Top 10 midfielders in the English Premier League

The midfielder is the most essential ingredient for the perfect football recipe, he is the one who binds the team. Connects the midfield with the defense and initiates attacks so as to be finished by the striker or himself.

He is the puppeteer pulling the strings from behind. Everything rests with him, his spatial awareness, his movement and his passes determine the tactics and fluidity of the game.

Its difficult to club holding midfielders with playmakers and wingers but this list will attemt to put forward an opinion and not a judgment. You might differ and might want the person at number ten to be number one, but that’s your perspective – what’s here is mine.

1. Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard

The ever so dependable man from Merseyside, Liverpool‘s Talisman and England’s sweetheart. His abilities are such that he is a one man force when it comes to getting results. How many times, has he save a sinking ship from just outside the box!

Gerrard is a total midfielder, he can pass it long, short, makes wonderful runs, can go solo – brilliant spacial awareness, speed and spectacular vision. He is also a natural leader on the pitch.

Deserved number 1.

2. Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard

Lampard is so crucial for Chelsea. He is in many aspects as good as Gerrard, and he can score goals thick and fast just like him. Last season he was making some strikers in the premier league shy with his 20 goals, now Chelsea fans would be hoping that their talisman continues the great work this season too.

As Steve Mclaren said, “What’s Chelsea without Lampard!”, and we guess he was right. Like Gerrard is to Liverpool, Lampard is to Chelsea – with a lot of quality in Chelsea all around him in the midfield with Michael Essien, Malouda he still stand out as the flag bearer.

3. Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas

This spanish sensation is not new to this list as one would think by his age. He has made big achievements in small time and all that remains is trophies. At Arsenal he has found the perfect mentor in Arsene Wenger who has fruitioned his skills to the fullest.

He is now being linked to a move to Barcelona, which was his club as a teenager – perhaps the best possible move away from a club like Arsenal which is so midfield dominated. At Arsenal, he is the wizard pulling all the strings. Arsenal are no one man team but he certainly dominates their play.

4. Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry has slowly but steadily carved up a reputation for himself in the Premier League as one parallel to the likes of Gerrard and Lampard. His role in the cash rich Manchester City has not changed inspite of the advent of some big names such as David Silva, Milner and Yaya Toure.

His crucial role in the line-up can be derived from the fact that there is no replacement for Barry in a squad that has two players of equal worth for every single position.

5. Michael Essien

Essien missed a large part of the last season with injury but his presence on the field for Chelsea makes them a much bigger threat. Ther is a certain sense of surity and ease when Essien is on the ball, his ability to cover large portions of the field and link defense with the attack makes him a special player.

Michael Essien

Essien can be all-over the pitch, his skills can be used in any position which makes him such an asset for Chelsea.

6. Darren Fletcher

Fletcher

To make a name for oneself at Manchester United means that you have got to be among the best, in a midfield dominated by heavy names such as Scholes and Giggs – Fletcher has now carved a place for himself. Last season was fantastic for him, as he and Wayne Rooney made sure that Cristiano Ronaldo was not missed.

Fletcher is an impact player in the sense that his goals come at times when most needed, otherwise he is industrious in his work. He will be all around the field and in the box when you need him. Initiating moves and doing the long pass to provoke a counter.

7. James Milner

The new man in the Manchester City line-up is one of England’s new discoveries, his crossing abilities and his dominating presence on the field makes him a dangerous campaigner.

Milner

Milner can unleash the vicious shot from outside the box and he likes to get on the scoresheet which is alway a good quality. He was a sensation at Villa but his performance at Manchester City will determine how he shapes up for the future.

8. Arshavin

Arshavin

Andrey Arshavin is an attacking midfielder and can play the role of the second striker at times but his involvement in the game at Arsenal makes him a deserved entry in the list. Arshavin has this unique ability of running into gaps when the game is strangled, with quality like that of Fabregas and Rosicky to support him – this makes him a very aggressive pllayer who can get a lot of shots on goal.

With 12 goals and 9 assists in the last season, gunners fans have a lot of expectation from this Russian boy.

9. Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs

He is been doing it for several years now, but even his tired legs are a little too much for most oppositions.

Who can forget his wonder goal against Arsenal in the semi final against Arsenal. He is a legend and his record number of appearances for United confirm his greatness. Giggs has faced criticism in late years over losing his pace but he has countered this criticism effectively by using his experience in the game.

He made 26 appearances in the league last year and this will go down as years advance but age is really not a factor for Ryan Giggs.

10. Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt

Kuyt has been one of the most underrated players in the Engish Premier League, his performance at the world cup for Netherlands and as a essential part of the trio – Robben-Sneijder-Kuyt ; he has come to a little recognition.

Kuyt is a work-horse in the Liverpool midfield. He runs around from defense to midfield linking Gerrard and Torres. His can co-ordinate with both to set-up goals. Rafa Benitez’s blue eyed boy has made a transition from being a striker to a midfield player in the last couple of seasons under Benitez.

He is deadly in the box and gets valuable goals for the team many a times.