Standout performers from the Premier League this season 3.0
Using PFF FC grades and metrics, Grading Lead Luke McCabe highlights five standout performers from the Premier League so far this season, this time it’s Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United. To read more about how we grade players, click here.
Leicester City - Jamie Vardy
Shooting Grade: 85.1
Unpressured Shooting Grade: 90.4
Passing Grade: 72.4
Dribbling Grade: 72.3
Vardy hit the ground running under new manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy as the Foxes have taken 7 points from their first 9 available as they escaped the relegation zone, with Vardy scoring in the first two games. Vardy’s six goals have already doubled his tally from the last Premier League season he played, only scoring three times as Leicester got relegated in the 2022/2023 season.
Vardy has an 85.1 shooting grade and hasn’t been wasteful with his chances. He has a true shot on target percentage (shots that are on target or have been blocked but would have been on target) of 67%, meaning he’s rarely dragging the ball wide. It’s crucial that defenders get to Vardy before he shoots as the former England international has a 90.4 shooting grade when he’s not under pressure compared to a 70.0 when he’s under pressure. He also has the 7th best dribbling grade for strikers and an above average passing grade.
Liverpool - Ibrahima Konate
Aerial Duel Grade: 87.1
Passing Grade: 80.0
Defending Dribbles Grade: 78.3
50/50 Grade: 73.1
84% pass completion under pressure
Starting the season off as 3rd choice centre-back, Konate was quickly promoted after Jarell Quansah was taken off after struggling in the first half of the opening day against Ipswich. Until picking up an injury in the last few minutes against Real Madrid a couple of weeks ago, the Frenchman was having his best spell in a Liverpool shirt by far. Joe Gomez has deputised well in the last few weeks as the Reds have stretched their unbeaten run to 20 games, but Arne Slot will be hoping he can get Konate back as quickly as possible.
Konate has the 9th highest aerial duel grade in the league this season with an 87.1 grade and he is the 4th highest rated passer among centre-backs, trailing only Jan Paul van Hecke, Levi Colwill and his defensive partner Virgil van Dijk. He’s the 5th highest graded centre-back when it comes to defending dribbles and has a 67% win percentage when dribbled at.
Manchester City - Josko Gvardiol
50/50 Duel Grade: 89.2
Clearance Grade: 89.2
Defending Dribbles Grade: 84.8
Tackling Grade: 83.4
Passing Grade: 76.1
Shooting Grade: 72.8
Tackle Resistance Grade: 71.1
In a long list that is comfortably topped by Erling Haaland for obvious reasons, Josko Gvardiol could claim to be one of City’s best recent signings if you take out the Norwegian who has already scored over 100 goals for the club. The left-back has been a near ever-present in the side this year, making 14 of 16 Premier League starts - second most in the team for a manager in Pep Guardiola that likes to rotate his plethora of superstar talent.
Gvardiol grades excellently in a number of defending categories and is above average in a similar amount of attacking facets. He’s ranked 2nd in the league in 50/50 duels, 3rd in clearances and is 1st for shooting and 3rd for passing among full-backs. He is also 4th for completed line-breaks by a full-back and joint 3rd in defensive line-breaking passes completed.
Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes
Passing Grade: 92.0
Passing Grade under pressure: 95.4
One touch pass grade: 90.8
Tackle Resistance Grade 82.3
33 Chances Created
18 defensive line-breaking passes completed
Manchester United currently sit in 13th place, but with new manager Ruben Amorim and a tightly packed Premier League table, they’re hoping their surprise comeback against Manchester City will spur them on after losing two in a row previously. Given their struggles this season, not a lot of United players immediately jump out but Bruno Fernandes’ performances can’t be ignored.
Fernandes has been incredible on the ball this season, his grades reflecting that. He has the 4th highest passing grade in the league with a 92.0 and has an 82.3 tackle resistance grade. When he’s passing with a defender pressing him, his passing grade actually improves to a 95.4. He also has the second highest grade for one touch passes with a 90.8, showing he’s been very safe in possession this season when you combine that with his tackle resistance. The Manchester United captain has also created 33 chances and completed 18 defensive line-breaking passes, joint most in the league.
Newcastle United - Bruno Guimaraes
Passing Grade: 84.2
Through Ball Passing Grade: 90.3
Dribbling Grade: 88.2
Tackle Resistance Grade: 82.3
1116 line-breaking passes
18 defensive line-breaking passes completed
Despite Newcastle’s form being slightly below expectations they’ve had a good number of individual performers, even if it hasn’t come together for them so far this season. Anthony Gordon has been excellent and their left-back Lewis Hall has taken a real step forward this season after making his move to the north-east permanent following a year on loan from Chelsea. However, as has been the case since he joined in January 2022, Bruno Guimaraes continues to run the midfield for them at an incredibly high level.
The 27-year-old has an 84.2 passing grade and an 88.2 dribbling grade, 4th best overall and the best among centre-midfielders respectively. Guimaraes has the second highest grade in the league when playing through ball passes with a 90.3, behind only Kevin De Bruyne. His tackle resistance grade comfortably puts him in the top 10 midfielders for retaining the ball. Only Youri Tielemans has played more line-breaking passes from centre-midfield (116) and he’s joint top with Fernandes and Cole Palmer for most completed defensive line-breaking passes (18).
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