored.com.
7. David Silva (Manchester City) - 7.52
Manchester City's silky Spaniard was at the heart of a dominant display against West Brom last time out, earning his third WhoScored man of the match award of the season after netting for the 11th time in the league. It's been Silva's best season in front of goal by a distance, bettering last season's tally of seven and only one player has created more chances per game in the Premier League this season (2.9). However, a tally of just three league assists means the playmaker's rating of 7.52 from WhoScored.com is not as high as it might have been.
6. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) - 7.58
Sergio Aguero is currently enduring a run of four league matches without a goal but it shouldn't be forgotten that with six assists to accompany his 17 league goals this season, no player has had a direct hand in more Premier League goals (23) than the City forward, with a subsequent rating of 7.58 from WhoScored.com.
5. Diego Costa (Chelsea) - 7.60
Chelsea's new talisman kept his goal tally ticking along to level Kane's total of 19 at the top of the scoring charts at the weekend, and his goals have pushed the Blues towards a likely Premier League title. The Spain international's haul this season has come from just 75 shots at goal - eight fewer than Kane and 38 fewer than Aguero - for an outstanding conversion rate of 25.3% and WhoScored rating of 7.60.
4. Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) - 7.65
Perhaps one of the more underrated performers this season has been Santi Cazorla, whose place at Arsenal was reportedly in doubt following the summer arrival of Alexis Sanchez. Cazorla has adapted to play in as many as six different starting positions this season, performing admirably in each and most recently flourishing in a deeper central role. With seven goals and eight assists thus far the Spaniard has had a superb season in all aspects, averaging 2.3 shots, 2.2 key passes, 2.4 dribbles and 1.7 tackles per game to earn a rating of 7.65 from WhoScored.com.
3. Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea) - 7.73
While Costa's goals have been instrumental to Chelsea's success, Cesc Fabregas' ability to pick out a team-mate in the final third has perhaps been what Jose Mourinho was most keen to add last summer. The Spaniard picked up his 16th league assist of the season at the weekend, which, with nine games still to play, is over double Chelsea's team high of seven from last season and three more than Steven Gerrard's league best of 13 in 2013/14. With no player creating more chances per game than the 27-year old this time around (three), he picks up a rating of 7.73.
2. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) - 7.84
Although the goals and assists have dried up a little for Alexis Sanchez of late, he has had a direct hand in 20 of Arsenal's league goals this season (13 goals, 7 assists). The Chilean's averages of 3.1 shots, 2.5 key passes and 3.5 dribbles per game rank among the top 10 players in the league for each category and his defensive graft has also been on display, averaging an impressive 2.1 tackles per game. A dip in form followed niggling injury problems but a WhoScored.com rating of 7.84 is enough to place second in their rankings.
1. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - 8.02
To describe Chelsea's Eden Hazard as the runaway leader in WhoScored's ratings is perhaps the most fitting description. Hazard's trickery and direct style of play has come on even further this season, completing a quite remarkable 136 dribbles - 42 more than any other player - along with a league high of 80 key passes. With 11 goals and six assists to his name, the Belgian is clear out in front of the rest with a WhoScored.com rating of 8.02.
Tune in to The Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ from 10am on Wednesday for more debate on the Premier League Player of the Season so far.
