'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We’re quickly moving into the home stretch of the 2018/19 Premier League, as most sides now have just 9 games remaining this season. Manchester City are back in the driving seat when it comes to the title race – they’ve won their last 5 Premier League matches, while Liverpool remain hot on their heels, just one point behind despite taking 3 draws in their last 5 games.
With games having come thick and fast throughout February, we’ve seen some players really prove their worth to their teams by coming to the forefront during this busy period, while others have fallen by the wayside somewhat. The players on this list have been outstanding throughout the season, but have certainly picked up their game in the past few weeks.
As always, any players who haven’t played in at least 50% of their club’s minutes – 1305 minutes to be exact – are ineligible. And with all results being based on a formula that takes certain variables and individual statistics into account, reputation counts for nothing. Here are the Premier League’s 10 best players for March 2019.
#10 Harry Kane – Score: 23.1 (New Entry)
Tottenham superstar Harry Kane was sidelined for almost the whole month of February after picking up an ankle injury against Manchester United, but the enforced absence of 4 Premier League games seems to have done him no harm. England’s captain has picked up right where he left off, scoring in Spurs’ games against Burnley and Arsenal – although neither of his goals enabled Tottenham to pick up a win.
Kane now has 16 Premier League goals this season in 2157 minutes of action – meaning he averages a goal every 134 minutes, making him one of the league’s most deadly marksmen.
Interestingly, despite scoring both of his recent goals with his feet, Kane wins an average of 1.8 aerial duels per game – the highest of any attacking player on this list – meaning we should probably expect him to score at least a few headers before the season is out. And if he continues to score at his usual rate, expect him to rise up this list next time out too.
#9 Harry Maguire – Score: 24.7 (=)
Leicester’s Harry Maguire is now playing under a new manager, as Claude Puel was fired in February following a 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, and replaced immediately by Brendan Rodgers. Being a manager who loves to play passing football, Rodgers will likely relish the chance to work with Maguire – whose average passing success rate remains impressively high at 84.1%.
The England centre-back hasn’t chipped in with a goal since January 30th, but despite the Foxes losing 4 of their last 5 Premier League games and conceding 11 goals along the way, you have to wonder whether things would be even worse without Maguire at the back. He’s blocked 16 shots and made 120 clearances this season, some of the highest stats for a centre-back, and another goal or two should mean he remains in this list in the future.
#8 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Score: 25.2 (=)
Arsenal hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains in the same spot that he occupied in February, despite only scoring 1 goal throughout the month. With 16 goals and 4 assists he remains one of the most potent attacking forces in the Premier League, although he missed the chance to add another strike to his tally during last weekend’s North London derby against Tottenham when he failed to convert a late penalty.
With an average of a goal every 133 minutes, it’s anyone’s guess as to why the Gabonese striker was only used as a substitute in Arsenal’s recent games with Southampton and Tottenham.
French striker Alexandre Lacazette was preferred in both games – despite Aubameyang having superior statistics not only in goals scored, but in shots fired and key passes too. Assuming Unai Emery begins to play Aubameyang more often from the start of games, he could well help Arsenal gain the all-important Champions League spot they’re aiming for this season.
#7 Mohamed Salah – Score: 25.2 (-3)
Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has slipped down the list this month, moving from 4th to 7th, something that will probably come as no surprise to fans who’ve seen the Reds’ most recent fixtures. With 17 goals and 7 assists this season, Salah remains one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking players – but he’s drawn a blank in his last 3 league fixtures, last scoring on February 9th against Bournemouth.
Somewhat worryingly, Salah has taken more shots on goal than any other player on this list – 94 – but hasn’t managed to make that amount of shots count, as his conversion rate of 18% is only the same as rival Harry Kane and less than Sergio Aguero. If Salah wants to rise up this list again, he needs to start finding the net on a regular basis once again – particularly if Liverpool want to overhaul Manchester City at the top of the table.
#6 Raheem Sterling – Score: 25.5 (-1)
Despite his run of good form continuing, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling has slipped one spot this month, moving from 5th position to 6th. Sterling’s form has hardly suffered, though – despite failing to score in his last 2 league games, he did score 2 goals in City’s 6-0 rout of Chelsea in early February, putting in a Man of the Match-level performance.
Sterling has now scored 12 goals and made 9 assists this season, meaning he averages involvement with a goal every 99 minutes he plays.
Sterling could probably move up this list by taking more shots on goal – he’s taken 52 this season, the least of any attacking player on this list, but his conversion rate of 23% is actually higher than that of Kane, Aguero or Salah!
With 54 key passes to his name, more shots and goals would arguably make him the perfect attacking force in Pep Guardiola’s side – and would probably help his team win the league title, too.
#5 Paul Pogba – Score: 25.7 (+2)
The resurgence of Paul Pogba at Manchester United under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continued last month, as the French midfielder has moved up two spots into the #5 position. Pogba scored twice in February – both against Fulham in a Man of the Match-level performance, and also made an assist in United’s win over Crystal Palace, taking his total to 11 goals and 9 assists for the season thus far.
Pogba has essentially excelled in all areas recently, outside of one minor one – with 36 fouls committed he’s at the top of a list nobody wants to be at the top of in terms of the current top 10 players, and a recent booking against Southampton hasn’t helped either.
If the Frenchman could sort his discipline out, United would be looking at the perfect midfielder, as both his attacking and defensive statistics are impressive – and that would mean that huge £89m transfer fee would probably be worth it.
#4 Matt Doherty – Score: 27.0 (New Entry)
It’s a surprise at #4, as Wolves’ Matt Doherty makes his entrance onto this list for the first time this season. Doherty has 3 goals and 4 assists to his name this season – a higher goal involvement than any other defensive player in the Premier League – but while he hasn’t found the net for Nuno’s side since December, his other statistics remain impressively high, particularly in the defensive areas.
Doherty has completed 50 tackles this season, more than any other player in the top 10, and he’s also made the most interceptions with 47 – 15 more than Liverpool’s defensive rock Virgil Van Dijk.
70 clearances, 6 blocks and an average of 4.3 aerial duels won per game also make for good reading – but Doherty could do with brushing up his passing skills, as his success rate of 72.1% is the lowest on this list. Outside of that? He’s been a key reason for Wolves’ impressive rise up the table.
#3 Virgil Van Dijk – Score: 27.3 (New Entry)
As arguably the Premier League’s most highly rated defender, it’s no surprise to see Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk make this list. Liverpool’s form may have slipped slightly as of late – they’ve drawn 3 of their last 5 Premier League games – but they certainly haven’t been leaking goals, conceding just once during that period, and Van Dijk has been a big part of that defensive strength.
The Dutchman has made 159 clearances – the most of any player on this list – and he’s also completed 27 tackles, 32 interceptions and has blocked 16 shots. Add in two recent goals against Watford – taking his tally for the season to 3 – as well as a 90% pass success rate, and you’ve basically got the perfect defender.
If Liverpool manage to overhaul Manchester City to win the league, Van Dijk deserves a ton of credit.
#2 Sergio Aguero – Score: 27.6 (+1)
Despite being 30 years old, Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero shows no sign of slowing down – as evidenced by his rise from the #3 spot in this list up to the #2 position. Aguero has continued to find the net consistently in the past few matches, scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea and also netting the winner in City’s 1-0 victory over West Ham.
With 18 goals to his name, Aguero is at the top of the list when it comes to the race for the Golden Boot, but the Argentine offers more than just goals – his pass success rate of 85.5% is impressive, as are his 25 key passes, and he’s converted a higher percentage of his shots (92) than strike rivals Kane and Salah too.
While the likes of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus have become important players at the Etihad, there’s no denying that Aguero remains Pep Guardiola’s top dog when it comes to this season’s title push.
#1 Eden Hazard – Score: 29.3 (=)
Remaining at the top of this list is Chelsea’s Belgian superstar Eden Hazard. The Blues have seen an upturn in fortunes recently after the nadir that was their 6-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in early February, and despite only making 1 assist in his last 3 Premier League outings, Hazard has still remained a consistent performer for Maurizio Sarri’s side.
With 12 goals and 11 assists to his name this season, he’s as dangerous an attacking player as they come in the Premier League.
Are there any areas for improvement? Hazard has completed 72 key passes – more than any other player on this list, and his pass success rate of 82.6% remains high. Where he could get better is his shot conversion – he’s taken 72 shots at goal this season meaning he’s converted around 16%, a lower total than the likes of Salah, Kane and Aguero. But then Hazard isn’t a pure striker like those men – and has more assists than any of them.
Despite being substituted in Chelsea’s last two league fixtures, you have to wonder where they’d be without him – he’s their highest scoring player using this system by far – and it’s no surprise that Real Madrid supposedly have him top of their shopping list.
