As the Premier League season approaches its climax, we look at the stats to see which players have starred in 2014/15.
Below are the top-ranking XI according to WhoScored.com's stat-based rating system. How many of these players will make the official Premier League Team of the Season - and what do you make of this XI?
Costel Pantilimon, Sunderland – WhoScored rating 7.13
Costel Pantilimon: Makes more saves-per-game than any PL 'keeper
The Sunderland stopper has not had the happiest of times since moving to the Stadium of Light last summer and initially had to settle for a spell on the bench, however, he has made the starting berth his own with some fine performances between the sticks. He is making more saves per game (4.1) than any other first-choice goalie, and he is skilled at dealing with shots from various distances, leading the Premier League for saves per game from shots inside the box (2.3) and outside (1.8). With a saves-to-shots ratio (78.4%) second only to Arsenal’s David Ospina (who has only made 10 appearances), Pantilimon could do with a little more help from his defence.
Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea – 7.35
Branislav Ivanovic: Has made 69 tackles this season
Now undisputedly the best right-back in England according to theWhoScored.com ratings, Ivanovic has dispelled any thoughts of Pablo Zabaleta holding this crown this season, with sound defensive performances sprinkled with dangerous forays forward. Dribbled past only 13 times all season while making some 69 tackles, the Serb has also helped out with four goals and four assists in the league alone, all but two of which have come this calendar year, as he finishes a marathon of a season with a sprint.
James Tomkins, West Ham – 7.46
James Tomkins: Won more aerial duels than other PL centre-backs
Part of an impressive West Ham rearguard, Tomkins has been a rock at the back, averaging 9.8 clearances per game, while winning the most aerial duels (4.8 per game) of all centre-backs. He has been a reliable defender for Sam Allardyce, avoiding a single error that has led to an opposition goal all season, while also contributing with a goal and three assists of his own at the other end.
Phil Jones, Manchester United – 7.46
Phil Jones: Second-most interceptions this season
It is fair to say that Louis van Gaal has had to face a few problems in defence since he moved to Old Trafford, with injuries aplenty disrupting his settling-in period. He has enjoyed the luxury of being able to select a more consistent defence of late, however, with Jones playing a key part. He is making the second most interceptions per game (3.6) in the whole Premier League, behind only Mile Jedinak, as well as adding 2.1 tackles and 6.9 clearances.
Gael Clichy, Manchester City – 7.43
Gael Clichy: Consistent performances for Man City
The extent of Gael Clichy’s consistency has gone rather under the radar this season. In only one game has he recorded a WhoScored.com rating below 6.80, and only four more times has he gone below 7.00; both astounding achievements. His rating comes as a result of a hugely impressive 3.4 interceptions per game, along with 2.5 tackles and significant attacking threat (three assists and 1.1 key passes per game).
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal – 7.84
Alexis Sanchez: Made an instant impact at Arsenal
He might have faded a little of late, but no one can deny the immediacy of the impact that Sanchez made upon his arrival in London last year. Many thought he was an unnecessary signing for a Gunners team lacking in other areas, but while some team-mates floundered, the Chilean carried the team through a tricky winter period. He ranks fifth in the Premier League for goals scored (13) and seventh for assists (seven), while also averaging the third-most dribbles per game (3.5).
Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea – 7.73
Cesc Fabregas: Far more assists than any other PL player
Many thought Arsene Wenger had made a huge mistake by passing up the opportunity to re-sign Fabregas last summer and the Spaniard made a fast start at Chelsea. He has picked up a whopping 16 assists in his 26 Premier League games, a total no player can better over both of the past two seasons. He unsurprisingly leads the league for key passes per game (3.0), while he has also put a team-mate in on goal with a through ball 13 times, more than eight of the 20 Premier League teams have managed in total.
Santi Cazorla, Arsenal – 7.65
Santi Cazorla: Arsenal's chief assist-maker
One player making Fabregas’ absence at the Emirates that bit more bearable is Cazorla, who is the only player who can match the Chelsea man’s assist tally since the start of last season (16). He has eight this term, which is the third most in the league, while seven goals is impressive considering the deep-lying role he has occupied for much of the campaign. He's proved a constant menace for opposition teams, with 2.4 dribbles, 2.3 shots and 2.2 key passes per game, while his 87.8 per cent pass success is very high given how infrequently Cazorla plays the ‘easy’ pass.
Eden Hazard, Chelsea – 8.02
Eden Hazard: Tops the table for dribbles completed
Leading the way in the player of the year stakes, Hazard stands out from the crowd having maintained form over the whole of the 2014/15 campaign, while rivals for that title have been through quiet patches. He is hugely involved in play high up the pitch, completing a colossal 145 more passes in the final third (844) than any other player, while his work rate is underrated; he has won possession in the attacking third more times (28) than anyone else. It is no surprise to learn that he has been successful with by far the most dribble attempts (136) in the Premier League this season, while he also has 11 goals and six assists to his name.
Diego Costa, Chelsea – 7.60
Diego Costa: Premier League joint-top scorer
The grateful recipient of Cesc Fabregas’ creative genius, six of Costa’s 19 Premier League goals have been the result of the former Barcelona man. Costa is the leading scorer, scoring more often that one in every four shots, with a 25.3 per cent conversion rate. He takes the third most shots per game in the top flight (3.3), but also creates, with 1.7 key passes per appearance.
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City – 7.58
Sergio Aguero: Contributed to more goals than any other PL player
Many will have forgotten quite how good Aguero was earlier in the season given that he has had a relative slump of late. In fact, the Argentine has directly contributed to more goals (23) than any other player in England’s top tier this season, with 17 goals and six assists, despite only starting 22 of a possible 30 matches. He is the biggest goal threat in the Premier League, averaging a whopping 4.5 shots per game, also completing 2.6 dribbles per game. Some fans might question Aguero’s presence in this team over man-of-the-moment Harry Kane, but the England man’s rating is brought down by his six substitute appearances at the start of the season. With eight games remaining, there is all to play for in terms of the individual awards, and if Kane continues playing as he has been, it won’t be long before he closes in on the scores that Aguero and Costa boast.
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