5 most improved Premier League players this season

In the NBA, there is a Most Improved Player Award, which most recently was won by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Across the pond in the Premier League, no official award exists. However, if it did, here would be some of the candidates so far this season.

Last season, some of the big money signings often flattered to deceive. It would have been harsh to term them as flops (some of the pundits did actually) and credit to the players for turning it around this season.

Here are five of them:

---

#5 Ben Davies

Signed from Swansea City in 2014 as Danny Rose’s backup, a role Ben Davies has played until the Englishman picked up a knee injury that kept him out for nine months.

That injury gave Davies the chance to show Mauricio Pochettino and the rest of the league what he can do, and he has grabbed that chance with both hands. From left wing-back, Davies has recorded two goals and two assists this season and is averaging 2.4 key passes per game.

Davies has always been a good defensive full-back, but he has added more attacking impetus to his game, thereby allowing Spurs to switch to a five-at-the-back system, especially with Moussa Dembele and Erik Lamela missing for extended periods of time. Spurs don’t have a lot of depth going forward so Davies’ emergence comes at just the right time.

He is taking up advanced spots on the left flank when Spurs have possession, meaning Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli can operate in central areas, where they are more influential.

He has been crucial to Pochettino’s 5-3-2 system, and with Rose back from his injury, there is a very interesting scrap developing for that starting spot in Tottenham’s side.

#4 Abdoulaye Doucoure

Abdoulaye Doucoure

In February 2016, Watford signed Abdoulaye Doucoure from Rennes and immediately shipped him out to Granada on loan for the rest of the season.

Last season he returned to Watford, but then-manager Walter Mazzarri didn’t really use him until he was thrust into the starting lineup against Spurs, where he then went on to improve in each and every game.

Then Marco Silva took over and made Doucoure a starter alongside Nathaniel Chalobah or Etienne Capoue, a decision which paid dividends.

Doucoure has already scored four goals from midfield, with important strikes coming against Liverpool, Watford and West Brom. He has also improved defensively this year. Last season he averaged 0.9 tackles per game, 1.1 interceptions and 1.1 clearances.

This season, he has upped those to 1.5 tackles per game, 1.4 interceptions and 2 clearances.

The Frenchman is averaging twice as many key passes per game than last year, while making over 20 more passes per game this season than last and maintaining a similar pass completion percentage.

He is a force in midfield and compliments Chalobah and Tom Cleverley very well. Unfortunately, Chalobah picked up a knee injury that required surgery in September.

#3 Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has been an excellent player for several years now but has always had a problem with his final ball and scoring goals. However, that problem appears to have been eradicated under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.

He has already scored seven Premier League goals this season, just two shy of his best ever total of nine in the 2013/14 season for Liverpool. The 22-year-old is taking 0.7 more shots per game than last season, showing that he is more confident in front of goal too.

It’s something Sterling spoke on too, ahead of City’s 2-1 win over Napoli, saying: “It's something I've tried to improve, scoring more goals, being more efficient and being a bit more clinical. That's been a massive question mark to me over the last few years.

“I need to continue focusing on getting in the goalscoring areas. That's the most important thing for me, trying to get inside the box, because that's where the majority of my goals come from.

“I'm hoping to get into double figures this year. As a player in my position, I need to be scoring goals more regularly.”

The England international seems to have more of a defined role in Manchester City’s system, and being supplied by Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva is certainly no hindrance either.

#2 Alberto Moreno

Alberto Moreno

The Liverpool defender has been resurrected from the abyss and became a starter under Jurgen Klopp.

Moreno made just two starts last season, as James Milner was installed as the side’s left-back, and the Spaniard was expected to be sold last summer. However, he worked hard over the break to prove to his manager that he deserves another chance, and he took that, starting nine games this season and four more in the Champions League.

In Europe, he has even mustered three assists as Liverpool have a recognised left-back in the side once again. Liverpool’s defence looks as shaky as ever, but Moreno has cut out the individual errors that have plagued his Liverpool career thus far, and looks very dependable.

He also adds an outlet going forward, when Sadio Mane cuts in from that flank, Moreno provides an option out wide that can get to the byline and provide a good cross. Milner, being a right-footed player, didn’t have that ability on the left flank and this change is profiting the Reds.

Moreno is averaging 2.1 more tackles per game than last season, 0.5 more interceptions and 1.3 more clearances. He is doing his bit to improve Liverpool’s defence.

While Moreno’s key passes per game are up by 0.7, the Spaniard has turned himself into an important player in Klopp’s system through hard work.

#1 Leroy Sane

Leroy Sane

Leroy Sane has gone from a rotation guy to nearly a star in the space of a few months. The German made just 20 starts last season and while there were flashes of brilliance, this season he has matured, added consistency to his game and has the numbers to back it up.

With six goals and five assists, no player has been directly involved in more goals this season than Sane. Like Sterling, Sane appears to have a more defined role and knows exactly where he should be at all times to impact the game.

His shots per game and key passes per game are up on last season too, as Guardiola appears to have more trust in the German than last year.

After Benjamin Mendy’s injury, Sane is the only left-sided player who can offer natural width in the squad, but he has adapted to that and maintains his width until he can get into goal scoring positions, illustrated by his strikes against Crystal Palace and West Brom.

He has nailed down a starting spot on the left-hand side of Manchester City’s front three, and will be a contender for the Player of the Year award should he keep this form up.