On Twitter, we asked Premier League fans to submit their choice for most underrated player in the English top flight right now. There were a host of fascinating answers, with plenty of different teams represented.
Tottenham and Liverpool players appeared a lot, not surprising given they reached the Champions League final but have just a handful of true superstars on the roster, with Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino preferring to put together a squad that plays as a greater whole than the sum of its parts.
Reply to this tweet with the most underrated player in the Premier League right now ⬇️
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 17, 2019
So, with that in mind, we thought we should take it one step further and put together a full-blown starting XI of underrated Premier League players.
While putting these together, obviously being just five matches, prior seasons are of course taken into account, but this season’s early performances are also heavily weighed. Behold, our most underrated players all together in one squad. How well would these lineups perform in the league?
Our Premier League Underrated XI’s
Kyle Bonn: [ Follow @the_bonnfire ]
--- Kasper Schmeichel ---
-- Ricardo Pereira -- Joel Matip -- Willy Boly -- Lucas Digne --
-- Declan Rice -- Ruben Neves --
-- Emiliano Buendia -- James Maddison -- Heung-Min Son --
-- Roberto Firmino --
Nicholas Mendola: [ Follow @NicholasMendola ]
-- Bernd Leno --
-- Aaron Wan-Bissaka -- Willy Boly -- Tyrone Mings -- Ricardo Pereira --
-- Harry Winks -- Fabinho --
-- Heung-Min Son -- James Maddison -- Felipe Anderson --
-- Callum Wilson --
Daniel Karell: [ Follow @DanielKarell ]
-- Angus Gunn --
-- Matt Doherty -- Maya Yoshida -- Yerry Mina -- Patrick van Aanholt --
-- Todd Cantwell -- Manuel Lanzini -- Jack Grealish -- Ryan Fraser --
-- Callum Wilson -- Raul Jimenez --
The highlights
Heung-Min Son was probably the most often mentioned name in our Twitter question, and so he earns a spot on two of the lineups. A number of Liverpool players also cropped up, and Bonn responded with the inclusion of do-it-all striker Roberto Firmino and defender Joel Matip, who often finds himself in Virgil van Dijk’s shadow but has risen from injury substitute to regular starter.
Also appearing twice are Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, Wolves center-back Willy Boly, Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, and Foxes full-back Ricardo Peirera. Otherwise, the writers all went in their own directions!
Jack Grealish is mentioned on Karrell’s list, and he has already proven a divisive topic amongst our writers. Mendola included Reds midfielder Fabinho while also singing the praises of West Ham attacker Felipe Anderson who is doing his best to make up for the departure of Marko Arnautovic. The Hammers also appear on Karrell’s lineup with Manuel Lanzini, who owns two assists on the young season. Many folks may still be learning Emiliano Buendia’s name, but the young Argentine has been the brains behind Teemu Pukki’s breakout season at the head of the Norwich attack.
Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is mentioned, although is he really underrated after moving for $60 million this summer? Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves could lay claim to the label as the best player outside the Premier League top six clubs, although Declan Rice might claim he’s not even the best midfielder. Who is a bang-on starter for your most underrated Premier League squad?