Premier League 2018-19: The most important player from each of the Big Six this season

This has been one of the best Premier League campaigns in recent memory after Manchester City were the runaway winners last season, breaking numerous records and accumulating the most points in a season by finishing with a tally of 100 points. This season though, the title race has been a lot closer with City and Liverpool going neck to neck, and we are promised to have a nail-biting finish to this season.

Elsewhere the race for the top four is also heating up with 3 points separating the quartet of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs, Manchester United, and Chelsea. With the Premier League entering the business end of the season, let us look at the most important player from each of the traditional Big Six.

Manchester City:

Manchester City are part of an enthralling two-horse race in the Premier League that promises to go down the wire. Pep Guardiola's men are also targeting a historic quadruple that could cement their status as one of the greatest teams of the Premier League era. The defending champions have suffered their share of injury troubles over the course of the season and with them approaching the climax of the season, one man they can’t afford to lose right now is Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho.

The defensive midfielder is a crucial cog of their midfield and is the man that makes the City attacking machine tick. With a side full of graceful, silky and attacking players, the Brazilian offers the steel and bite that their midfield lacks. His game intelligence is unmatched and he can be trusted to play well in different positions.

Fernandinho not only does the dirty work in the centre of the park but is also a sumptuous passer of the ball. The Brazilian can open up defences with precise defence-splitting passes. He also has a ferocious shot in his locker and cannot be afforded too much space in midfield. The Brazilian is no doubt Pep’s go-to man to execute his tactical plans and it will be crucial to find an able back up for him, considering he is not getting any younger at the age of 33.

Liverpool:

Everyone connected to Liverpool has been put through the wringer as they battle it out with Manchester City to win the Premier League title after a prolonged wait of 29 years. But if there is one man they can thank for putting them in a position to compete for the throne then that person is none other than their magnificent centre-back Virgil Van Dijk.

It has got tiring, repetitive and a cliche speaking about the impact that the Dutchman has made at this club and how he has turned the Reds into title challenges but there is no denying this fact. There was a moment against Spurs when his impact was perfectly encapsulated. In the second half, Moussa Sissoko found himself running through on goal with Heung Min Son forming a 2v1 situation, with only Van Dijk to beat.

Van Dijk brilliantly cognized the situation and blocked the passing lane to Son and also pushed Sissoko a bit wider, almost forcing him to have a crack at goal with his weaker foot. And as expected, Sissoko struck the ball in the skies with Van Dijk closing in on him as he went to release his shot.

That moment was a microcosm of Van Dijk’s equanimity, reading of the game and nerves of steel. With Liverpool facing a gruelling and nervy end to the season, they will pretty much rely on the Dutchman's presence at the back to take them over the line.

Tottenham Hotspurs:

Christian Eriksen is the creative lynchpin of Mauricio Pochettino’s side and is their most important player in a team that consists of superstars like Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Eriksen is the man Tottenham depend on to find the killer pass to bypass stubborn defences.

Deployed as a deep playmaker, Eriksen controls the tempo of the game and pulls the strings in midfield. In their recent game against Liverpool where they were unlucky to lose after a howler by Hugo Lloris in the dying stages of the game, Eriksen provided the assist for the equalizer. The Danish midfielder was at the centre of everything good that Spurs did in that game. Also, he has a commendable work rate and puts in a shift defensively.

He has scored five goals and assisted another in 28 appearances this term. At 27, Eriksen will be reaching his peak and his impressive performances have attracted interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. But for now, he will have a huge role to play to secure a top-four finish for his team and potentially get the better of Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United:

After spending a fortune since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, David De Gea still remains United’s most valuable player. The Spaniard has saved United’s blushes countless times. He has won them more points than any other United player which has seen him being named Manchester United’s Best Player of the Season for a record three consecutive times, a feat not achieved by any other United player.

His cat-like reflexes and brilliant positioning has enabled him to make a catalogue of saves that has left his opponents, teammates, pundits and millions of fans shocked and amazed by the brilliance of the man in between the sticks. The sheer volume of saves that he makes has made him arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

His contract situation at Old Trafford is under the limelight and the United faithful will be hoping that their star keeper will put pen to paper as soon as possible because they can't afford to lose their best performer with more pressing issues to deal with in the summer.

Arsenal:

After Arsene Wenger decided to end his 22-year reign at Arsenal, Unai Emery was hired as his successor. The Spaniard has made steady progress with his team and his side are astoundingly on the same points tally as last season with still 7 games remaining in the league. They sit comfortably in the third position and are expected to finish in the top four since they have an easier run of games compared to the other teams battling for a Champions League spot.

One player who has been a catalyst in their improvement is summer signing Lucas Torreira. As we earlier discussed Fernandinho’s influence at City, Torreira carries out a similar task at Arsenal as he is the hard-tackling midfielder, who brings aggression and character in the midfield. The Gunners are renowned for their free-flowing, easy on the eye beautiful football but Torrerira offers balance as he does the defensive and less glamorous work.

He is not afraid to get in the oppositions face when his team has been accused of being too nice and soft over the years. The Urugyuan has incredible stamina, presses well and can break midfield lines with his quick and sharp passing. The defensive midfielder has been a welcome addition to the team and will hope to be a mainstay in Arsenal’s midfield for years to come.

Chelsea:

No surprises here, Eden Hazard has once again been Chelsea’s most important player of the season. Chelsea are not having the best of seasons under their new manager Maurizio Sarri but Hazard has nonetheless impressed throughout the campaign. He has played as a false 9 in some games, however, he has been at his best when playing from his favoured left-wing position.

His excellent balance, frightening pace and acceleration make him one of the deadliest attackers to defend against. The Belgian has scored 14 goals and set up 10 more for his teammates this term. After playing under two defensive-minded managers, Hazard is now playing under a manager, who puts an emphasis on keeping possession which should theoretically suit the Belgian's playing style.

Thus, his stock keeps on rising and he will be of paramount importance to Chelsea’s hopes of playing Champions League football next season either by finishing in the top four or by winning the Europa League.

Edited by Samya Majumdar