Premier League 5 most underrated players this season

Premier League 5 most underrated players this season

So far, the 2022-23 Premier League season has been full of surprises. Arsenal and Manchester City are locked in a fierce title race, whereas the other teams in the “top six” have fluctuated wildly.

In spite of this, Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United have demonstrated greater consistency. 

However, this has only been possible due to the fact that certain players have outperformed and punched above their levels in the first quarter of the season.

This season, several Premier League stars have been grossly underrated. Every top Premier League team requires a lone wolf who consistently delivers an 8/10 performance every week. Despite the fact that they may not be the best players on their team, these players are frequently among the first to be listed on the team sheet.

In light of this, let’s examine the five most underrated Premier League players this season.

5 Granit Xhaka

Arsenal will remain at the top of the table until at least the end of the year. Especially considering the domestic football break and their five-point gap to second-place Manchester City.

However, it was difficult to anticipate such performances from a team that languished in the bottom half of the table a year ago. But their rise has been consistent since the beginning of 2022, and they have continued to improve since the beginning of the season.

Granit Xhaka has been an equally vital cog despite the fact that Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White, Thomas Partey, and others share credit for these performances.

The Swiss international has frequently clashed with North London club supporters, but has risen to prominence over the past six months. His consistent play, particularly in the most important games, has not gone unnoticed. His versatility and ability to excel in both phases of the game have enabled Arsenal to balance their defensive and offensive intensity.

In addition to his defensive brilliance, Xhaka has scored three goals and assisted on three others in 14 Premier League games this season. This is a remarkable accomplishment for any midfielder, much less one who felt like a liability to the team less than a year ago.

4 Manuel Akanji

In the past six years, Manchester City’s transfer dealings have been impeccable.

Txiki Berginistain and Pep Guardiola have frequently not only identified the right players, but also brought them into the team at the appropriate time.

The summer acquisition of Manuel Akanji is a prime example, as Manchester City required center-back depth. They only paid slightly more than £15 million for him and have since realized they got a great deal.

Man City have won six of the eight Premier League games in which Akanji has participated this season. During this period, the team has also maintained two clean sheets, which have been rare this season.

Regardless, Akanji has seamlessly stepped in and commanded the backline on the majority of occasions. It has been a blessing for him to be able to play a high line and break the lines with his intricate passing. Despite the fact that Guardiola’s training is equally responsible for this, the center-back has become an integral part of the team.

Furthermore, this player is on the verge of his professional zenith and will only improve in the coming years. Akanji has been one of the most underrated players in the Premier League this year. He has been a quiet warrior in a squad otherwise filled with stars.

3 Leandro Trossard

This season marks the beginning of a new era for Brighton & Hove Albion, especially in light of Chelsea’s acquisition of several key players from their club over the past three months.

Marc Cucurella, Graham Potter, and a significant portion of the Brighton staff have relocated to the West London club. However, the performances of the Seagulls and Leandro Trossard, who has been in the form of his life this season, have not suffered.

In 14 Premier League games, the Belgian has scored seven goals and provided two assists for his team. Although many anticipated a decline in his performance after Graham Potter left the club, he has only improved under new manager Roberto de Zererbi.

Trossard scored all three goals in Brighton’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool at Anfield in De Xerbi’s first game in charge. This made the attacker the third Premier League player in history to score a hat trick at Anfield. Since then, he has also scored against Manchester City and Chelsea, demonstrating that he is the man for the big game.

Trossard has been called up to the Belgian national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a call-up he deserved after a strong start to the season.

2 Diogo Dalot

Erik Ten Hag is putting together the pieces of a puzzle that previous managers were unable to solve, thereby transforming Manchester United into a formidable opponent.

However, he has been aided by certain players who have outperformed expectations and contributed week after week. 

Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen certainly fall into this category, but Diogo Dalot has been the most prominent member of this group this season. Since Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s dismissal a year ago, the Portuguese fullback has become a dependable member of the squad.

Under Ralf Rangnick, Dalot’s share price climbed, and under Ten Hag, it has reached new heights.

The right-back has appeared in 13 of a possible 14 Premier League games and has been instrumental in his team recording five clean sheets during this span. Even though he has not yet contributed to a goal, his offensive presence has been equally important. His role in the buildup play and his ability to dribble past opponents and beat the press have been indispensable.

This season, Dalot, an underrated asset to the Manchester United machine, has become one of the first names on the team sheet.

1 Miguel Almiron

Miguel Almiron was unquestionably the success story of the 2022-23 Premier League season, and few would disagree.

This season, Newcastle United has performed above expectations, which would not have been possible without a number of their underachievers stepping up.

Miguel Almiron is most likely the most significant member of that group. Since Allan Saint-Maximin’s injury  a few months ago, the Paraguayan international has assumed responsibility for his team’s goal creation and scoring.

In 15 Premier League contests, Almiron has netted eight goals and contributed one assist. The winger’s defensive tenacity has been notable, as has his ability to move the ball from defense to offense.

Almiron has been an underrated gem for the Magpies under Eddie Howe, serving as a game-changer for Newcastle United this season.

Premier League 5 most underrated players this season