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The Premier League is home to some of the best central midfielders in the world. These footballers rarely break the transfer record, but they often turn out to be the most important piece of the puzzle.
Being a central defensive midfielder is arguably one of the most thankless jobs in football. As they rarely score or assist, they do not get the attention they deserve and fail to make the headlines as often as they should. Yet, without their composure, even the most qualified and skillful midfielders tend to fall apart and fail to fulfill their potential.
Today, we will take a look at some of the anchors that are keeping some of the biggest Premier League clubs steady. These men have put in exceptional performances since the start of the season and are often responsible for popping up with decisive contributions.
Here are the five defensive midfielders who have fired on all cylinders in the Premier League this season.
#5 Douglas Luiz - Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz has been in impressive form in the Premier League this season.
The Villa no.6 is not only a dependable central defensive-midfielder but also comfortable playing further up the pitch, in a no.8 role.
The 23-year-old is quick, knows how to beat the pressure, and is known to produce defense-piercing passes from time to time. In the Premier League this season, the Brazilian has taken part in 17 games for Steven Gerrard’s men.
He has three assists to his name and is poised to add a couple more to his name before the season runs out.
#4 Jorginho - Chelsea
Last summer, Chelsea’s midfield general became the tenth player in history to win the Champions League and EURO in the same calendar year. Coming into the 2021-22 campaign on the back of a record-breaking season, Jorginho has been burdened with the weight of consistency.
Thankfully, the midfielder has managed to deal with the pressure rather gracefully, picking up right where he left off last season.
The Italy international is an excellent distributor of the ball, can read the game immaculately, and is not afraid of venturing forward when needed. Additionally, Jorginho is Chelsea’s primary penalty kick taker and has converted all of them this season.
Jorginho has played in all but four games for the west London outfit in the Premier League this season.
So far, he has scored six goals and provided an assist, with all of his goals coming from the penalty spot.
#3 Fabinho - Liverpool
19-time English league champions Liverpool are enjoying a decent campaign in 2021-22. Their title challenge looks a bit complicated, thanks to Manchester City’s blistering run, but their players seem to be at operating at an impressive level.
Fabinho, who occupies the defensive midfield role for the Reds, has been particularly impressive, emerging as their top-performing midfield star.
The former Monaco man operated as a centre-back for the majority of last season and put in some respectable performances. Thankfully, Jurgen Klopp did not stick with his original plan and has reinstated him in the middle of the park.
Since then, Fabinho has not only been a rock-solid anchor for the Merseysiders, but has also popped up with some crucial goals.
The Brazilian enjoys the thrill of scoring and already has three goals to his name in the Premier League this season. Interestingly, two of the Brazil international’s three goals have come in the last two top-flight games.
#2 Declan Rice - West Ham United
23-year-old Declan Rice is one of the most sought-after players in Europe right now. The West Ham United midfielder is smart and quick and seems to have a knack for making decisive contributions.
The captain of the London club has featured in all but one Premier League game this season, producing impressive showings in all of them.
The Hammers have emerged as a surprise contender in the Premier League top-four race this season, and Rice’s distribution has played a part in that. He dictates the tempo of the game like no other and has often popped up with key goal contributions.
The England international has one goal and four assists to his name this season, which is mighty impressive for a player in his position.
#1 Rodri - Manchester City
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League this season, and by a country mile.
In Pep Guardiola’s system, the former Atletico Madrid player has found his best self and is on course to win his second consecutive Premier League title.
Like most midfielders on our list, Rodri is an excellent distributor, knows how to intercept passes, and has a natural knack for sniffing out danger.
What makes the Spaniard unique is his utter and complete understanding of space. By calculating the space available to his opponents, the former Villarreal man cuts out passing lanes and forces them to give the ball away.
Apart from being a complete package at the base of midfield, Rodri has also scored a few times in the Premier League.
In 19 English top-flight appearances, the 25-year-old has scored three goals and provided an assist. His last first-division goal came in January itself, in City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal on matchday 21.
