5 most under-rated players in the premier league

Kitchee FC v Arsenal FC

1) Alex Song:

Apparently, his hairstyle overshadows his assists, passes and contribution on the pitch. He has undergone a lot of improvement in the last 2 seasons, and no Arsenal fan can imagine a midfield without Alexandre Song. He scored 1 goal and had 11 assists to his name last season, something which is a very notable contribution for a defensive midfielder. His assists include the one to Persie in the Liverpool match, and to Henry in the Leeds match. He’s not only good in attacking, his average tackle per game stands at 2.9 with a total of 100 tackles and 66 interceptions.

2) Lucas Leiva:

Liverpool v Sunderland - Premier League

Overshadowed by the greatness of Alonso, Lucas Leiva had always been neglected. Though he missed out most of last season because of injury, he’s a vital player for Liverpool’s defense. He’s a wall. In the 2011/2012 season, even though he played only 12 games before getting injured, he remained the top tackler for Liverpool with 68 tackles. Before Lucas got injured, he was averaging 5.7 tackles per game. If Lucas had continued at that rate he would have around 216 tackles attempted for the season. With him in the team, Liverpool won 50% and lost only 16% and without him it was 28% win and 42% loss.

3) Michael Carrick:

Manchester City v Manchester United - Premier League

Most United fans call him trash, waste, and useless, but at least some people don’t think the same, and that includes Sir Alex Ferguson. Ever wondered why United won 4 League titles in 5 years after Carrick was signed? Don’t tell me that’s a coincidence. In the 2011/2012 season , he had a passing percentage of 90%, with 1975 passes completed. His interceptions stand at 2.4 per game with 71 interceptions in 27 matches. He keeps hold of the possession really well, which many of the people who concentrate on the whole game rather than just the attack and goals have notified. The thing is, Carrick slows down the pace due to a reason, when he knows their game is under-threat. He does it so that they do not get caught on the counter-attacks.

4) Leon Britton:

Swansea City v Queens Park Rangers - Premier League

Statistically the most accurate passer of the ball in Europe – yes he beats the boys from Barcelona! The 5ft 5in central midfielder is vital to Swansea’s impressive possession game in 2011/2012, Swansea’s first season in the top flight. Leon had a passing percentage of 93%, with a total of 2111 passes completed in 35 games. The 29-year-old flourished under Brendan Rodgers, not only showcasing his passing ability but his intelligence and strict commitment to carrying out his managers instructions.

5) Leighton Baines:

Everton v Newcastle United - Premier League

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Leighton Baines of Everton in action with Yohan Cabaye of Newcastle United during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on May 13, 2012 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Just what a team needs; a full back who can attack and defend equally well when needed. Baines has all the quality, and under the management of David Moyes, has flourished to become one of the most consistent players for Everton. In the 2011/2012 season, he had 5 goals and 2 assists to his name. His ability is to concentrate on key passes, take set-pieces and cross. Comparing him to the league’s best LB, Ashley Cole, his aerial wins are 63% compared to Cole’s 43%, and tackle success rate 74% to Cole’s 67%. Has a total of 351 crosses with an accuracy of 100 crosses compared to Cole’s 101 crosses with an accuracy of 20.

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