Ranking the EPL's 25 Most Important Players in the Season Run-in
As we enter the business end of the Premier League season, clubs need their biggest players to stand up and be counted. From Diego Costa to Harry Kane, these players will be vital to their team, whether they're chasing titles, European places, or avoiding relegation.
To rank this list, we've limited ourselves to players at clubs fighting for the above, or that may yet enjoy success in cup competitions.
A player at a mid-table side might determine whether they finish ninth or 14th, but to be among the most important, their team needs to be involved in a battle that truly matters. The more important that team is in their respective battle, the more important their players are.
What will also be taken into account is a player's specific importance to his team—how heavily relied upon is he?
If he's simply one of many top players in his position at the club, he'll find himself lower down in the rankings as he's less vital to where they finish. If he's the club's only potential goalscorer, then his success or failure could be the difference.
Here are the 25 most important players in the season run-in. Anyone you think we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
Honourable Mentions
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Siem de Jong, Newcastle United
Former Ajax captain Siem de Jong has made just three appearances for Newcastle United since his £6 million move last summer after tearing a thigh muscle. According to Damian Spellman of the Press Association (via the Daily Mail), De Jong is back in training, and though he won't be rushed, he will make his comeback relatively soon.
The Magpies have needed his attacking presence and will be hoping to improve their fortunes on his return. The midfielder has made double figures in goals in four of the last five seasons, so he will be important to where the club finishes.
However, he misses out here as Newcastle have little to play for. Sat in 11th, they won't be dragged into a relegation scrap but have no hope of challenging for a European place.
Leighton Baines, Everton
Leighton Baines has been a consistent performer for Everton for years, and this season is no different. The left-back has scored twice and assisted a brilliant eight goals for his team in the Premier League, which makes him one of the few Everton players to live up to the standards they set last year.
Like De Jong, Baines misses out here as Everton have disappointed and find themselves already with nothing more than pride to play for. Although they're only four points above the drop, the Toffees are a markedly better team than everyone below them, so a genuine relegation fight isn't realistic.
Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
The most controversial omission from our list, Cesc Fabregas has undeniably had a fantastic debut season at Chelsea. The Spaniard's 15 league assists are unrivalled, and he's naturally an important player in Chelsea's star-studded team.
The 27-year-old narrowly misses out on a place due to Chelsea's strong cover in attacking midfield. With the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian there to perform a similar role, Fabregas isn't quite as crucial to Chelsea's success as other members of their team, on whom they are more dependent in their particular position.
Likewise, Hazard misses out for the same reason, and so does Thibaut Courtois. He may be the finest 'keeper in the league, but with Petr Cech in reserve, Chelsea's title bid would hardly go off the rails if he were injured.
25. Aaron Cresswell, West Ham United
2 of 26Signed from Ipswich Town in a low-key transfer last summer, Aaron Cresswell has established himself as a reliable and capable Premier League full-back.
Dubbed "Mr Dependable" by Sam Allardyce, Cresswell has been ever-present for his side in the league this season.
Thanks in part to the 25-year-old's efforts, West Ham United have maintained a solid defensive record bettered only by the top four.
Furthermore, the left-back has contributed well in his attacking duties. Cresswell has created 23 chances this season, the second-highest in the Hammers' squad. From that, the unsung hero has a return of three assists and also scored the winning goal against Newcastle in November (0:30, above).
With his team in European contention, Cresswell will need to continue his impressive start to life in the top flight for his team to have a chance. Unfortunately, that chance is a slim one, so Cresswell makes only the last spot on the list.
24. Tom Heaton, Burnley
3 of 26Burnley 'keeper Tom Heaton played a prominent role in the Lancashire club's promotion from the Championship last season and has continued his form in the top flight.
Heaton kept 19 clean sheets for the Clarets last season, and has so far managed five in the Premier League. Certainly, it's a respectable figure for a team in Burnley's position.
The 28-year-old's shining moment came in December's clash with Southampton. With the match delicately poised at 0-0, Heaton was called into action when Dusan Tadic stepped up to take a penalty (0:33 above). The stopper saved the spot-kick, inspiring his team to an invaluable 1-0 win.
Thanks in part to Heaton's efforts in goal, Burnley are currently above the drop zone, though just by one point. If they remain there come the end of the season, Heaton will have undoubtedly and quite literally had a hand in it.
23. John Terry, Chelsea
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Next up is John Terry.
In truth, Chelsea have been so good this year that half their team could have made the list, so we've limited them to just three entries.
The Blues captain has long been a key figure at Stamford Bridge and this season is no different.
Despite his age—Terry turned 34 in December—he continues to compete comfortably at the highest level. Squawka reports that the centre-back has won an incredible 72 percent of his duels, including 27 of 40 tackles and 53 of 73 aerial battles. He's also chipped in with three league goals for good measure.
It's well known that Terry is a more or less unrivalled influence in the Chelsea dressing room, and his natural leadership skills will play a big part in the Blues' push to win their fourth Premier League title.
With Chelsea's defensive cover amounting to the inexperienced Kurt Zouma, Nathan Ake and Andreas Christensen, this makes Terry's continued form and fitness more important than Fabregas', and so earns him a spot on the list ahead of his team-mate.
22. Graziano Pelle, Southampton
5 of 26Graziano Pelle has undergone a reinvention in the last two years. Once a player who famously couldn't net even in the Eredivisie, Pelle is now a feared goalscorer.
Pelle has eight league goals for Southampton this season and has impressed with his aerial prowess (0:39) and eye for the spectacular (1:55).
With Shane Long out for the next six weeks with a punctured lung (and not exactly prolific at the best of times) and Jay Rodriguez still yet to return from a long-term knee injury, Pelle is Southampton's sole forward option.
If he were to suffer an injury, the Saints' chances of a top-four finish would take a blow.
Luckily for Southampton, though, their goals have been spread throughout the team. Pelle has scored just two Premier League goals since the end of October, but the Saints have marched on and find themselves in third.
Southampton's ability to win games without his scoring form keeps the Italian from a higher place here.
21. Stewart Downing, West Ham United
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After a disastrous big money move to Liverpool, Stewart Downing's promising career looked to be in a downward spiral. Once hailed as the answer to England's problems on the left flank, Downing had become something of a joke among fans.
Under Sam Allardyce's new-look West Ham team, the 30-year-old has had a revival of form and deservedly earned an England call-up in November.
Playing frequently at the tip of the Hammers' diamond formation, Downing has scored five and assisted seven goals this season.
With West Ham facing a tough fight for fifth place, Downing's continued ability to feed Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia will be needed.
Downing is a very important player for the Hammers, but in such a tight run-in, they'll probably be the team to miss out on the higher spots. As such, Downing features on our list—but not as high as he might have.
20. Jose Fonte, Southampton
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Southampton's commanding centre-back Jose Fonte is next on our list.
The captain was excellent last season and has continued that form unabated this year.
Though the plaudits are often reserved for fellow defenders Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand, Fonte is the linchpin of the Saints' back four.
Fonte has won 55 percent of his duels, including 52 percent of tackles and 63 percent in the air.
The Portuguese defender's form has contributed to Southampton's excellent defensive record. The Saints have conceded just 16 goals in 22 games—the best in the division.
19. Wes Morgan, Leicester City
8 of 26Leicester City's powerful centre-back Wes Morgan comes in at No. 19.
Like his team, Morgan started life in the Premier League very well. As the video shows, the Jamaican put himself about, dominated in the air and flung himself in front of shot after shot.
Though the Foxes have since struggled and find themselves bottom of the table, Morgan has continued to impress.
The 31-year-old has averaged 13 defensive actions per game and has made more blocks than any other player in the league with 29, and the joint-sixth-most interceptions with 53.
The rest of Leicester's defence could take a leaf out of Morgan's book.
18. Curtis Davies, Hull City
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Hull City's captain Curtis Davies has been one of the busiest defenders in the league this season and has led his team by example.
Only two players have made more defensive actions than Davies' 293, and both have made two more appearances than the 29-year-old. In Davies' 20 league appearances, this equates to almost 15 actions per game.
The centre-back has also won an impressive 63 percent of his duels this season, including 90 of 129 battles in the air.
The 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in October epitomised Davies' season. As the graphic from FourFourTwo's Stats Zone shows, Davies successfully made 13 clearances, two tackles, and four interceptions. He did all this while maintaining a passing accuracy of 96 percent.
Thanks in no small part to his all-action displays, Hull have a better defence than seven of the teams in the bottom half of the table.
Unfortunately for Davies, the Tigers are currently in the relegation zone and are in desperate need of someone to inspire them in the season run-in.
If anyone can do that, it's Davies. Voted Hull's Player of the Season last year, Davies also scored in the FA Cup final. The 6'2" defender has his work cut out for him, but he might be Hull's hero once again in May.
Both captains of their teams, there is very little to separate Morgan and Davies. The Englishman narrowly places higher as he has helped Hull to a slightly better defensive record, which could make the difference.
17. Fraser Forster, Southampton
10 of 26Since his move from Celtic in the summer, Fraser Forster has proven himself to be one of the top goalkeepers in the country.
The 6'7" behemoth has kept 10 clean sheets this season, more than any other 'keeper in the league.
Along the way, Forster has made 2.75 saves per goal and boasts a 99 percent claim success rate.
As his performance against Arsenal (above) demonstrates, Forster is a calming, reliable presence at the back.
What gives Forster the nod ahead of Davies, Morgan and team-mate Fonte is the way he's improved the Saints since his arrival. The 26-year-old is a big step up from Artur Boruc, and that's reflected in their current league position, five places higher than their finish last season.
Despite Davies and Morgan's efforts, they're unable to save their teams alone. Fonte, meanwhile, is one of several excellent defenders at St Mary's and is covered by the capable Maya Yoshida.
Forster is more relied upon and has more of an impact, so he edges ahead.
16. David de Gea, Manchester United
11 of 26Over the last two seasons, David de Gea has become one of the top goalkeepers in the world. Arguably, only Manuel Neuer and Thibaut Courtois are superior.
The Spaniard's rise to prominence has been one of the few positives for Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Despite their uninspiring defence, De Gea's form means the Red Devils have conceded just two goals more than Chelsea. As the video above demonstrates, De Gea has made a number of world-class saves to frustrate the opposition. His save against Everton to deny Bryan Oviedo (2:24) is a particular highlight.
What prevents De Gea from placing higher in our list is the recent acquisition of Victor Valdes. An injury or suspension for De Gea would undoubtedly harm United's challenge for a Champions League place.
However, with Louis van Gaal now able to call on such an experienced stopper as Valdes, this would mitigate any potential loss of De Gea, and a top-four finish would still be achievable.
Still, De Gea has a weaker defence in front of him than Forster, so he's relied upon even more.
15. Andrej Kramaric, Leicester City
12 of 26Leicester's record signing at a cost of £9.5 million, Andre Kramaric arrives at the King Power Stadium with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Tasked with keeping the Foxes in the Premier League, Kramaric will need to hit the ground running as Leicester look to claw themselves off the bottom of the table.
The Croatian striker scored 28 goals in 31 appearances for Rijeka this season, including seven in the UEFA Europa League, and will be looking to replicate his form with his new side.
As the video shows, the 23-year-old is a classy and instinctive finisher.
If he can maintain his form at Leicester, they'll stay up, as simple as that. If not, it will be a monumental challenge.
14. Jermain Defoe, Sunderland
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A January signing for Sunderland, Jermain Defoe raised some eyebrows on his return to the Premier League from Toronto. To an extent, the eyebrows are understandable.
Louise Taylor of the Guardian reports Defoe's wages equate to roughly £70,000 per week. That's a lot of money for a player who will be 35 by the end of his three-and-a-half-year contract.
What's more, Defoe failed to score on his debut, the first time he has done so in his career.
However, Sunderland have managed to acquire that rare, precious quantity—a proven Premier League-goalscorer. The diminutive forward has 124 Premier League goals to his name, and will be Sunderland's main hope for survival.
The Black Cats are just one point above the drop. Whether or not Defoe can rediscover the form that made him one of the deadliest strikers in English football will go a long way to deciding Sunderland's fate.
An expensive gamble he may be, but if he fires them to safety he'll have been worth every penny.
Defoe places ahead of Kramaric as he's being relied on ever so slightly more. Leicester also boast the capable Leonardo Ulloa up front, while Sunderland's Stephen Fletcher and Connor Wickham combined have fewer than the Argentinian's seven goals.
13. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool
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Naturally, Steven Gerrard takes his place on our list.
The man is a Reds icon both off the field and on it.
Liverpool live and die by Gerrard. The talisman scored 13 goals and assisted as many last year as the Reds challenged for the title, before his infamous slip against Chelsea handed the crown to Manchester City.
Of course, ultimately it was Liverpool's poor defending that cost them first place, but the slip was a key moment. It's indicative of how much their fortunes rest on his shoulders.
The debate over whether he can still cut it anymore will rage on until he departs Anfield at the end of the season, but he undoubtedly remains an inspirational figure.
After a poor first half of the season, Liverpool are improving and find themselves outside challengers for a European place, and remain in the FA Cup as the 34-year-old bids to play in one last final.
Gerrard's leadership gives the Reds a great chance of making the final with the likes of Chelsea and Man City out. Unfortunately, Liverpool's problems in the squad run deep, and it will take far more than just Gerrard to make this season a successful one, so he does not place higher.
12. Frank Lampard, Manchester City
15 of 26Frank Lampard has already proven himself a shrewd acquisition for Manuel Pellegrini in his short time at Eastlands.
The 36-year-old has reinvented himself as a super sub, with four of his five league goals coming off the bench.
Despite his advanced years, Lampard is still ghosting into the penalty area with devastating effect. Even former club Chelsea, who know Lampard's game inside out, were unable to stop him.
His equaliser against Chelsea (0:50) and decisive goals against Leicester City (1:47) and Sunderland (from the start) have earned City seven points this season.
Lampard may not be a regular starter for City, but he's already shown how important he'll be to the title race.
When City face Chelsea on Saturday, Lampard could be the key to punishing his old side in a game that will have strong bearing on where the Premier League trophy resides in May. This sees him place ahead of Gerrard.
11. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
16 of 26Sergio Aguero is a class act.
The diminutive star is one of the best strikers in world football and continues to court every superlative under the sun.
The Argentinian has scored 14 goals in the Premier League, and his hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the Champions League (above) was pivotal to City's miraculous escape from the group stages.
Aguero has been and will continue to be a crucial player to City's ambitions this season, but the quality of the striking options available to the Sky Blues means he is not quite as vital as he appears.
Thanks to the signing of Wilfried Bony, City now boast four of the top five Premier League goalscorers of 2014. If injury was to hamper Aguero's run-in, then City's ability to win the title would not be impeded beyond measure—though, of course, it would be lessened.
10. Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool
17 of 26How different Liverpool's season might have looked if Daniel Sturridge had been injury-free.
The 25-year-old scored 21 goals and assisted seven last year as he and strike partner Luis Suarez fired the Reds to within two points of the Premier League title.
With Suarez sold to Barcelona, the pressure was on Sturridge to recreate his form again this season.
Injury has robbed him of that chance, and Liverpool have suffered greatly. Mario Balotelli has no league goals, while Rickie Lambert has just two. The video above shows exactly what the Reds are missing—a confident, prolific goalscorer.
According to Chris Bascombe of The Telegraph, Sturridge is back to fitness and could make a return against West Ham on Saturday.
With Brendan Rodgers making no attempt so far to improve his defence or goalkeeper in the January window, where Liverpool finish and how they prosper in the FA Cup will depend largely on Sturridge's ability to make a successful comeback from injury.
The forward places higher than Gerrard, as he brings something more tangible to the team. Liverpool are crying out for a striker who can be relied on to hit the back of the net, and Sturridge is that player.
9. Christian Benteke, Aston Villa
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Christian Benteke has endured a torrid time of late, and Aston Villa are paying the price.
The Belgian has scored just twice in 12 league starts as he returned from a long-term Achilles injury.
Like their striker, Villa have undergone a barren spell in front of goal this season. The Birmingham club have scored 11 goals, which is just astoundingly bad. They were even forced to cancel their goal of the month competition for October as they failed to register a single goal.
Thanks to their solid defence, Villa are currently above the drop, but their lack of goals is deeply worrying.
If Benteke can't rediscover the form that he enjoyed in his early days at Villa, his club will be in serious trouble come the end of the season.
8. Yaya Toure, Manchester City
19 of 26Coming in at No. 8 is Yaya Toure.
The Ivorian scored 20 goals and assisted nine last year to help carry City to the title.
As the video shows, Toure was powerful (0:48), decisive (1:54) and had an eye for the magnificent (0:29, 1:12).
While Toure has performed fairly well this season—he has scored seven league goals, and his passing accuracy is at 90 percent, the same figure he managed last year—the 31-year-old hasn't shown the same match-winning decisiveness he did last season.
This is reflected City's league position, as they trail Chelsea by five points.
If Toure can return to the top of his game during the run-in, the title race will be blown wide open.
7. Danny Ings, Burnley
20 of 26Next up is Burnley's talisman Danny Ings.
Ings has scored seven and assisted three in the league, meaning he has contributed almost half of Burnley's 21 goals this season.
The hard-working and persistent striker has been vital to Burnley's current residence in 17th.
As he showed in his excellent performance against Stoke City, he positions himself well to finish opportunities (0:37, 1:06) and draws fouls to keep possession for his team (0:29, 3:12). Ings has drawn 27 for his team this season.
Burnley's fight for survival will go right down to the wire, and with the Clarets playing rivals Leicester, Hull and Aston Villa in their last five matches of the season, the 22-year-old can have a huge impact in their run-in.
6. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
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A very strong contender for signing of the season, Alexis Sanchez is so far proving he's worth every penny of the £30 million Arsenal spent on him.
Unlike Mesut Ozil, Sanchez has lived up to his reputation and has had a simply breathtaking campaign.
The Chilean has scored 12 goals and made seven assists in the league alone, meaning he's been involved in almost half of Arsenal's 39 goals.
The 26-year-old is simply a complete footballer. Sanchez has completed 73 take-ons this season, more than any other forward, and only Eden Hazard and Raheem Sterling have drawn more fouls.
What has also been particularly impressive is his willingness to track back and work for his team.
Sanchez has made 31 tackles this season. And, as his heat map (courtesy of Squawka) shows in the 2-0 victory over Man City, the forward presses and gets involved all over the pitch, making an invaluable defensive contribution.
The Gunners have managed to claim a Champions League place every year despite lacking a world-class attacker at times, but they haven't had such a difficult challenge as they face this season.
While Arsenal have plenty of quality in forward positions—Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and so on—Sanchez's world-class status ensures he will be the one who makes the difference. Without him, Arsenal would probably fall short this season despite the likes of Giroud and Walcott.
5. Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur
22 of 26Christian Eriksen is having a spectacular season for Tottenham Hotspur.
The creative midfielder has chipped in with 10 goals in all competitions, including the sublime free-kick above that helped his team into the League Cup final.
The 22-year-old has also created an impressive 51 chances in the Premier League.
The Great Dane's goals and assists have earned an astounding 14 points for Spurs this season, which highlights just how important he is to the team.
With Spurs planning for a cup final, Europa League knockout run and challenging for the top four, Eriksen's contribution will be critical.
4. Nemanja Matic, Chelsea
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Nemanja Matic has been a key player for the Blues this season. The Serbian gives balance to Chelsea by adding what they've lacked since the departure of Claude Makelele—a top-quality defensive midfielder.
What differentiates Matic over the likes of Fabregas, is that the cover in his position comprises John Obi Mikel and Ramires. While they're solid, functional players, by Chelsea's standards they're fairly mediocre and will have little impact on Chelsea in the title race.
The 26-year-old also stands out, as a holding player of his quality is something that Chelsea's rivals sorely lack—United and Arsenal particularly.
Matic is a combative player whose defensive solidity allows stars such as Oscar and Hazard to stride forward with reckless abandon, but he's also good on the ball, too. Matic has maintained a passing accuracy of 87 percent in the Premier League, and completed 32 of 40 take-ons.
As Squawka's heat map from the 0-0 draw with Sunderland shows, the midfielder covers nearly every blade of grass.
Most impressively of all, since April 2014, Chelsea have lost just once with Matic on the field, according to Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail.
For Chelsea to continue their Premier League and UEFA Champions League challenges with such ruthless efficiency, Matic will be vital.
3. Diego Costa, Chelsea
24 of 26Kicking off our top three is Diego Costa.
Former Atletico Madrid striker Costa has been like a rampaging bull for Chelsea.
The forward has barged and bullied his way to 17 goals in 19 league appearances for the Blues in his debut season in the Premier League.
As the above video shows, the Brazilian-born Spain international is strong, persistent and a powerful close-range finisher. The 26-year-old's shot accuracy is frightening. Costa has hit the target with 72 percent of his shots, more accurate than any player who has attempted 25 shots or more.
Costa features highly on the list as his goals may well lead Chelsea to the title. As a forward option, Costa is relied upon quite heavily. His alternatives are Didier Drogba and Loic Remy, who have managed just five league goals between them this season.
If Costa's infamous hamstrings or his disciplinary problems get the better of him, it could cost Chelsea the title.
Costa edges out Matic for the difference he's made to Chelsea. The Blues were defensively solid last season even without the Serbian, but only one player made double figures in league goals. Costa has almost single-handedly made Chelsea an even more prolific team, and this sees him earn third place.
2. Charlie Austin, Queens Park Rangers
25 of 26At No. 2 we have Charlie Austin, whose meteoric rise from non-league to the Premier League has inspired countless column inches this season.
Though Costa is heavily relied upon by Chelsea, the Blues at least have plenty who can contribute goals from midfield. Queens Park Rangers, however, are incredibly toothless without Austin, and so the Hoops man pips him to second place.
Austin's 13 goals and two assists means he has been involved in 15 of Rangers' 23 goals this season, near enough two-thirds of their tally. This puts him behind only Aguero and Costa for league goals, a phenomenal achievement for a player whose club is sitting in 19th.
As the video shows, Austin has demonstrated good technique, such as in his volley against Southampton (0:30), great movement into space to evade defenders (1:10, 2:02) and composure from the penalty spot (1:24, 2:24).
In May, QPR face away trips to Liverpool, Man City and relegation rivals Leicester on the final day of the season. Rangers are yet to register a single point away from home this season.
If anyone can turn this around for QPR and play a key role in those tough final fixtures, it's Charlie Austin.
1. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
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And the No. 1 spot goes to... Harry Kane!
What a season it's been. Appropriately dubbed "Hurricane" by Spurs fans, Kane has had a stunning breakthrough year, scoring 18 goals in all competitions.
The 21-year-old has won more points for his team—15—than any other player in the league, including team-mate Eriksen, so his importance to Spurs cannot be overstated.
The striker put in an outstanding performance against Chelsea in the 5-3 win on New Year's Day, and will play a key role when the two sides meet in the League Cup final.
As FourFourTwo's graphic above shows, Kane scored twice, assisted one and won a penalty, as he ran tirelessly and shrugged off the imperious Nemanja Matic to devastating effect.
Furthermore, Kane is relied upon heavily for goals by Tottenham's squad.
The only other forward alternatives are Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado. Adebayor currently doesn't have a contract renewal to play for and therefore isn't interested, and Soldado has been a constant disappointment since his move to London in 2013.
It was very close between Kane and Austin, but the Tottenham man wins it here for the points he's earned his team and for the role he can play in bringing silverware to White Hart Lane this season.
All statistical information from Squawka unless otherwise stated.
