Premier League MVP Rankings: Who Reigns Supreme?

The 2024-25 Premier League season has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with intense competition among the Big Six clubs. Injuries, tactical shifts, and stellar individual performances have reshaped the hierarchy of importance within each squad. Below, we break down the most valuable players (MVPs) at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur, ranked by their ability and tactical influence.

Methodology

To determine the rankings, we considered:

• Ability: Technical skill, consistency, and statistical output.
• Tactical Importance: How indispensable a player is to their team’s system.
• Availability: Minutes played and reliability amidst injuries.

Only players with 300+ Premier League minutes were eligible, ensuring relevance to the current campaign.

Key Takeaways

1. Arsenal: Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard remain pivotal despite injury setbacks.
2. Chelsea: Cole Palmer’s creativity and Moisés Caicedo’s midfield dominance stand out.
3. Liverpool: Mohamed Salah’s record-breaking form overshadows even Virgil van Dijk.
4. Manchester United: Bruno Fernandes remains the lone beacon in a tumultuous season.
5. Manchester City: Erling Haaland’s goals mask systemic struggles in midfield and defense.
6. Tottenham: Micky van de Ven’s absence exposes Spurs’ defensive frailties.

Club-by-Club Breakdown

Arsenal

1. Martin Ødegaard ⭐

• Why? The captain orchestrates Arsenal’s attack, leading in key passes (3.23 per 90) despite ankle issues.
• Stat: 89 shot-creating actions, joint-top with Saka.

2. Bukayo Saka

• Impact: Arsenal average 2.1 goals/game with him vs. 1.5 without.
• Doubters silenced: 15 goal contributions despite missing half the season.

3. William Saliba

• Elite defender: Enables Arsenal’s high line with recovery pace and 1v1 dominance.

Chelsea

1. Cole Palmer ⭐

• 20 G/A in 29 games—Chelsea’s sole creative fulcrum.
• Versatility: Thrives as a winger or hybrid midfielder.

2. Moisés Caicedo

• Unsung hero: 125 tackles+interceptions (3rd in PL) for a possession-heavy side.
• Progressor: 187 passes into final third (team-high).

3. Levi Colwill

• Breakout year: Locked-in starter at LCB, emerging as a leader.

Liverpool

1. Mohamed Salah ⭐

• Historic numbers: 44 G/A—matching Thierry Henry’s record.
• Record watch: 9 goals shy of Haaland’s 36-goal season.

2. Virgil van Dijk

• Ever-present: Only Reds player with 100% minutes (2,610).

3. Trent Alexander-Arnold

• Playmaker: 204 progressive passes, 31 switch balls (PL-best).

Manchester United

1. Bruno Fernandes ⭐

• Carries the team: 8 goals, 9 assists, 66 key passes—all team-highs.

2. Amad Diallo

• Revelation: +13 spots from November after thriving at wing-back.

3. Diogo Dalot

• Overworked: 3,912 minutes across four competitions—fatigue shows.

Manchester City

1. Erling Haaland ⭐

• 21 PL goals: Saves City’s shaky defense single-handedly.

2. Josko Gvardiol

• World-record fee justified: 5 goals, 34 shots (3rd among City attackers).

3. Rúben Dias

• Leadership void: City lost 3 straight without him (conceded 8 goals).

Tottenham

1. Micky van de Ven ⭐

• Achilles’ heel: Spurs win just 4/17 games without him.

2. Dejan Kulusevski

• Creative hub: 115 progressive carries, 62 key passes.

3. Son Heung-Min

• Declining influence: Now a rotational asset at 32.

Final Thoughts

While superstars like Salah and Haaland dominate headlines, unsung heroes (Caicedo, Gvardiol) prove equally vital to their teams’ cores. The second half of the season promises more twists—will injury-prone MVPs hold up?