Man City still dominate top 10 most creative players in the Premier League
Manchester City have slipped 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, which is weird because they have way more creativity than Liverpool…
They have four players in this list, which probably says a lot about the fact that they have more possession than any other PL team.
Liverpool have only one representative on this list despite being top of the Premier League table, leaning into the narrative that their improvement has been largely defensive.
We’re not counting the assist-makers because that relies on the chances being taken and we’re not counting the key passes because that is also pretty narrow; we are all about the SCA (Shot creating actions), defined as ‘the two offensive actions directly leading to a shot, such as passes, dribbles and drawing fouls’ by FBRef.
1) Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) – 7.27 SCAs per 90 mins
“Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? I don’t want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it?” asked Pep Guardiola quite reasonably among claims that he has had a fall-out with the Belgian. He started his first game since September against Nottingham Forest and was frankly brilliant. Did sod all v Man Utd man. His race looks run…and he was dropped for the defeat to Aston Villa. Played only 16 minutes v Everton as City; something is awry.
2) Savinho (Manchester City) – 6.69 SCAs per 90 mins
The heir to the Riyad Mahrez throne, Savio has been a very clever signing for Manchester City. No Premier League player creates more chances by taking on the opposition. Shame it rarely creates actual goals. His finishing has been woeful. But at 20 he is far from the finished product.
3) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – 6.32 SCAs per 90 mins
The man who led the Premier League assists chart with 10 until Mohamed Salah put in that performance against Tottenham. Saka is now out for several weeks after playing pretty much all the football for Arsenal.
4) Jack Grealish (Manchester City) – 6.11 SCAs per 90 mins
Grealish started his first Premier League game since early October in a deeper role v Nottingham Forest and he was excellent at keeping Manchester City moving forward. But he was back to the bench v Crystal Palace v Manchester United. Started v Aston Villa.
5) Phil Foden (Manchester City) – 5.60 SCAs per 90 mins
The reigning PFA Player of the Year has not started in any kind of form – barring the Champions League – but he is still way ahead of almost all the Premier League when it comes to creativity. He was rotten v Liverpool but there were signs of live v Everton.
6) Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham) – 5.49 SCAs per 90 mins
Very impressive numbers from a man who can’t barge his way past James Maddison when it comes to dead-ball situations. Level with Cole Palmer for most SCAs from open play this season.
7) Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – 5.46 SCAs per 90 mins
Was brilliant against Tottenham in a batsh*t game and then again as Chelsea beat Brentford. Has now gone past Saka for the total of SCAs in this Premier League season.
8) Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) – 5.42 SCAs per 90 mins
It has not felt like a brilliant season from Son but he is consistently involved in Tottenham’s creativity along with Kulusevski.
9) Andreas Pereira (Fulham) – 5.40 SCAs per 90 mins
Behind only Leif Davis for SCAs from dead-ball situations, Fulham fans are getting a little fed up of his attitude but there is no doubt that he delivers when the ball is stood still.
10) Luis Diaz (Liverpool) – 5.21 SCAs per 90 mins
The only Liverpool player on this list, though his undoubted creativity has only actually reaped two Premier League assists.
If you are wondering about Premier League assist leader Mo Salah…he is down in 24th between Casemiro and Jarrod Bowen, stymied by the fact that he takes very few dead balls.
