Ask the average football fan who the Premier League’s most creative player is and it’s usually would one answer – Kevin de Bruyne, right?
Well, due to injury, that hasn’t been the case this season, with the Belgian maestro managing just four starts this season.
Looking past De Bruyne and you might name the likes of Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer or Mohamed Salah as the next best creators, but underlying data suggests there have been some unsung creative heroes this season.
That trio do make up the top three for assists this term with seven, six and six respectively but looking at the Opta’s Chances Created data, taken from The Analyst, a different story emerges.
Unlike assist statistics, Chances Created does not rely on whether their striker have finished off the chance, making it arguably a more accurate way of measuring a player’s creativity.
So, with that in mind, we have looked at who is perhaps not getting the recognition their service deserves this term.
📰 Table Of Contents
= 5. Leif Davis – 27 chances created
Ipswich are to survive relegation on their Premier League return, then you can be sure that Leif David will play a key role in helping them do so.
The left-back is the only defender to feature on this list after proving a constant threat for Kieran McKenna’s men, as he has done ever since joining when the club were still in League One in 2022.
Davis has recorded two assists this season and with the Tractor Boys finally getting their first win of the season against Tottenham, the hope will be that they can find their feet and climb up the table.
= 5. Dwight McNeil – 27 chances created
Another standout star for a relegation-threatened side, you wonder where Everton would be without Dwight McNeil this season.
The Toffees winger has accounted for six of their 10 league goals this season with three goals and three assists and the statistics show is among the division’s best for chances created.
Level alongside Davis with 27 opportunities carved out, McNeil’s form is a key reason for Everton’s upturn in form of late.
3️⃣⚽️
1️⃣🅰️After an impressive September, Dwight McNeil has been nominated for the @premierleague Player of the Month. 👊
— Everton (@Everton) October 3, 2024
4. Bukayo Saka – 28 chances created
The first of two players you would expect to see on this list, Bukayo Saka continues to prove himself one of the Premier League’s finest forwards.
Arsenal’s star forward tops the assists list with seven while chipping in with three goals himself, too.
But those stats are no anomaly with the 23-year-old placing third across the division for chances created with 28, suggesting more assists will be coming his way as the campaign goes on.
3. Cole Palmer – 29 chances created
There are no surprises to see Cole Palmer present, either, having continued to take the Premier League by storm since his move to Chelsea from Manchester City at the start of last season.
The England forward has seven goals and five assists in 11 league games this term, with 29 chances laid on overall.
Palmer’s rise to one of the league’s finest players has been rapid and it is now a surprise not to see him feature among the top players in most attacking metrics.
= 1. Andreas Pereira – 30 chances created
Less heralded though is Fulham’s Andreas Pereira, who is without an assist this season but is currently the joint-most creative player in the Premier League with 30 chances created.
It did not work out for the Brazilian at Manchester United but the midfielder has regularly shown his quality since heading to Craven Cottage, the Whites currently seventh in the Premier League.
His ability from set pieces proves to be one of his best qualities, with 20 of those 30 chances coming from the dead-ball.
= 1. Dejan Kulusevski – 30 chances created
What a pass for Kulusevski and what a GOAL from Dominic Solanke! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Mq9KwmFRGD
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 3, 2024
Level with Pereira, but with significantly more coming from open play, is Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski, who is having a fine season despite Tottenham’s slightly turbulent one.
Twenty-three of the Swede’s 30 chances created have come from open play, having impressed all across the front line and in midfield for Ange Postecoglou this term.
That, however, has returned just two assists, suggesting Spurs need to get their shooting boots on so Kulueveski’s hard work can be repaid.
