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This Premier League season hasn't allowed any team an opportunity to take a breather. Flowing at a rapid pace, the most popular league in the world is producing one of its very best seasons, both in terms of quality and unpredictability.
In this day and age, where playing out from the back is considered a necessity, ball carrying becomes an important ability. Players who can progress and carry the ball over large distances often help their teams in getting out of dangerous situations. They also help with transitions when a team is looking to hit the opposition on the break.
There is immense quality in the Premier League when it comes to ball-carriers and here are some of the best of them, ranked according to their total ball carrying distance (in meters), recorded from FBref.
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#5 Adam Webster (7324)
Brighton's lanky centre-back Adam Webster is having a very solid season alongside his captain, Lewis Dunk. Under Graham Potter, Brighton have improved by leaps and bounds as they have become one of the most positionally disciplined sides in the Premier League, allowing them to keep more of the ball.
The 26-year-old Englishman has usually been a part of a back three, playing as a right-sided centre-back. Although he is very silky in possession, Webster is a no-nonsense kind of defender, with his strengths relating to winning aerial and ground duels.
Brighton is a team full of centre-back talent. Dunk, Webster, and the young Ben White have finally found their feet as a partnership and they are excelling. With numerous Premier League sides on the lookout for defenders, there is a chance the Seagulls might be raided in the summer.
#4 Jordan Henderson (7695)
Jordan Henderson is and always will be underrated by football fans. A versatile presence in Liverpool's midfield, the Englishman has recently filled in at centre-back for the Reds but his quality on the ball hasn't decreased a bit.
The 30-year-old might not be a chance-creating machine, but he doesn't need to be one in a Liverpool side who rely on their full-backs, Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, for much of their shot-creating actions.
Whenever Henderson is fit, he is an automatic pick for Jurgen Klopp. The Englishman's leadership qualities are just a bonus to go with his quality.
#3 Ruben Dias (7773)
Ruben Dias has transformed Manchester City's defense, along with Pep Guardiola's new system featuring two false-nines. The Portuguese defender has formed an incredible partnership with John Stones as City continue their record-breaking run of 15 consecutive wins in England's top-flight.
The 23-year-old is quite dominant in the air and he rarely makes any glaring errors. He doesn't look out of place in a possession-heavy team, playing from the left-hand side in a back two. In just a few months, Dias has become central to the way City function as a unit. It is fair to say that he hasn't been a bad acquisition for the Citizens.
#2 Jack Grealish (7837)
Jack Grealish is not only one of the best ball-carriers in the world, but he is also one of the best when it comes to ball progression and shot-creating actions. He is the driving force behind Aston Villa and this season he has been in otherworldly form.
The England international has always maintained that his preferred position is number 10 but some of the finest attributes can only be exploited when he is playing from the left. With 3.6 key passes per game and 14 big chances created, the Villa captain has looked unstoppable in the Premier League.
#1 Luke Ayling (8723)
Leeds United's Luke Ayling is indispensable to Marcelo Bielsa. The 29-year-old can play in a number of positions, with right-back being his preferred role. Under their Argentinean manager, the Peacocks have become a possession-heavy team and most of their attacks come from the wings.
They like to create overloads on both sides of the pitch and Ayling is central to the system. Not only can he retain possession in high-pressure situations, but he can also carry the ball out seamlessly to conduct attacks. It is no surprise that he averages around 1 key pass per game from such a defensive position.
