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The Premier League is by far the most competitive top-flight league across the globe. This competition is not a one-horse a race like the likes of Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A and neither a two-horse race like La Liga. The title race involves over six teams, which keeps this competition alive, every week of the year.
With the 2018-19 season already halfway through, the PL title race is between Manchester City and Liverpool. Tottenham were considered to be in the race for the title as well but their recent performances have seen them 12 points below second-placed Liverpool, officially ending their title hopes. As Manchester United and Arsenal are in such terrifying form in the league, Tottenham's qualification for UCL football next season looks shaky.
Arsenal are only a point behind Spurs, after being 10 points behind them two weeks ago, whereas Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjær has been in sublime form, getting themselves back in contention for Champions League football after being nearly 16 points behind 5th place when Ole took over.
The 'Big Six' have entertained us each and every season, and players like Sergio Aguero, Mohammed Salah, Harry Kane, etc have lit up the scoring charts. But, we will be looking at the most underrated players from each of the top six.
Antonio Rudiger - Chelsea
Antonio Rudiger readily comes to mind when we think about underrated players. And there are plenty of reasons for that. Rudiger is a fantastic footballer blessed with confidence on the ball, stability and combativeness.
Maurizio Sarri has changed Chelsea's way of playing. They used to rely on counter-attacking tactics under Conte, often defending deep, waiting for the opponents to commit mistakes. That is not the system at Chelsea currently. Sarri-ball means playing with the ball all the time. It also means playing a possession-based game and acting as the protagonists in the game.
Antonio Rudiger's extraordinary ability to find players with quick ground passes and play with such ease in a high line of defence has caught many fans attention. He has been great even when it comes to covering for his fullbacks. Rudiger's incredible tackling abilities and his composure on the ball has also been good for Chelsea so far.
Scott McTominay - Manchester United
The word 'underrated' means a player who is not rated highly despite him giving world-class performances week in week out for club/country. And for me, the most underrated player at Manchester United has to be Scott McTominay.
Under Mourinho, the likes of Pogba, Rashford, Matic, Martial, Lindelof, Bailly, etc did not perform well. They were abysmal while playing for Mourinho but since Ole has taken over, he has transformed the same players into world-beaters.
However, the player who has been a consistent performer, both under Mourinho and Ole, is McTominay. Though he didn't play many games under Mourinho, his presence in the midfield for Manchester United has been vital in quite a few games for the Red Devils.
McTominay is a prolific ball-carrier and he can as well play as a box to box midfielder. He can start attacks as well as shut them down. His positional sense and wisdom are truly commendable. More often than not, the Scottish midfielder is one step ahead of the opponents' next move.
The 22-year-old can also be deployed anywhere in the midfield, and that is what separates him from the rest of Man Utd players. He has played some significant roles this season under Ole, and he seems to be improving as the season unwinds.
Alex Iwobi - Arsenal
Alex Iwobi often gets the stick for not being a regular performer for the Gunners and he is not always a fan favourite for the Gunners. However, we are seeing a transformed Alex Iwobi under his new gaffer Emery. The fact that Alex Iwobi is a regular starter for Emery's men speaks volumes about how highly the Spanish coach rates him.
Alex Iwobi plays a huge role whenever Arsenal attack from the left, and they do attack from the left more often any team in England. The Nigerian has shared a formidable partnership with whoever is playing as a left fullback, either Nacho Monreal or Saed Kolasinac. Iwobi's perfectly timed through balls help the left backs to make quick runs down the left flank and square the ball into the box.
Iwobi is at his best when he has players flanking him. Though Arsenal is looking to sign a few wingers in the summer, Emery will not have any plans of selling him or sending Iwobi on loan to another club. Because he shares a healthy relationship with the coach and Emery is a coach who always relies on his young blood to do the trick for him.
Moussa Sissoko - Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs are in a difficult position right now. They have been able to garner only a point from their last four outings in the Premier League, which speaks volumes about their current struggles to keep up with the other big six in the league.
Though when Spurs enjoy a healthy run of games, it's always either Son or Harry Kane hogging the headlines. But in the past few weeks, Son has been literally invisible and Kane's goals have dried up.
But the player who has still been consistent for the Whites has been Moussa Sissoko. The midfielder often plays a box-to-box midfielder when Pochettino decides to play with a 3-4-3, or he is deployed as a holding CDM in a 4-3-3. And his consistency has been receiving plaudits.
The 29-year-old enjoys an attacking role in the team, and as a result, he has bagged two assists this season. Spurs are passing through an unfavourable run, but Sissoko has been an absolute threat in that midfield, even when the likes of Christian Eriksen and Harry Winks go missing.
Georginio Wijnaldum - Liverpool
Georginio Wijnaldum has been the heart of Liverpool's midfield for a long time but the Dutchman is still not taken into consideration when we talk about the best midfielders in the league. A lot has been said about N'Golo Kante, David Silva, Granit Xhaka, Paul Pogba but Wijaldum still does not gets the attention he deserves.
The Dutchman's greatest ability is his press-resistance. Though Klopp's system does not require starting attacks from the back, they are often pressed high up the pitch if they try to play the ball out through ground passes. What makes Wijladum special is his ability to be composed and alert, with and without the ball, often finding spaces in the middle of the pitch and repositioning the opposition midfielders from their allocated positions.
He can commit himself into tackles with much precision and confidence, and his ability to play as a box-to-box midfielder makes him one of the best central midfielders in England. The 28-year-old possesses commendable vision, and his passing has been nothing short of first-rate.
John Stones - Manchester City
While many are busy admiring defenders like Virgil yan Dijk, Aymeric Laporte, Kalidou Koulibaly, for their immense performances for their club this season, many are missing out on a very vital player, John Stones.
The English international has won a starting position at Manchester City ahead of the likes of Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi, something which deserves admiration. His aerial strength, good feet and incredible composure on the ball has been vital for Man City in their title race.
An injury have kept him sidelined in recent weeks, but not many fans have actually took the time to notice what he brings to the table. His ability to play both as a right or left centre-back, and even as a CDM, if the needs arise, separates him from the rest.
At the age of just 24, John Stones has formed a formidable partnership with Laporte. They have only conceded 20 goals in the league this season - thanks to this incredible centre back pairing.
