Twenty unexpected stars of the season in the Premier League

Arsenal: Mikel Merino

Arsenal’s failure to secure a striker during the January transfer window could have proven costly. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined since the start of the year and Kai Havertz encountering a hamstring injury in February, their attacking options became depleted. Mikel Merino effectively filled the attacking gap. Remarkably, only Havertz (nine) has surpassed Merino’s (six) league goals for the Gunners this season, with Merino netting crucial goals in victories against Leicester, Chelsea, and Fulham. While supporters may anticipate summer signings, Merino’s contributions have been exceptional, especially considering his last stint as a forward was at age nine. Key Premier League players like Merino are proving their versatility and value to their teams.

Aston Villa: Youri Tielemans

Youri Tielemans has featured in nearly every Aston Villa match this season, missing only two out of 50, and has emerged as a standout central midfielder in the Premier League. Following Villa’s acquisition of Amadou Onana for £50m last summer, Tielemans might have questioned his role, but he has solidified his place in the starting eleven. This is a noteworthy achievement for a player who only started 17 league games in his debut season at Villa Park. After a goal against PSG mid-week, he has now contributed goals in his last four appearances, making him a key Premier League midfielder for Aston Villa.

Brentford: Keane Lewis-Potter

Initially signed as a forward in 2022, Keane Lewis-Potter has refined his skillset to become Brentford’s preferred left-back. After initially struggling to consistently secure a starting position, the 24-year-old has started in 30 out of 32 league games this season. He has maximized opportunities to advance forward, ranking third for successful dribbles (35) within the West London team. Lewis-Potter has effectively transitioned into a key Premier League defender for Brentford.

Brighton: Jack Hinshelwood

Regardless of his position, Jack Hinshelwood consistently delivers reliable performances. Primarily a midfielder, the 20-year-old has been deployed in both full-back roles under Fabian Hürzeler due to Brighton’s injury concerns. Brighton demonstrates enhanced performance with his presence in the lineup. Brighton’s Premier League win percentage increases from 28.6% to 44.4% when Hinshelwood is in the starting eleven, highlighting his role as a key Premier League player for Brighton.

Bournemouth: Justin Kluivert

Following a modest initial season with Bournemouth, Justin Kluivert has truly embraced the offensive responsibility for the team this campaign. The Dutch attacker leads both in goals (12) and assists (six), a significant improvement from his previous season’s tally of seven goals and one assist. Dominic Solanke’s departure seems to have benefited Kluivert, who has flourished as Bournemouth’s primary forward. Notably, he scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory against his father’s former club in January. “I supported Newcastle when I was younger,” he stated. “Unfortunately for them, Kluivert now represents a different team.” Kluivert has become a key Premier League forward for Bournemouth.

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Chelsea: Marc Cucurella

After an initially challenging period at Stamford Bridge, Marc Cucurella has come into his own this season, securing the left-back position. Spain’s Euro 2024 victory last summer significantly boosted his confidence. Enzo Maresca has allowed the former Brighton defender to push forward this season, an opportunity he has exploited effectively. Cucurella has scored four league goals this season – only four Chelsea players have scored more, marking his emergence as a key Premier League defender.

Crystal Palace: Chris Richards

Chelsea’s decision to recall Trevoh Chalobah in January could have destabilized Crystal Palace’s season, but Chris Richards has seamlessly filled the defensive void. Until recent heavy defeats, Palace boasted one of the league’s strongest defensive records, with Richards forming a robust partnership with Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix in Oliver Glasner’s three-man defensive setup. Despite the club acquiring three new centre-backs last summer, the American defender’s persistence and performance have proven invaluable, establishing him as a key Premier League defender for Crystal Palace.

Everton: Beto

Beto only started nine league games in his first Everton season, but the former Udinese striker is now the preferred option upfront. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury concerns have provided the 27-year-old with an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities. While he has only scored six league goals this season, considering he made just one start before February, his sustained impact in recent months is notable. Everton’s resurgence under David Moyes has coincided with Beto’s increased presence in the team, positioning him as a key Premier League striker for Everton.

Fulham: Sasa Lukic

Fulham recruited the physically imposing Sander Berge from Burnley to compensate for João Palhinha’s departure to Bayern Munich, but Sasa Lukic has been the midfielder who has truly impressed. The Serbian midfielder, although prone to yellow cards – accumulating 12 bookings this season, the highest in the league – is a tenacious tackler and possesses composure in possession. Fulham’s ascent up the league table following the loss of their key player can be partially attributed to Lukic’s influence, making him a key Premier League midfielder for Fulham.

Ipswich: Liam Delap

Ipswich’s £20m investment in Liam Delap from Manchester City last summer was met with skepticism by some, given his previous loan spell at Hull where he scored just eight Championship goals. However, despite Ipswich’s underwhelming Premier League return, the 22-year-old has been a standout performer at Portman Road. Delap has netted 12 league goals, attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester United. With a £30m release clause, his future likely lies outside the Championship next season, solidifying his status as a key Premier League striker.

Leicester: Bilal El Khannouss

Few Leicester players have distinguished themselves positively this season, but Bilal El Khannouss has demonstrated Premier League quality. Despite limited goal contributions with just two goals and two assists, his scoring involvements have earned five of Leicester’s meager 18 points. Even as Leicester faces potential relegation back to the Championship, the 20-year-old’s seamless adaptation to Premier League football suggests he should be competing in a top European league next season, marking him as a key Premier League talent despite Leicester’s struggles.

Liverpool: Ryan Gravenberch

Martín Zubimendi was a primary target for Liverpool when they sought a No 6 midfielder last summer. The Spanish midfielder’s decision to stay at Real Sociedad led Arne Slot to utilize Ryan Gravenberch in that role alongside Alexis Mac Allister. Contrary to expectations, the Dutch midfielder has thrived. Gravenberch ranks third for interceptions (54) and fourth for possession recoveries in the midfield third (97) in the league this season. The revamped midfield, with Gravenberch as a central figure, has been crucial in Liverpool’s pursuit of domestic success, establishing him as a key Premier League midfielder.

Manchester City: Mateo Kovacic

A setback occurred in September when Rodri sustained a significant knee injury in Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal. City’s performance level has declined in Rodri’s absence, but Mateo Kovacic has effectively mitigated this impact, later supported by Nico González’s arrival in February. The 30-year-old midfielder not only has five goals but also boasts a 92.9% pass completion rate, the second-highest among Premier League midfielders. City’s league win ratio improves significantly from 27.3% to 61.9% when Kovacic starts, highlighting his importance as a key Premier League midfielder.

Manchester United: Casemiro

Manuel Ugarte’s anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain was expected to signal the end of Casemiro’s Manchester United tenure. However, Ruben Amorim’s appointment presented the Brazilian midfielder with another opportunity to secure a first-team role, which he has capitalized on. Casemiro leads the league in tackles per 90 minutes (5.2), with the 33-year-old demonstrating his continued relevance at Old Trafford. He remains a key Premier League defensive midfielder for Manchester United.

Newcastle: Jacob Murphy

Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon were initially considered Newcastle’s main attacking threats this season. However, notable contributions have come in threes. Jacob Murphy has been equally influential as his high-profile teammates, providing 11 assists; only Mohamed Salah (18) has more this season. Seven of these assists have directly led to Isak goals, forming the most productive assist-to-goalscorer partnership in the league currently. Murphy’s creativity establishes himself as a key Premier League attacking player for Newcastle.

Nottingham Forest: Neco Williams

Nottingham Forest’s attacking prowess has been instrumental in their push up the table, with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Anthony Elanga effectively supporting Chris Wood. Defensively, Nikola Milenkovic’s addition has fortified Forest’s backline, while Neco Williams’ performances have also been crucial. When Forest signed Álex Moreno from Aston Villa, Williams’ first-team place seemed uncertain. However, Williams has reclaimed his starting role and shown no signs of surrendering it, securing his position as a key Premier League defender for Nottingham Forest.

Southampton: Mateus Fernandes

Few Southampton players can emerge with credit from a largely disappointing season. Young talents Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes are perhaps the only exceptions deserving of praise for their performances. Fernandes, who arrived from Sporting last summer, rapidly established himself as a central figure for Saints and is expected to attract Premier League interest when the summer transfer window opens. The 20-year-old quickly adapted to the demands of English football, with his consistency being a bright spot in a challenging season for the club, marking him as a key Premier League prospect.

Tottenham: Archie Gray

Tottenham secured a significant coup with the acquisition of Archie Gray. After his move to Brentford collapsed, Spurs swiftly moved to sign the versatile teenager from Leeds, capable of playing at right-back, centre-back, or as a defensive midfielder. Regardless of position, the 19-year-old has consistently delivered strong performances, notably at centre-back during the club’s injury crisis. Gray possesses immense potential, and supporters are enthusiastic about his future development as a key Premier League young player.

West Ham: Aaron Wan-Bissaka

West Ham’s season has been largely forgettable, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s performances have been a positive highlight. The 27-year-old departed Manchester United last summer seeking consistent playing time. While consistently a reliable defender, his offensive contributions have been an unexpected bonus; Wan-Bissaka ranks third for key passes (27) within the West Ham squad. He also exhibits excellent game awareness, leading the league in interceptions (57) this season, demonstrating his quality as a key Premier League defender.

Wolves: Matt Doherty

A four-game winning streak has enabled Wolves to move away from relegation concerns, with Vítor Pereira’s appointment playing a role in their improved league position. Emmanuel Agbadou’s arrival in January has strengthened the team’s structure, but Pereira’s tactical use of Matt Doherty has been equally significant. Doherty has operated as the right-sided centre-back in a three-man defensive formation and has consistently delivered impressive performances as Wolves have effectively secured another Premier League season. Doherty has emerged as a key Premier League defender for Wolves.