The cultured playmaker, the tough-tackling enforcer, the on-field general - playing in midfield is perhaps the most unique position on the pitch, with so many different interpretations of how it is done at its best.
But what there is no debate around is that when a good midfield player is really ticking, their team will often do the same. Every Premier League club’s supporters will tout their star man as the best in their position, but Mirror Football are taking on the arduous task of ranking them league wide.
For the purpose of this exercise, players that play predominantly as wingers in a front-three - a la Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden - are not included and have instead been categorised as forwards - please note that all rage-induced responses to this decision can be directed towards the comments section at the bottom of the page.
With that in mind, here’s our rankings of the top 10 Premier League midfielders so far this season:
10. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
A mere look at the statistics for Smith Rowe and there is a case that the Gunners midfielder could be placed even higher in this list. However, when Mikel Arteta has his full array of options available, the 20-year-old is often the man left out.
But with nine goals and two assists there is little question that Smith Rowe has established himself as one of the premier operators in his position and his stock is only set to continue rising as his team's does similar.
9. Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Mount’s form in early December was seriously impressive, scoring four times and registering two assists in just Premier League games. But outside of that quartet of matches and a hat-trick in the home mauling of Norwich back in October, the Blues midfielder only has one other goal.
His 15 goal contributions put him right up there as one of the league’s best, but he has often been patchy in what has been a tumultuous campaign off the Stamford Bridge pitch.
8. Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace)
And Mount knows there will be even more competition for places next season after watching Gallagher light up the Premier League under Patrick Vieira. Having enjoyed an impressive spell with West Brom last term, the 22-year-old has truly found his feet at this level to become one of Palace’s most important players.
Truly deserving of his England call-up, Gallagher will be able to show Mount first-hand just how much he has kicked on and just how much of a threat he could be to his own position next term.
7. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
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Mikel Arteta recently said of Odegaard that he “is exactly what we want from an Arsenal player”. And it’s easy to see why. Since making his move from Real Madrid a permanent one, Odegaard has slotted in as the Gunners’ No.10 with the minimum amount of fuss.
At the start of the season there was much debate over whether he or Smith Rowe should be given the starting berth, but at least in the mind of his manager, there is little doubt.
The Norwegian captain has also emerged as a genuine leader in a young Arsenal dressing room and looks primed to be the next permanent skipper from next season onwards. The only critique Arteta has had is his lack of goals and once he improves on that, the £30m fee they paid for him will look a real snip.
6. Ruben Neves (Wolves)
If this is - as many fans fear - Neves’ final season at Wolves, then he will leave them playing the best football of his entire career. In Nuno Espirito Santo’s final weeks in charge, Neves looked a shadow of his former self, but he has been revitalised under the stewardship of his successor Bruno Lage.
His injury during the capitulation against Leeds last time out could ultimately be the deciding factor in Wolves’ race for European football, but Neves has played a huge part in them being there in the first place. Now a more attacking threat, Neves feels ready to truly become one of the Premier League’s top midfield talents and looks set to be highly sought after this summer.
5. Rodri (Man City)
The first of three Manchester City midfielders and often the player in Sky Blue whose contribution is most easily overlooked. In a team full of glitz and glamour, Rodri continues to do the unselfish work in the engine room of one of English football’s best ever teams.
Still underappreciated by some, Pep Guardiola perhaps described him best when he said his level was nearly always at a “seven or an eight”. And as the City boss astutely deserved, when those levels drop - the team as a whole tends to follow, as in the recent defeat to Tottenham and the draw with Crystal Palace.
4. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
Creating a list of 10 Premier League midfielders is essentially now a task of finding plus nine, plus Kevin De Bruyne. And although this season hasn’t been his best, the Belgian is still often head and shoulders above his contemporaries.
That was never more evident than in the recent derby demolition of Manchester United when he put in a virtuoso display to score twice. "Kevin is back!” Guardiola beamed at full-time, if he can continue that form, it could be the difference in the title race.
3. Declan Rice (West Ham)
While the likes of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have failed to replicate the form they showed at Euro 2020, Rice has arguably gone onto another level still. There were question marks whether the Hammers would be able to perform to the same levels they had last term, but with Rice in midfield, the answer has often been emphatic.
There is now little doubt that Rice is destined right for the very top of European football and whoever is to prise him away from the London Stadium will likely have to part with record breaking sums of cash to do so.
2. Fabinho (Liverpool)
For all of their attacking exploits, so much of Liverpool ’s success comes from the dynamic Brazilian shielding their back-four. Simply put, when Fabinho is at his best, Liverpool are a significantly better football team.
And not satisfied with his usual mix of defensive solidity and precise passing, Fabinho has even become a threat in the opponent’s box, scoring six times this season, after finding the net just three times in 122 games going into the season. “I haven’t thought about scoring targets. But if I can score 10 it’ll be good.” In truth it would be closer to remarkable, rather than simply “good”.
1. Bernardo Silva (Man City)
Where we stand now, it’s pretty remarkable that there was a time last summer when it looked highly likely that Bernardo Silva would be leaving the Etihad. His return to prominence with the champions has arguably been the comeback story of the season and had he continued his early season form there’s a genuine argument he could have won player of the season.
It has tailed off slightly, but that’s not to say he’s been a disappointment, anything but. “For me, as a manager, he can do everything,” Guardiola explained last month.
His transition from wide forward to driving central midfielder has been a sight to behold and seen him move from an expendable squad member, to an indispensable starter in the side currently atop the standings in English football.
