As the rest of Europe goes into hibernation over the festive period, there’s no let-up in the Premier League. As the fixtures come thick and fast, WhoScored looks beyond the upper echelons for this particular article and, analysing the bottom ten clubs, pinpoints a selection of outfield players who will be key to their respective sides’ chances of climbing the table over the next few months, in accordance with the WhoScored ratings:
Heidar Helguson, QPR. WhoScored rating 7.13
The Icelandic international was afforded a couple of brief sub appearances in QPR’s first seven matches but since then, he has started every game and had a dramatic impact. In 10 starts, Helguson has scored 7 goals, firing off 2.8 shots per game for Neil Warnock’s side. His aerial ability is proving key - Helguson wins 4.5 headers per game, second only to Peter Crouch (4.8) in the Premier League.
Helguson has averaged 1 key pass over his total of 12 appearances but has returned 2 assists for the London club, with only Joey Barton (3) managing more - this means he has played a part in 9, or 50% of QPR’s goals thus far. Helguson has picked up a single man of the man award and averaged 7.13 in the WhoScored ratings and, if Warnock is to navigate his side’s ascent, looks likely to be pivotal to their attacking ploys over the remainder of the season.
Stiliyan Petrov, Aston Villa. WhoScored rating 7.11
Despite Aston Villa sitting just 6 points off the relegation zone, the performances of their skipper have been exemplary so far. The Bulgarian has played all but one of their 18 games to date and, as their fourth-highest goal threat with 1.6 shots per game, has scored 3 goals from central midfield, just 2 less than the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor and Darren Bent. He also provides more goalscoring opportunities than any of Alex McLeish’s side, with 1.8 key passes per game, though has just a single assist too show for his creativity.
Petrov sees more of the ball than any Villa player, averaging 38.5 passes, and has the most impressive pass accuracy (82.3%), further highlighting his credentials. Defensively, his reading of the game is highlighted by an eye-catching average of 3.5 interceptions - once again, this is the best at Villa - as Petrov breaks up opponents’ play time and again. Factor in his average of 2.5 tackles and it’s clear just how key his all-round game is to the Midlands outfit. Petrov has picked up 3 man of the match awards already from WhoScored and an average rating of 7.11 is head and shoulders above any other player in McLeish’s side.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham. WhoScored rating 7.08
In terms of goal involvement, the American is more crucial to his side than any other player in the bottom half of the table so far. Dempsey has scored 6 goals, the same tally as Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson combined, and averages 4.1 shots, more than double Fulham’s next best goal threat, Moussa Dembele (2.0), despite 17 of his 18 appearances coming from midfield.
Dempsey has also created plenty of opportunities for teammates, too; an average of 1.6 key passes is the fourth highest in Martin Jol’s side. As a result, Dempsey has produced 4 assists for the Cottagers, meaning he has played a part in 10 of their 19 goals, or 53%. Being such a pivotal player for the London club, it’s perhaps not surprising he’s their most fouled player - 2.1 times per game. Dempsey’s work-rate is also a standout; he averages 1.9 tackles and 1.7 interceptions, demonstrating it’s not just his attacking abilities that are crucial to the Cottagers. He also wins 1.6 aerial duels per game - third only to centre-halves Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes - and has picked up 1 man of the match award on his way to a WhoScored average of 7.08.
Seb Larsson, Sunderland. WhoScored rating 7.08
The Swede has proved a crucial player for Sunderland so far and with 5 goals from 17 appearances, is their top scorer to date. Larsson averages 1.4 shots, with his set-piece duties boosting not only his goal attempts but his creativity, too; the winger has provided 2.2 key passes per game, the most of any Black Cats player, though he’s only picked up a couple of assists.
Larsson has also produced 2.6 accurate crosses per game - this isn’t just the highest in the Sunderland side, it is the top tally in the entire Premier League; an indication of his quality of delivery from out wide. Not only is he a threat going forward, the Swede has shown an impressive work-rate when it comes to helping out defensively, too. Larsson’s average 2.6 tackles is bettered only by two team mates and with 1.6 interceptions also added to his industry, his contribution has proved critical. So far, he’s picked up 2 man of the match awards and is rated 7.08 in the WhoScored rankings.
Mark Gower, Swansea City. WhoScored rating 6.98
The midfielder has proven to be one of the most creative players in the Premier League this season. Gower has averaged 2.5 key passes, the seventh best tally in the division, with only Fulham’s Danny Murphy (2.6) managing more in the bottom half of the table. Gower’s set-piece duties certainly help - he’s provided 2.4 accurate crosses per game, over 3 times more than any player from Brendan Rodgers’ side. He has made 5 assists and, given that no team mate has managed more than a single assist, his contribution is clearly vital to the Welsh club’s bid for survival.
Strong in possession, with an 84.6% pass accuracy, Gower’s creativity is his main asset, with a defensive contribution of 1.8 tackles and 0.6 interceptions perhaps more indicative of Swansea’s possession play, with the club’s average of 56.2% the third best in the league. Yet to pick up any WhoScored man of the match awards, his consistency of performance sees him as the top-rated outfield player for the Swans, with 6.98 over his 13 appearances.
Jamie O’Hara, Wolves. WhoScored rating 6.94
Whether playing in central midfield in a 4-4-2 or in the hole behind a lone forward in a 4-5-1, the Wolves man has been key to their fortunes. O’Hara is central to his side’s play, producing 62.8 passes per game, the most of any Wolves player, and is also their chief creator, with an average of 1.9 key passes, though he has only returned a single assist in his 14 appearances. He’s also managed 2 accurate crosses per game, second only to Matt Jarvis (2.1).
The former Spurs player has also been his side’s main threat for attempts on goals, averaging 3.4 shots per game, though some wayward finishing has meant he has only found the net on 2 occasions; Steven Fletcher is the top scorer for Mick McCarthy’s side, with 7 goals. It’s a sign of his consistency that, despite failing to pick up a man of the match award from WhoScored yet this season, O’Hara is comfortably Wolves’ best outfield player, with a rating of 6.94. Currently sidelined with a hernia problem, his return to the first XI will be critical over the next few months, with McCarthy’s side just 2 points above the relegation zone.
Yakubu, Blackburn Rovers. WhoScored rating 6.87
They may be sitting at the bottom of the table but goals haven’t been hard to come by for Steve Kean’s side. Blackburn have found the net 25 times, the eighth-best attack in the Premier League, and with 10 goals, Yakubu is joint-sixth top scorer in England’s top-flight.
For a frontman, his prowess in the air is minimal - just 0.5 aerial duels won per game over his 13 appearances, though an average 2.5 shots is easily the most impressive of the bottom club. With penalties also part of his duties, the Nigerian has hit 4 past Swansea and 2 past Arsenal to help his side to crucial victories. Yakubu makes just 17.4 passes per game, with his lack of real mobility meaning he fails to play much part in his team’s build-up play; no surprise, then, that he has failed to pick up any assist and averages just 0.6 key passes. With 4 man of the match awards so far, though, it’s obvious how much of an impact he has made since joining from Everton, with a WhoScored average of 6.87 the best of Kean’s strugglers.
