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Premier League, the top flight football in England is already into its penultimate quarter, with each and every club having faced their opponents 23 times this season.
Clearly, in these 23 matches, superstars like - Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Mo Salah, Aubameyang and Van Dijk have all been exceptional and proven why they stand out amongst the crowd.
But, there have also been some surprising players who boast ridiculous stats for the season and have been putting in one great performance after another for their clubs. They are the so-called underrated stars of the league.
The Premier League has an absolute glut of talent when it comes to players, but only a few of them really manage to remain consistent throughout the season.
It is time we take note of these underrated stars and give them the respect that they deserve. So, with that being said let's get into our list of the most underrated player of the season so far, from each playing position in the Premier League.
#1 Goalkeeper - Ben Foster (Watford)
Let's kick off our list with the #1 position that is the goalkeeper and we have Watford shot-stopper Ben Foster as our pick for this position.
The Englishman makes into our list for two reasons. One, for his immense contribution to his club's 33 points. Two, He is making some outstanding saves at the age of 35.
The former Manchester United goalie has been really impressive in his outings for his side, whom he had joined last summer.
The 35-year-old has kept 5 clean sheets in 23 appearances for the club, which is 8th highest in the league and has made 70 saves, some of them absolutely top class.
It was his crucial penalty save against Everton that helped his side secure a point from the game.
The player has had a long Premier League career filled with great saves, but this might be the season where he finishes in the top 10, after a long time.
#2 Right-Back - Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
When it came to choosing the most underrated right-back of the league, Matt Doherty was the obvious pick by some good distance.
The Irish full-back has been solid in defence for the Wolves and surprisingly even much better in attack for the club, having been the match-winner couple of times.
Matt Doherty, who is Wolves' longest-serving outfield player, has proved a reliable defender since his arrival at Molineux in 2010 and is showing all positive signs in his first full Premier League season.
His 3 goals and 4 assists in 23 appearances make him an indispensable part of the team that are currently 8th in the league standings and the most deserving player from this position in our list.
Leicester City's Ricardo Pereira was a close second for this position.
#3 Center-Back - Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Shane Duffy is our first pick for the centre-back pairing at the heart of the defence, having contributed at both ends for the Seagulls.
Duffy, who is an academy graduate of Merseyside club Everton, failed to shine at the club and only became a Premier League regular when he helped his current club to promotion last season.
The Irish defender used his excellent aerial ability in defence as well as in attack and has notched up 4 goals in the league, while also providing one assist.
Also, he has been solid defensively, having made the fourth highest number of both blocks at 25 and clearances with 140 to his name, of all the Premier League defenders.
Also, no other defender has made headed clearances than the 27-year old, with 96 to his name- he is miles ahead of others.
#4 Center-back Nathan Ake (Bournemouth)
The other underrated centre-back that we have included in our list is the Dutch international, Nathan Ake.
Ake was signed by Bournemouth in 2017 for a then club record fee of £20 million and Eddie Howie must be satisfied with the fact that his money was well spent, given the top-notch performances the young defender, who can also play as left-back has been putting in.
Ake, who was sold-off by Chelsea two years ago, is now being chased by some of the top Premier League clubs which include his former club too.
Though the Cherries have a poor defensive record this season, individually, the 23-year old has been consistent in front of his goalkeeper and is in the top 5 of almost all defensive stats as posted on the Premier League website.
He has also scored 3 goals this season and is always a threat from set-pieces.
#5 Left-Back - Jose Holebas (Watford)
Jose Holebas is another player over 30 making it into our list. He has been a key figure in Watford's rise to the seventh spot in the league table.
The attack-minded left back who has retired from international football has kept up his performances for the Hornets, that have seen him become a fan favourite at Vicarage Road.
He has a gem of a left-foot, that has been involved in providing vital assists from the left flank for his strikers.
Coming to his stats, the 34-year-old player has been directly involved in his club's 9 league goals so far, providing 6 assists for his teammates and scoring 3 goals himself, including a beauty from his weaker foot against Crystal Palace back in August.
Not only is he underrated, but also one of the best left-backs in the league right now.
#6 Defensive midfielder - Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace)
With the plethora of midfielders plying their trade in the English top flight, it was really tough to pick one out as being underrated, but Eagles' captain Luka Milivojevic makes the cut.
He has been leading from the front for his team, scoring 6 goals, including one absolute screamer and 5 penalties. Also, his work rate in the midfield has been impressive so far.
It should not be forgotten that the Serbian international had also scored 10 goals last season for his club, helping them to a respectable 11th position finish.
He has been an ever-present figure at his club since his arrival at Palace for £16 million two years ago.
For a midfielder, his tackle success rate of 81% is also not too bad. He is also a decent set-piece taker, so offers the whole package.
#7 Defensive Midfielder - Lucas Torreira (Arsenal)
The midfielder who joined the league this summer has had a huge impact goes by the name of Lucas Torreira
The Uruguayan international has made quite a name for himself in the league for being a tough tackling and solid defensive midfielder.
Though Unai Emery didn't start him in the initial fixtures, now it is clear that he is a player that they had been needing for a long time.
Also, he has already opened his league goal-scoring account with two goals in 15 starts for the Gunners, but it is in the buildup play where his quality really comes into play. His ability to break opposition play and pick out a pass to a teammate is his best asset.
This guy may not be an established PL star now but is surely one to watch out for in the future.
#8 Attacking midfielder - James Maddison (Leicester City)
We had to give the spot of an underrated attacking midfielder in our list to Leicester City breakout star James Maddison.
Maddison signed for the Foxes last summer and has hit the ground running with the 2015-16 champions and has five goals and four assists to his name already.
He had the best season of his life with Norwich City last year, scoring 14 goals for The Canaries and is proving why Leicester were right to pay a fee in the range of £20 million for him last summer.
His performances earned him his first senior call-up for the Three Lions, but he is yet to make his full time debut for them.
He is also a set-piece specialist, who is tipped to become one of the best midfielders in England for the years to come.
#9 Left Winger - Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)
Well, we all know that Leroy Sane is one of the best left wingers in the world and the Premier League, but only one player, who starts in a similar position has been able to keep up with him this season and it is Cherries' forward Ryan Fraser.
He has had a wonderful season so far and has scored five goals and is second in the league in terms of assists provided with 9 to his name.
Like many of his teammates, he has really stepped up his game this season.
The Scottish international's contribution to his team's success has been phenomenal and his stats are solid, so it's a shame that still he is not considered as one of the top wingers in the English top flight.
Felipe Anderson of West Ham is a player, that we have to mention here as he is having an amazing debut season, in which he's the Hammers' top scorer as of now.
#10 Right Winger - Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool)
Well, this pick was an absolute no-brainer. Xherdan Shaqiri, who moved from Stoke City to Liverpool on a £13.5 million deal, is also one of the most underrated players in the league at the moment.
The reason for that? It's simple, he hasn't got many chances so far to prove himself. But, whenever he's on the pitch, he does something special. The fact that he's managed six goals and two assists in just 10 starts is proof of his acumen.
Jurgen Klopp secured a top-class player like him on an absolute bargain and the fact that he is a backup player is an indication of just how strong the Reds are this season.
The Swiss speedster will remain underrated until the season ends, as his chances of breaking into the Reds team that's leading the league table look bleak.
#11 Striker - Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
Of all the out and out 9's that currently play in the Premier League, no one has impressed more than Bournemouth's Callum Wilson.
The 26-Year-Old English international, whose career has been marred by frequent injury spells, has been fitter than ever this season and scored 10 goals and assisted further 6 making it clear that he is one of the best English strikers at the moment.
The fact that he was linked with Chelsea not very long ago, signal towards the growing stardom of the player.
Wilson, who earned his maiden international call-up last year thanks to his exploits in front of the goal, became the first Bournemouth player in history to score for England when he netted a simple goal against the USA in an international friendly on his debut.
