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The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world. Most of the other leagues have a maximum of two to three teams capable enough to challenge for the top spot but the Premier League can boast of six teams that can be counted as title contenders.
Though last season Manchester City made a mockery of the league by finishing with a record 100 points, this season again promises to be competitive at the top, with six sides competing for four Champions League spots.
This slideshow gives a list of the most important player for each of these teams. These should be the players around whom the top six would depend the most upon to deliver match-winning performances:
#6 Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
The assist king has been much criticized in North London for not being able to replicate his form from the Real Madrid days but the numbers are still mind-boggling.
Mesut Ozil has created the most number of chances in Europe's top 5 leagues in the past five years. He has also amassed an unbelievable tally of 79 assists during that period for both Real Madrid and Arsenal. He has become one of the all-time leaders in assists in the Premier League in such a short period of time while also being the fastest to reach 50 Premier league assists.
Despite being criticized heavily for his nonchalant attitude and lack of commitment without the ball, Mesut Ozil has a niche for finding teammates in open spaces with his great passing and out-of-the-world vision. The German maestro endured a terrible World Cup campaign which ultimately ended in his retirement from the German National team amid loads of controversies.
Ozil is a creative and a technical player who excels in an advanced playmaking role. Arsenal's top four challenge will heavily rely on the efforts of their midfield maestro and Ozil will be itching to prove his doubters wrong.
#5 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane is quite simply the best out-and-out striker in world football at the moment. He was the Golden Boot winner in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, finishing top-scorer with six strikes.
Once hailed as a one season wonder, Kane has been tremendous in the past few seasons for Tottenham. Last season he finished with 30 goals in 37 Premier League appearances and 7 goals in 7 UCL appearances where his team lost in a dramatic encounter to Juventus. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year for the fourth consecutive season, alongside fellow rivals Mohamed Salah and Sergio Agüero.
Kane plays the old-fashioned centre-forward role for Spurs and has excellent support from behind in the form of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli. Spurs contention will be heavily reliant on this superb trio but Kane will be the most pivotal element to provide them with goals at all junctures.
#4 N'golo Kante (Chelsea)
Eden Hazard is the best player for Chelsea but when it comes to the most important player, it is none other than their diminutive Frenchman, N'golo Kante.
Kante is the best defensive midfielder in football at the moment and his superhuman lung capacity allows him to tirelessly glide from one end of the field to the other. He is very adept at intercepting passes and breaking up the opposition's offensive plays and carry the ball forward well.
He is a dynamic and an explosive player and plays with breathtaking energy. He won the PFA Players' Player of the Year during Chelsea's league winning 2016-17 campaign.
Fresh from a starring role in the World Cup triumph with France, N'golo Kante will again be the most important factor for Chelsea and define their title challenge.
#3 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah took the footballing world by storm last season. He was the best signing of the last season and almost had a Champions League medal in his first season.
He dazzled right from the start of the season, weaving his way from the right wing, beating defenders by his skills and scoring goals at an incredible rate. He became the first player to win three Player of the month awards in the Premier League in the same season.
Salah's astonishing performances saw him receive a number of accolades at the end of the 2017–18 season, including the PFA Players' Player of the year award.
Mohamed Salah has quickly one of the best players in the world and will even be in the contention for this year's Ballon d'Or. Liverpool's challenge for the title will be hugely dependent on the leadership and performances of Salah.
#2 Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Paul Pogba was considered one of the top players in the world during his Juventus days but has failed to replicate that form since a record £89 million transfer to Manchester United.
Coming off a World Cup victory where he was one of the best players for the Les Bleus. However, Pogba will be hoping for a change of fortunes with United this season. The Frenchman shone for a brief period last season before his injury but was later on replaced in the starting line-up.
Pogba has the perfect combination of strength and speed to succeed in the Premier League. He is an energetic, creative and an intelligent footballer who is capable of scoring long-range beauties.
Though David De Gea has been the best player for United over the past few seasons, it is Pogba's display which will be the most crucial for United to return to title winning ways.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne is the most complete midfielder in world football right now. He is the best archetype for a modern day midfielder with amazing technique, great vision, wide-range of passing and long-range shooting skills. He is also brilliant from the set-pieces.
De Bruyne took the Premier League by storm last season for a City side that finished with a record 100 points. He also played a very important role for Belgium that finished third in the World Cup.
Guardiola once said, "Kevin has probably the best right foot in the League since the days of David Beckham".
De Bruyne scored 8 goals and had a league-leading 16 assists in 37 Premier League appearances last season. He will again be the most crucial factor for Manchester City in the Premier League and will also be looking to add the Champions League glory.
