Who is the best player in the Premier League outside of the big six clubs?
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp described Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha as ‘the best Premier League player outside the big six clubs’ in his Daily Mail column.
The dazzling Ivory Coast international inspired the Eagles to a 3-0 triumph over in-form Leicester City on Saturday with his fourth league goal of the season.
But is he good enough for the moniker that Redknapp has bestowed on him? Here are three players who might rival Zaha for that title.
Riyad Mahrez
The Leicester City winger can beat Zaha’s numbers for this campaign, with five goals and five assists in the league compared to four goals and one assist for the Palace man, although Mahrez has played six more matches.
The Algerian can match Zaha for excitement too, as he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve and is a skilful dribbler. What is more, Mahrez has shown that he can do it over a whole season, when he inspired Leicester’s 2015-16 title triumph.
His end product is certainly better, but his attitude could be questioned after he effectively downed tools last term having failed to get his move away from the Foxes. Ultimately, that is probably why he is still at the King Power.
Virgil van Dijk
The Dutchman’s 2017-18 campaign to date, interrupted by injury and a transfer saga involving Liverpool and reluctant sellers Southampton, is certainly not reflective of his status as one of the most gifted defenders in the country.
When he applies himself – which he surely will when he eventually gets his move to a Champions League club – he can be the most formidable of opponents; strong in the air, quick across the ground and comfortable on the ball.
Burnley’s Ben Mee and James Tarkowski have been the league’s standout centre-backs outside of the top six this season, but Van Dijk is several classes above which is why all the big boys want him, according to the Daily Star.
Wayne Rooney
Six months after leaving Manchester United, Rooney is proving that he is still one of the best goalscorers in the Premier League. He has 10 for Everton this term – more than Alvaro Morata, Gabriel Jesus and Alexandre Lacazette.
Now that he is free of the burden of speculation over his club and international futures, the ex-England captain is popping up with crucial goals, and some of his best ever – like the one against West Ham United last month.
If he can recapture the form he showed last year at Swansea City – which he is starting to – Rooney’s Everton teammate Gylfi Sigurdsson would be a contender for this list. Between them, they are reshaping the Toffees’ season.
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