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With just eight games left to be played, another eventful Premier League campaign is set to come to a close in the coming weeks. The 2020-21 season has been one for the history books, with games being played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the unusual circumstances, the Premier League has produced its fair share of drama and an exciting finale to the season could be on the cards. While Manchester City's coronation is only a matter of time away, the race for the top four spots and the battle to avoid the drop is yet to be decided.
The usual suspects like Bruno Fernandes, Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah have carried on performing well this season. However, a handful of players have burst onto the scene in the current campaign and enhanced their reputations with a series of outstanding displays for their clubs.
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On that note, here are the five breakthrough stars of the Premier League season so far.
#5 Tariq Lamptey | Brighton & Hove Albion
A product of Chelsea's famed academy, Tariq Lamptey secured a move to Brighton & Hove Albion last season to get regular game time under his belt. While he is currently out injured, he made a massive impression for the Seagulls in the opening weeks of the season.
Lamptey is blessed with lightning pace and is also a good crosser of the ball, while his stature allows him to waltz past opposition players in a flash. The diminutive right-back is one of the most exciting players in the Premier League and could well make his England debut later this year if he carries on performing well after his injury.
In 11 appearances in the Premier League this season, Lamptey showed flashes of his outrageous potential and also managed to notch up a goal and an assist apiece for Graham Potter's side.
#4 Curtis Jones | Liverpool
Curtis Jones has been one of the beneficiaries of Liverpool's injury crisis this season, with the youngster featuring more often than he'd have expected in the Premier League. With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez suffering season-ending injuries in October, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were forced to deputize at center back.
Due to the vacancy in midfield, Jones was tasked with keeping things ticking in the center of the park for the Reds, and it's safe to say he has done so with aplomb. The boyhood Scouser is assured on the ball and shows maturity beyond his years, while he also has a keen eye for goal.
In 30 appearances across all competitions for the reigning Premier League champions, the 20-year-old has chipped in with four goals and assists apiece. Jones is a big part of Liverpool's future and will look to play a big role in the business end of the season.
#3 Illan Meslier | Leeds United
Illian Meslier's Premier League introduction has been quite special, with the young goalkeeper delivering a series of outstanding displays between the sticks for Leeds United. Much was expected of Marcelo Bielsa's side after securing promotion, with the Whites returning to the Premier League after 16 seasons in the lower divisions.
With an inexperienced goalkeeper like Meslier in goal, Leeds looked like they could be there for the taking. However, the young Frenchman has proved that he is amongst the best young players in the world in his position and has been an ever-present in the Premier League this season.
Meslier is an incredible shot-stopper and recently became the first goalkeeper in Premier League history under the age of 21 to keep eight clean sheets in a single season. The 21-year-old is a top talent and has reportedly caught the eye of several big clubs across the world.
#2 Emile Smith Rowe | Arsenal
Emile Smith Rowe finally got his big break at Arsenal this season, with Mikel Arteta's trust in the young midfielder paying off since the turn of the year. The Gunners were in a torrid run of form towards the latter part of 2020 and were running the risk of being dragged into a relegation dog fight.
However, Smith Rowe's introduction to the team coincided with their upturn in fortunes, with the energetic midfielder running the show in the center of the park. In 23 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal, the former Leipzig loanee has recorded one goal and four assists and proved to be Arsenal's catalyst in 2021.
Smith Rowe is currently injured but is set to return to the starting XI in the coming weeks, as Arsenal look to secure a place in Europe next season.
#1 Matheus Pereira | West Bromwich Albion
In what has been a tumultuous season for West Bromwich Albion, Matheus Pereira's performances have been a silver lining. The Brazilian midfielder recently put Chelsea to the sword with a magnificent display at Stamford Bridge and has proved to be the star attraction at the Hawthorns.
Known for his long-range shooting and dribbling ability, Pereira is one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the country and could well be capped by Brazil later this year. In 27 Premier League appearances this season, he has racked up eight goals and five assists for a side in the relegation zone, proving that he is a talismanic figure at the club.
West Brom are resigned to the drop, but if the 24-year-old carries on performing like this, he could well earn himself a big-money move this summer.
