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The sheer unpredictability of the ongoing 2020-21 Premier League season has made it a cracker of an edition, with plenty of twists and turns.
Manchester City currently lead the pack with 44 points from 20 matches, but it hasn't all been smooth sailing for them.
Their rivals, Manchester United, are 3 points adrift and are breathing down their necks. Meanwhile, the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur haven't done as well as they would have liked.
Matches have been extremely exciting this season, and there's been plenty of action all around. After 21 match weeks, a total of 554 goals have been scored as this season looks capable of breaking the record tally of 1,034 goals.
While goal-scoring itself is perhaps the most important part of football, setting up and assisting goals is just as important. Players who are capable of creating chances for their teammates have always been valued in the sport and are an integral part of the game.
On that note, here is a look at the top 10 footballers with the most assists in the 2020-21 Premier League season so far (as per premierleague.com):
[Stats accurate as of the end of Match Week 21 - 31st January 2021]
10 best assist providers in the Premier League so far this season
Special mentions: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) - 5 assists in 19 matches and Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) - 5 assists in 19 matches
#10 Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) - 5 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 5
Premier League matches played this season: 21
West Ham United narrowly avoided relegation after finishing 16th in the Premier League last season. However, they look like an entirely different team this season as they currently sit 5th on the league table.
Aaron Cresswell has particularly stood out with his contributions in attack from defence. The 31-year-old left-back has played every single minute of the 21 Premier League matches that West Ham have played, and he is the club's leading assist provider with 5 assists in those games.
#9 Lucas Digne (Everton) - 5 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 5
Premier League matches played this season: 11
Everton's Lucas Digne was left out of the squad for several games after starting 8 of the club's first 9 Premier League games of the season. The 27-year-old recently returned to the squad and has since played three matches.
Despite making just 11 league appearances this season, Digne has assisted 5 goals so far. That figure represents more than one-sixth of the total goals Everton have scored (29) in the league this season, as they presently occupy 7th place on the league table.
#8 Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) - 5 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 18
Premier League matches played this season: 5
Jamie Vardy has been absolutely lethal for Leicester City this season as they find themselves 4th on the Premier League table. He won the Premier League Golden Boot last season, and it looks like he has picked up exactly where he left off.
The 34-year-old has made 18 Premier League appearances for the side so far this season and has scored 11 goals and assisted 5 more, taking his total goal contributions to 16.
#7 Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) - 5 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 5
Premier League matches played this season: 21
Another defender on this list, Andrew Robertson has played every single Premier League match for Liverpool this season, amid their injury and ailment issues.
The 26-year-old has made 21 league appearances, registering 5 important assists and also scoring a solitary goal against Arsenal earlier this season. If Liverpool want to defend their title, they will need Robertson to contribute even more and as often as possible.
#6 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - 5 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 5
Premier League matches played this season: 21
Marcus Rashford seemed to find prime form last season when he scored 22 goals and assisted 12 more in 44 matches across competitions for Manchester United. Much to the delight of Manchester United fans, the 23-year-old seems to have carried that form through to this season, while he continues to fight a plethora of social issues off the pitch.
In the ongoing season, he has scored 15 goals and assisted 10 more in 33 appearances in all competitions. In the Premier League alone, Rashford has scored 7 goals and made 5 assists.
#5 Heung-Min Son (Tottenham Hotspur) - 6 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 6
Premier League matches played this season: 20
The partnership between Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur has been greatly beneficial to both players as well as the team. Easily one of the most prolific duos in European football at the moment, the pair have greatly helped Spurs, who currently find themselves in 6th place on the Premier League table with a game in hand.
Son, for one, was recently revealed to be the most clinical goal-scorer in Europe's top leagues since 2016. However, he has been equally critical in terms of creating chances and assisting goals.
In this Premier League season alone, the 28-year-old has scored 12 goals and assisted 6 more in just 20 matches - giving him the joint-third highest number of goal involvements in the league.
#4 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 7 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 7
Premier League matches played this season: 21
Manchester United's midfield maestro Bruno Fernandes has been impeccable ever since his arrival at the club in January 2020. He has visibly lifted the club in terms of play as well as morale. The Red Devils currently occupy 2nd place on the Premier League table.
In the ongoing season, Fernandes has made 21 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils and has scored 11 goals and assisted 7 more. With a total of 18 goal involvements (joint-second highest) in the league, his influence and significance is absolutely undeniable.
#3 Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 9 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 9
Premier League matches played this season: 19
Jack Grealish is widely touted to be one of the most creative players in the league. The 25-year-old was expected to leave Aston Villa after helping them avoid relegation last season but surprised many by staying.
At the moment, Aston Villa find themselves in 9th place on the Premier League table (albeit having played 2 fewer games than most of the top teams), and a lot of that has to do with Grealish.
With 6 goals and 9 assists from 19 league appearances so far this season, Grealish has been instrumental in the team's performances, results and success. One would think he's just getting started.
#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 10 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 10
Premier League matches played this season: 17
Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the best midfielders in the world for a while now. He is arguably one of the best passers in football, and being the striker in a team with him as a teammate must be pure joy.
This season, the 29-year-old has already registered 10 assists in just 17 Premier League appearances for Manchester City - who sit atop the Premier League table, 3 points clear of Manchester United with a game in hand.
#1 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) - 11 assists
Assists in the Premier League this season: 11
Premier League matches played this season: 19
As mentioned in the section about Heung-Min Son, the partnership between him and Harry Kane has been sensational, to say the least. While Son has registered 18 goal involvements, Harry Kane has been even better.
Known to be one of the best strikers in the world, Harry Kane has also been excellent when it comes to creating chances for his teammates.
In the ongoing season, the 27-year-old has scored 12 goals and assisted more goals than anybody else in the competition, with 11 in just 19 Premier League appearances.
