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The Premier League has always been graced by amazing midfielders over the years. That is also true for the current crop of midfield personnel in the league. The attacking midfielders, though, have often been in demand, and more often than not, receive more appreciation than the ones at the back.
Players like Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and many other attack-minded players in the Premier League are often praised for their performances. They contribute more toward goals, while the defensive midfielders do the dirty work at the back.
Playing deep is not an easy task, especially when players need to be heavily involved in both the defensive and attacking parts of the game. Some of the defensive midfielders have also contributed in attack, scoring crucial goals for their teams. On that note, here's a look at the five defensive midfielders with the most Premier League goals in the last decade;
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#5 Tomas Soucek (West Ham) - 14
Signed from Slavia Prague in 2019, Tomas Soucek has been a transformative figure for West Ham since arriving at the club, adding a new dimension to their midfield. The towering Czech Republic star has been a menace in the air and on the pitch, scoring goals, destroying attacks and covering every blade of the grass.
Soucek has formed an excellent partnership with Declan Rice in the middle of the park, and played a key role in stopping opposition attacks. His aerial presence has also been a key factor in the Hammers' excellent defensive record in the Premier League. Soucek won the most aerial duels (217) in the Premier League last season, proving to be a strong presence in the air for the Hammers.
Moreover, Soucek has also contributed in attack, scoring ten goals in the Premier League last season. Only two midfielders bettered Soucek's tally goals in the competition last campaign.
The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in just two seasons from the midfield position. Given a year or two more, there's no doubt the Czech international could come out on top of the list.
#4 Sung-Yeung Ki (Swansea, Sunderland, Newcastle United) - 15
Ki Sung-Yeung was a regular player for Swansea City in the Premier League during the last decade. He made 139 appearances for the Welsh club, and was a key part of their midfield. The midfielder also had spells at Sunderland and Newcastle United in the Premier League before departing for Mallorca in 2020.
Ki is a box-to-box midfielder who is very adept in breaking down the game and providing cover for the defence. But the South Korean also contributed his fair share in attack, scoring 15 goals during his time in the Premier League.
His most impressive goalscoring season came during the 2014-15 campaign, when he netted eight times for Swansea. That helped the club to an eighth-place finish.
The South Korean is currently back in South Korea with FC Seoul, the club where he first started his career.
#3 Leroy Fer (Norwich, QPR, Swansea City) - 16
Leroy Fer ranks third on the list of defensive midfielders with the most Premier League goals in the last decade.
Fer made his debut in the Premier League with Norwich City, impressing for the Canaries in the 2013-14 edition of the competition. He scored three goals and provided two assists during that campaign, and gave a good account of himself when called upon. Unfortunately, he was not able to help Norwich avoid relegation at the end of the season.
He subsequently joined Queens Park Rangers, and was even more impressive three, scoring six goals and registering four assists from his deep-lying position. But once again he could not help his team avoid the drop.
Fer was subsequent;y snapped up by Swansea at the start of the 2015-16 season, and settled at the club, spending three seasons. But he could only muster 65 Premier League appearances for the club, thanks to injuries halting his progress.
The Dutch midfielder left Swansea after the 2018-19 season, and is currently plying his trade for Turkish outfit Alanyaspor.
#2 Fernandinho (Manchester City) - 18
The importance of a good holding midfielder for an attacking team cannot be stated enough.
Current Manchester City captain Fernandinho has played that role with aplomb for Pep Guardiola's side in recent years. He can slot in at the heart of the defence in a crisis, proving his versatility. However, he is at his best when playing as a deep-lying midfielder, who can also run forward and contribute in attack.
The Brazilian has notched up 18 Premier League goals during his Manchester City career, while also registering 22 assists. Fernandinho's tackling and coverage are pitch-perfect most of the time, allowing him to win the ball further up the pitch and move it forward.
At 36, the Brazilian is still going strong in the Premier League, and has already won the competition four times.
#1 Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace) - 28
Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic has been the highest-scoring defensive midfielder in the Premier League in the last decade. But 22 of his 28 goals have come from the penalty spot.
Milivojevic arrived at Crystal Palace from Olympiacos in 2017, and has been a key part of the Eagles' midfield since then. He is a brilliant passer of the ball, and keeps things ticking in midfield very efficiently.
His stamina is perhaps the most undervalued aspect of his game, as he can play with the same level of intensity throughout the 90 minutes. The midfielder's defensive-minded ability provides Palace with extra protection, as he can often shift into central defence when out of possession.
Milivojevic's ability from the penalty spot is an added quality that has helped Palace over the years. He is often considered one of the best penalty takers in Europe. The 30-year-old has taken 25 penalties for Palace so far, missing only three.
Luka Milivojevic remains an integral part of Crystal Palace's midfield, and will hope to continue his incredible form at the club under new manager Patrick Vieira.
