Conor Gallagher has been a sensation since Chelsea sent the England midfielder on loan to Crystal Palace, but he has also been the dirtiest star in the Premier League so far this term.
The 22-year-old has scored eight goals and created a further three across his 28 top-flight games at Selhurst Park. He has even found the back of the net against West Ham United, Manchester City and Everton, and has not yet taken any of the Eagles’ penalties, as well.
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Instead, Gallagher’s efforts have come from open play, including a stunner for his first of two against Everton in December. The Epsom-born talent snatched the ball off of Andre Gomes, took a touch and fired into the top corner from the edge of Jordan Pickford’s box.
Only Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka (10) and Emile Smith Rowe (10) have scored more top-flight goals this season so far aged 22 or younger than Gallagher. The Blues talent also has more than £50m Everton star Richarlison and Chelsea’s £71m ace Kai Havertz, who have seven.
But entering the final month of the Premier League season, Gallagher ranks as the dirtiest star across England’s top-flight. Per SofaScore, he has committed 54 fouls over 28 games, one more than Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis (53), who has featured on 30 occasions.
Brentford’s Christian Norgaard and Newcastle United’s Joelinton have both committed the third-most with 52. There is then a drop to John McGinn in fifth with the Aston Villa ace on 47 fouls, ahead of Liverpool and West Ham forwards Sadio Mane and Michail Antonio (44).
Ivan Toney, Southampton’s Oriol Romeu and Watford’s Juraj Kucka round out the top-10, with all three on 43 fouls committed. Scott McTominay has given away the most fouls by a Manchester United star on 42, Rodri for Man City on 39 and Havertz for Chelsea on 30.
Premier League’s dirtiest stars so far – Most yellow cards
Yves Bissouma has only committed the 55th-most fouls (27) by a Premier League player so far this season. Yet the Brighton & Hove Albion star has seen the highest number of yellow cards with 10 across 22 games. No other top-flight player has yet received double figures.
Gallagher, meanwhile, has seen the second-most with nine, along with Ruben Neves, Josh Brownhill, Tyrone Mings, Junior Firpo and McTominay. A total of 12 have also earned eight yellow cards so far, including Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice and £47m Cristian Romero.
Premier League’s dirtiest stars so far – Most red cards
Only two players across the Premier League have received more than one red card so far this season. Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa and Wolves striker Raul Jimenez have the unwanted honour of receiving their marching orders on two separate occasions this term.
Konsa received a straight red against West Ham in October for a foul on Jarrod Bowen. He also earned two yellow cards against Leeds in February. Jimenez, meanwhile, earned both of his sending offs following two yellow card offences against Manchester City and Leeds.
A total of 30 players across the top-flight have so far received red cards on one occasion, as well. Everton are the most persistent offenders as a team with four, ahead of Arsenal on three. Nine teams – including Wolves and Aston Villa – have had their stars sent off twice.
Premier League’s dirtiest stars so far – Most penalties conceded
Across the Premier League during the 2021/22 campaign, 71 players have given referees a reason to point to the spot. But only nine of those 71 stars have given penalties away more than once. And of those nine, four have conceded a division-high three penalties to date.
Jose Sa of Wolves, Leicester star Youri Tielemans, Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles and Norwich ace Ben Gibson have given up three penalties so far. Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, plus Wilfred Ndidi, Caglar Soyuncu, Max Aarons and Ozan Kabak all have two against them.
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