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The Premier League is the richest and arguably the most competitive football league in the world. The lure of the English top-flight is such that some of the finest players in the game ply their trade for various clubs in the competition.
It is perhaps a cliché to say that goals win matches and championships like the Premier League. While strikers understandably hog most of the limelight as they tend to score more goals than any other player, the one who creates goal-scoring opportunities - the playmaker - is perhaps the most important cog in a team's wheel.
A playmaker dons a bevy of positions in the attacking and middle third like second striker, false nine, winger, and central midfielder, to name a few.
Regardless of where they may play on the field, their vision, passing range and technical abilities make a playmaker the heartbeat of a team. They are the ones responsible for dictating their team's rhythm of play, and creating the bulk of scoring opportunities for forward colleagues while netting the odd goal themselves.
Top 5 active playmakers in the Premier League
Playmakers are almost indispensable to any team. This is more so in the Premier League, where the competition is such that any side on any given day can beat the opposition.
Thankfully, there are quite a few skilful playmakers in the Premier League who are worth their weight in gold. On that note, let us have a look at the five finest active playmakers in the Premier League.
#5 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne has blossomed into a world-class playmaker under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The Belgian international, who arrived at City a year before Guardiola did, saw his stock spectacularly rise during his stint with the Spanish tactician.
After conjuring just 16 goal contributions (seven goals and nine assists) in his first Premier League season with City, De Bruyne would produce at least 24 goal contributions in three of the next four seasons as Guardiola's men became the team to beat in the competition.
Last season, De Bruyne had his best Premier League season, scoring 13 goals and assisting 20 others, but City were denied a three-peat by a rampaging Liverpool. Nevertheless, he became the first player to provide at least 15 assists in three (consecutive) Premier League seasons.
The Belgian international is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world for his versatility, technical ability, crossing prowess, tactical intelligence, set-piece prowess and ability to run at defences.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently lavished high praise on Kevin De Bruyne, calling him one of the best players he has ever managed.
"He is a masterclass player, one of the best players I have ever trained in my life. Right now, he is the best. Right now, in the midfield position, he is the best."
De Bruyne has had a lukewarm start to the 2020-21 Premier League campaign. Unsuprisingly, that has played a part in Manchester City finding themselves languishing in unfamiliar territory - the bottom half of the Premier League table.
#4 James Rodriguez (Everton)
Real Madrid reject James Rodriguez received a new lease of life when he was reunited with his old manager Carlo Ancelotti at Everton this summer.
The Golden Boot winner at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has hit the ground running in the Premier League, conjuring six goal contributions in eight games (three goals and as many assists), after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Spanish giants.
Still only 29, Rodriguez is relishing the prospect of being able to play regular first-team football again.
Once regarded as one of the best young players on the planet, the Colombian international can operate in a number of positions in the attacking and middle third of the pitch. Rodriguez is particularly renowned for his pace, dribbling skills and set-piece prowess.
Ancelotti hailed Rodriguez after the player scored his first goal for Everton, saying:
“I’m really pleased for James Rodriguez. A new country, a new league – it was not so easy. But he made it easy because he has a lot of quality. A fantastic player.”
#3 Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)
After impressing at Ajax during a four-season stint, Hakim Ziyech arrived at Chelsea this summer and has hit the ground running at the Premier League club. At the Eredivisie outfit, the Moroccan international made his name as one of Europe's most creative talents, and he has lived up to this reputation at Stamford Bridge.
The 27-year-old winger has scored in his first two games in all competitions for his new club, following up his goal-scoring debut against Krasnodar in the Champions League with another against Burnley in the Premier League.
In nine games in all competitions this season, Ziyech has had five goal contributions (two goals and three assists).
Frank Lampard has waxed lyrical about his newest acquisition, who has also been called a left-footed Kevin De Bruyne despite being in early days in the Premier League:
"I think he is going to be a big plus for us on the pitch and in and around the pitch I can see it already in the way he has trained and the confidence in the way he has trained with. He can find a pass, and sometimes last season I felt we lacked that when we were playing against low-block defences."
#2 Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Jack Grealish has been a standout player for Aston Villa for quite a while. The 25-year-old midfielder played over 30 Premier League games for Aston Villa last season, garnering eight goals and six assists after helping the club gain promotion from the 2018-19 Championship.
This season, Grealish has been in blistering form. He has already scored four times and produced six assists in eight Premier League games. Grealish particularly starred for Villa in their 7-2 humbling of defending champions Liverpool earlier in the season.
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith sounded pleased about the player's involvement in the international break, opining that Grealish could arrive more confident for club duties in the Premier League.
"Hopefully it will give him an awful lot of confidence. The boy didn’t need (to be given) an awful lot of confidence any way as he is a confident player, confident lad."
The 25-year-old is renowned for his dribbling ability and prowess at running at defenders to open up spaces for colleagues further upfield.
#1 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes has been like a whiff of fresh air, instantly transforming the fortunes of a mediocre Manchester United side since his arrival at the Premier League club in January this year.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has conjured almost a goal contribution every game - he has scored 21 goals and provided 13 assists in 35 games in all competitions for Manchester United.
Despite his propensity to concede possession cheaply, which reportedly turned away a lot of high-profile suitors including Manchester United last summer, Fernandes has been at the forefront of everything good about the Red Devils in the Premier League and in other competitions.
The Portuguese international's directness, ability to take on defenders, versatility and set-piece prowess have made Fernandes one of the first names on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's playing XI.
The Norwegian was all praise for Fernandes after the player's brace against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League when he said:
"He's had a fantastic impact, and you just see how it breeds confidence and it gives other players confidence around him. We know, at any moment, he can create a chance for anyone, so it's for the rest of them to make movements, runs in behind, clever movements, because he'll find you."
