Arguably, the key to Premier League success is an exceptional midfield unit. The grueling 38 fixture long campaign can take its toll on any team, but it is depth in talent and a level of consistency that is needed to lift the prestigious trophy come May.
When looking at title-winning teams of late, they most likely have world class midfielders at the heart of their squads. Recently, Manchester City have had David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne to unlock defenses with Fernandinho providing extra protection for his teammates. Leicester’s success saw the emergence of N’golo Kante who was ranked the 11th best player in the world in that season and became a key part of Chelsea and Antonio Conte’s title success the following year while also going on to win a World Cup; whilst perhaps one of the most impressive campaigns the Premier League has ever seen (Arsenal’s ‘invincibles’ season), had Patrick Viera and Robert Pires in their brilliant midfield amongst many others.
While there are many more Premier League great midfield generals that have not been mentioned such as Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, it is simple to see, that without a strong midfield at the heart of your club’s campaign, the dream of adding the trophy to the cabinet becomes almost unattainable.
With this seasons Premier League campaign being closer than ever, a focus on the three main contender’s midfields is in order to assess their title credentials.
With Liverpool dropping points in two of their last three league fixtures, Manchester City and Tottenham are now both within touching distance of the top spot and the title is truly anybody’s to win. With each sides midfield full of talent, will that talent be able to help their respective sides win the Premier League?
Spurs may be the current underdogs out of the three sides and currently sit five points behind the leaders but as key players are returning to the squad, the London side will feel that they have a great opportunity of becoming Premier League Champions for the first time in their history. Having been knocked out of the League Cup and the FA Cup in recent weeks, they now only have a potential Champions League run to focus on alongside their league efforts. Mauricio Pochettino has an abundance of midfield talent but who are the key players that could take them all the way?
Dele Alli is a key Spurs goal creator and scorer and it is no doubt a huge blow that he has been ruled out until March. Having said this, when looking at his record, how important has the England international been to Spurs campaign this year? He has featured 17 times this season and has only been involved in six goals which is far from his usual involvement in the final third of the pitch. After the World Cup and injuries, it may be that the 22-year old’s tiring summer and an injury-filled season has stagnated his involvement going forward for Spurs. Yet, if he can find form on his return, Spurs will surely stay in the chase.
Despite losing one of their key midfielders this season, Spurs have had players stepping up to the mark. Harry Kane was his usual superb self before his injury and Christian Eriksen has been key to the Lilywhites campaign this season. The Danish playmaker has assisted nine goals, whilst netting four himself and he and Harry Winks have made the most passes in the middle of the park and are a testament to their possession-based style of play.
Perhaps their most impressive midfield player this season has been Son Heung-min. He has bagged an impressive 11 league goals, whilst assisting five. The South Korean has always been a talented player, but his performances this season have been nothing short of inspiring and it is fair to say that without him, Spurs look like they are missing a vital piece of the jigsaw.
One major problem with the club’s title credentials is their consistency. Whilst Alli, Eriksen and Son have all been involved in goals from their midfield roles, there is not much involvement going forward from anyone else. Although Harry Winks has a high pass rate and plays a deeper role in the midfield, he has only been involved in one goal in 23 appearances this campaign. Moussa Sissoko has featured 19 times and his physical presence is something that has always been helpful, but he may need to contribute to the goals in the latter half of the season. Victor Wanyama has only appeared four times and with the sale of Moussa Dembele in January; the question is, will the lack of midfielders become a problem towards the final stretch?
The North London based club are currently chasing the top two and it is City and Liverpool whose midfielders have been integral to their seasons so far. With the two leaders being neck and neck at this part of the season, it is becoming a war of attrition and the most important question now is, which team can perform week after week and rely on their teams not to fatigue and lose crucial points?
Liverpool have missed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all season, yet his absence has not been noticed too much with others stepping up to the plate. However, as the Reds schedule only gets more demanding, his expected March return will only be appreciated by Klopp and co. With defensive injuries being the bane of their season, it has often meant that Jurgen Klopp has had to adapt his squad. James Milner and Jordan Henderson, who have been key midfielders in the past few years, have both made appearances at right back and while Liverpool’s attack provides plenty of goals, we have to look at how important their midfield is to their title efforts.
Klopp’s midfielders have only scored six goals between them this season with most of the goals coming from their attack. James Milner has scored most with three goals yet this total is barely comparable to the 18 times that Manchester City midfielders have found the back of the net. Again, when looking at assists coming from their midfielders, Milner leaders the way with three, whilst Fabinho and Naby Keita are the only other two to create a goal (seven in total).
While City sometimes play five in their midfield with a lone striker and Liverpool only tend to play a hardworking three, the statistics show that their midfielders have only been involved in 13 goals so far this season. Christian Eriksen has been involved in more goals individually than the whole of Liverpool’s midfield and they have been involved in just over a quarter of Liverpool’s 59 goals this season. It is clear to see that Liverpool’s goals come from their attack but perhaps there is not enough creativeness coming from the midfield?
However, the midfield on Merseyside rely heavily on their hardworking mentality. Workhorses like James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum’s performances rarely go unnoticed and they have grit in the middle of the park that has not been matched by Spurs or City this season and perhaps alludes to why Liverpool have only lost once this season. Klopp’s side has only conceded 15 goals and the protection that these midfielders provide is crucial to their campaign. Henderson, Fabinho, Milner and Wijnaldum have all made over 25 tackles showing how much they protect their back four. Defender Andrew Robertson is the only player to have made more tackles than Milner, Henderson and Fabinho in their squad showing how they can break down and get their own attacks going. Whilst this work rate is crucial to their team’s performances; when their rival’s midfielders are so prolific in front of goal, they may need to become more creative in the last third of the season to add to Liverpool’s title charge.
Without a doubt, Manchester City’s midfield are always crucial to their success and the Premier League has never seen a more attack-minded midfield. Pep Guardiola’s side rely on their passing football and their offensive high pressing football means the midfield spend a lot of time on the ball.
The Citizens are a team full of individuals capable of scoring goals. Kevin De Bruyne has been out most of the season, but David Silva has scored six and assisted four continuing to cement his legacy as one of the best Premier League midfielders of all time – and at the age of 33 he does not look like slowing down. Meanwhile, his potential replacement, Bernardo Silva has scored five and assisted six and has quickly become a fan favorite. His ferocious mentality has seen him make over 30 tackles this season and Pep has repeatedly stressed the Portuguese player’s importance to his side. Ilkay Gundogan has also shipped five goals and created two and out of City’s 74 goals so far this season, the midfield has been involved in most showing how crucial they are to putting hands on the trophy once more.
Fernandinho provides the protection in front of the defense making 54 tackles and he proves that despite all the attacking play, City have a dogged edge that means they are hard to breakdown. Without the Brazilian international, City often look like they are missing that edge that their creative talent cannot make up for. Having said this, when all of City’s midfield is fully fit and operating, they are often unplayable but have sometimes looked a little timid in games this season. Something that cannot be said for Liverpool’s middle three.
In recent years, the side that wins the league has always had a distinctive style of play and it is often the case that their midfielders are at the centre of their success. With each team having such distinct types of midfields, which will prevail? Will it be Spurs creativeness, Liverpool’s tenacious and dogged defense helping keep clean sheets or Man City’s clinical goalscoring unit that helps their sides lift the trophy? Whichever it is, we will be sure to see one of the most exciting finishes to a Premier League season in history.
