Who Are the Best EPL Midfielders for the 2024/25 Campaign?
Coaches and fans alike know that football is a game of chess where two teams battle it out on the field for three results. A team may emerge with a win, draw or loss depending on their tactics, strategy and overall team play.
Just like in chess, a team that dominates the center tends to win the game. Whether it’s through defensive tenacity or offensive creativity, a strong midfield can dictate the direction of the game.
In this article, we rank the best 6 midfielders in the English Premier League based on recent form, creativity, goal contributions on the pitch, importance to the team, and other key performance factors. In no particular order, here they are.
Rodri
To be honest, you are not surprised to see Rodri here. In the 23/24 season, Rodri completed another wonderful season with Man City, winning the Premier League, and went on to help Spain dominate and win the Euro 2024 tournament.
He’s won just about everything you could win in Europe, including the European Championship, the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, the European Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Nations League.
His style of play is marked by his ability to dictate tempo from the defensive midfield position, with the occasional but highly memorable goal. Last season drew attention to his unbeaten streak that went on for 74 games in all competitions, as well as his all-conquering vibe.
Kevin De Bruyne
Man City’s KDB has arguably been the best midfielder in the world for the past few years. Pep Guardiola’s side almost seems to struggle in the midfield when the Belgian is absent but thrives when he is fit and firing.
De Bruyne is the perfect definition of an all-round midfielder, as evidenced by his EPL assists charts. From key passes to meticulous assists and goal contributions, KDB is your go-to guy. When he is not assisting, he is scoring Puskás contender goals.
Fans even say Haaland’s full potential is unlocked by De Bruyne since their chemistry is spectacularly natural on the field. Despite an underwhelming performance at the Euros, the Belgium star remains one of the best active midfielders in the world.
Eberechi Eze
Enter Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who wears the number 10 shirt, with NET88, an Asian betting company displayed prominently.
EPL fans won’t have to put up with online gaming services like free online casino logos appearing on the front of their favorite players’ shirts for much longer.
Eze’s strengths lie in playmaking and high pressing. Last season, the Englishman was directly involved in 15 Premier League goals, with 13 of them coming when he started centrally.
The 26-year-old has proven again this season why his services are important for the Eagles after scoring a crucial goal that earned Palace a point at Chelsea. Olive Glasner will be looking to keep Eze and make him the first penalty-taker this season.
Bruno Fernandes
For a moment, forget about all those memes of Bruno’s back breaking under the overwhelming weight of the struggling Red Devils and appreciate the beauty of a talented midfielder.
Manchester United may have spent millions on big transfers who ended up flopping, but Bruno isn’t one of them, and the records speak for themselves. In each of his 5 seasons at United, the 29-year-old has found the back of the net more than ten times each season; a feat that requires quality and consistency to achieve.
The 2020/21 season turned out to be his best yet when he scored 18 goals and registered 11 assists in 37 EPL appearances. The Portuguese superstar is not only a team leader but also a playmaker who is willing to do anything for his team to win and is a linchpin for the Manchester faithful.
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer alias “Cold Palmer”, because of his cool demeanor and celebration, is one of the critically acclaimed EPL midfielders and Salah’s de facto successor.
It’s easy to see why the Englishman would be regarded as such especially after he won the PFA Young Player of the Year following his breakout season with the Blues.
The 22-year-old scored 22 EPL goals and notched 11 assists, lighting up what would have been a dismal season for Chelsea. Palmer is already topping the list of assists this season and he seems to have a bright future ahead in his football career.
Fun fact: Palmer scored all the nine penalties he took for the Blues last season, almost equalling Frank Lampard’s record of 10 penalties in the 2009/10 campaign.
Mohamed Salah
Where would Liverpool be without the legendary Egyptian, whose prowess in the EPL remains unmatched. While some say Salah’s glory days are over, he continues to impress on the field and his game speaks for itself.
Salah’s speed, dribbling skills, and clinical finishing have earned him numerous accolades, including the Premier League Golden Boot and the PFA Player of the Year award. His performances have helped Liverpool win the Premier League title, the Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Salah continued his dominance in the 2023/24 EPL season, contributing 18 goals and 12 assists for Liverpool, even as they bid farewell to their legendary manager, Jürgen Klopp.