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9 games in, a clear picture is beginning to emerge as to the direction of the Premier League this season. The three unbeaten teams; defending champions Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea look like the frontline candidates for the title.
However, despite a few hitches, the North London clubs; Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are looking like they could be in with a shout as well. Both teams have lost two games each but have won seven.
Manchester United has provided comedic value as Jose Mourinho’s men have looked inept on too many occasions already this season. The Red Devils currently sit in 10th place, 9 points off the table toppers.
Newcastle United, Fulham, Southampton, Huddersfield Town, and Cardiff City have been some of the standout strugglers so far. The Magpies have been unable to get anything resembling a victory even against opposition of their own level. Fulham’s £100m transfer splurge has left the team leaking goals as manager Slavisa Jokanovic struggles to find his best 11.
Huddersfield can’t score a goal to save their lives and Cardiff’s battling has failed to hide the team’s shameful lack of quality.
Certain players have stood up to be counted so far this season. These players have shone brightly and contributed to the relative successes of their teams so far.
Here is a look at 5 of the players who have really shone this season:
#5 Roberto Pereyra (Watford)
Few people foresaw the kind of start that Watford has made. 16 points after 9 games have seen the Hornets sitting pretty in the 10th position. While coach Javi Gracia has been a key part of this good start, one player has shone above all.
Injuries have deprived Premier League fans the joy of watching Pereyra on a consistent basis since he joined from Juventus in 2016 for £13m. The Argentine has been the creative outlet; the silk in Watford’s armory of steel.
A long rest followed by a good pre-season has seen Pereyra back to his best. Playing behind the hard-working but limited strike force of Andre Gray and Troy Deeney, his silky skills have been on full display.
Confident in possession, quick, intelligent and capable of the spectacular, he has been the star turn in a Watford side that is more on the physical side. His movement and ability to stretch play and attract defenders have often left space in the middle for the marauding runs of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue.
Already with 4 goals this season (including two absolute beauties against Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers), the 27-year-old will be central to Watford’s hopes of doing something notable this season.
#4 Lucas Torreira (Arsenal)
The search for the new N’Golo Kante is something that a lot of clubs in the Premier League have been looking to achieve for a while. In the Uruguayan pitbull, Arsenal seems to have found the perfect one.
The 22-year-old was brought in from Sampdoria in the close season to join Unai Emery’s revolution for £26.4m. Due to his World Cup exertions, he did not start the first couple of games; the consecutive losses to Manchester City & Chelsea (he came on as a sub in both games).
He has been ever-present since then and is a big reason for why the team’s defensive record has improved. Playing in front of the defence and beside Granit Xhaka, his tackling, persistence, marking and intelligent use of the ball has allowed the forward-thinking players to flourish.
His tigerish tackling and hassling of the opposition have helped the Gunners win the ball back quickly. With him in the side and shorn of defensive responsibility, the likes of Mesut Ozil have been free to express themselves further up the pitch.
Gunners fans who remember the defensive shambles of Arsene Wenger’s final season will be praying that nothing happens to their new midfield lynchpin.
#3 Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
The sea change in output and performances for Liverpool’s defence before and after Van Dijk’s signing has been amazing to watch.
Gone is the shaky, uncertain, scatter-gun defending that cost the Reds precious points in the first half of last season and even before then. Following the £75m arrival of the Dutchman, the defence has looked better than ever.
In Van Dijk, manager Jurgen Klopp has gotten the man he has always wanted to marshal his defence. He has become the leader who prompts and guides the backline during a game. Strong in the air, an immaculate tackler who reads the game brilliantly, the 27-year-old has been imperious at the heart of the defence.
Alongside new goalie Alisson Becker, he has led the Reds to have the joint-best defence in the league so far with just 3 goals conceded. This has been central to Liverpool having its best start to a Premier League season in a long time as the attack has not been firing on all cylinders.
He will be absolutely vital for the Reds if they are to end their 30-year wait for a Premier League title.
#2 Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Another centre-back who has lit up the Premier League with his displays this season has been the league leaders' Frenchman. Following his £57m move from Athletic Bilbao in January, the soft-spoken Basque player took his time to settle in England. However, even then, his quality was evident for all to see.
Possessing all the characteristics of the great modern defender; ball playing ability, height, aerial presence, keen intelligence and an ability to play as a left back when demanded, Laporte is a player whose has everything needed to become one of the very best in world football.
His passing has been superb as his long diagonal balls have helped the Cityzens beat the pressing of opponents. His physicality has been surprising to see as he has dominated a lot of opposing attackers this season barely allowing them to have a sniff of Ederson’s goal.
Benjamin Mendy and Fabian Delph have had injury issues so far. In their place, he has played as a left-back and has performed creditably. Pep Guardiola has rotated his centrebacks a lot this season. John Stones, Vincent Kompany, and Nicolas Otamendi have all had to sit on the bench. Not so for the 25-year-old who has started every match in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
#1 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
The undisputed star of the still-young Premier League season, the Belgian superstar has been majestic for the Blues. After the troubles of Antonio Conte’s final season at Stamford Bridge, a lot of rumours emerged around Hazard’s stay in London.
The exit of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid fuelled speculation that the 27-year-old was set to be the new Galactico at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. However, the arrival of Maurizio Sarri changed the equation.
Shorn of the defensive responsibilities he was saddled with under the Mourinho and Conte eras, the captain of the Belgian Red Devils has been like a beast unleashed. His close control, dribbling, pace, finishing, and passing has gone up another notch in the new system a.k.a Sarri-ball.
His constant movement in the new free role he now plays has enabled him to play closer to the goal. This has, in turn, led to more involvement in the opposition’s area this season. 7 goals and 3 assists tell the story of a player who has been at the top of his game.
While the rest of the Chelsea frontline has flattered to deceive, Hazard has been the standout player. Like Lionel Messi at Barcelona, the Blues’ season could well hinge on whether Hazard keeps his performance levels up.
