The most-improved Premier League players so far this season | OneFootball

We’re 11 games into the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, and it’s a good time to look back.

Liverpool are starting to build a healthy lead at the top of the table, having fallen away in the title race last season. They lead Manchester City by five points, with a showdown between the top two coming soon after the international break.

Chelsea and Arsenal complete the top four, with the Blues rising from their sixth-placed finish last season. But they are joined on 19 points, most remarkably, by Nottingham Forest. Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders at the City Ground, turning them from relegation battlers to European contenders. They lost just two games this season, with only Liverpool suffering fewer defeats. And Forest were the team to hand Liverpool that defeat.

But what about players? There have been some remarkable improvements among players in the Premier League from last season, whether that’s a general upturn in performances or someone going from a fringe player to a must-starter.

We’ve taken a look and made a most-improved XI below.

GK: Andre Onana

Last season it felt as though Andre Onana was the cause of some of Manchester United‘s defeats. Or at least that’s what some Man United fans felt. Per 90 minutes in the Premier League, Onana prevented 0.1 goals, and conceded an average of 1.53 goals per 90. These weren’t the worst metrics, but they certainly weren’t the best. And he also made one error leading to a goal. This season, Onana has been in fine form. He’s averaged 0.35 goals prevented per 90 minutes and his rate of conceding goals has dropped down to 1.09 per 90. Onana has also save a penalty, proving himself tough to beat. Man United may still be low in the table, but that isn’t Onana’s fault.

RB: Ola Aina

You won’t be surprised to see a Nottingham Forest player here. Ola Aina is one of those behind Forest’s rise up the table. Last season Aina’s playing time was cut by the Africa Cup of Nations and then an injury, but even when he did play he wasn’t remarkable. The Nigerian was pretty average in both defensive and attacking metrics. He averaged 3.18 possessions won in the defensive third per 90 and no big chances created, with 0.95 interceptions retaining possession. This season, he’s won 4.34 possessions in the defensive third per 90 and created 0.19 big chances. He’s also made 1.32 interceptions retaining possession per 90.

CB: Ibrahima Konate

There was a time last season where Ibrahima Konate looked to have fallen out of favour at Liverpool. He was no longer Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice partner for Virgil van Dijk. His clearance numbers were low at 2.92 per 90 minutes and he won 2.98 possessions in the defensive third, alongside 5.56 ball recoveries. Konate also made one error leading to a goal. This season, Konate’s clearances are up to 4.07 per 90, and he’s only lost 0.2 challenges. With Konate at the heart of the defence, Liverpool have also conceded just 0.90 xG per 90 minutes. The Frenchman is part of the season the Reds have the best defence in the league, he looks unbeatable at times.

CB: Michael Keane

Everton had a decent defence last season, but Michael Keane was not part of it. The English centre-back made just nine appearances for the Toffees, spending most of the season sitting on the bench. He couldn’t break the partnership of Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski. With Branthwaite injured at the start of this season, Keane got his chance and he’s taken it. So much so that Branthwaite didn’t immediately get his spot back when returning from injury. Keane has averaged 0.33 interceptions in the box per 90 minutes this season and 5.56 clearances.

LB: Lewis Hall

Lewis Hall had an interesting first season at Newcastle United. He was on loan from Chelsea but only played 775 minutes in the Premier League, despite his promise. But Newcastle triggered the clause in his loan contract to make the move permanent. He’s already played more minutes this season for Newcastle in the league than he did in 2023-24. Now, Hall did become a regular started at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, and he’s carried in on this year at left-back. He’s averaged 0.34 big chances created per 90, 0.11 intentional assists and 1.15 crosses blocked. Hall’s form has earned him a senior England call up.

RM: Facundo Buonanotte

This is a case of a player improving after moving clubs, albeit temporarily. Facundo Buonanotte had some decent moments for Brighton last season, but there was no real consistency in his performances. He averaged just 0.2 goals and 0.07 intentional assists per 90 minutes in the Premier League, as well as 0.2 big chances created and only 0.59 shots on target. Buonanotte is now on loan at Leicester City, and looks a completely different player. He’s a regular starter for the Foxes, averaging 0.37 goals per 90 and 0.25 intentional assists. The youngster has been more creative in general and his trying his luck more often, with 0.86 shots on target per 90.

CM: Ryan Gravenberch

Ryan Gravenberch is like a completely new player this season. In his debut campaign at Liverpool, Gravenberch underwhelmed slightly having joined from Bayern Munich to much excitement. He didn’t really make his mark on a Liverpool midfield that wasn’t the best. But this season, with a year under his belt, Gravenberch is thriving. The Dutchman has been excellent at the base of Liverpool’s midfield, providing a good shield for their defence and the middle man for their attack. Gravenberch has averaged 1.91 interceptions retaining possession per 90 this season with a retention rate of 87.79%. He has also averaged 5.19 passes into the final third completed and has been dispossessed just 0.27 times per 90.

CM: Moises Caciedo

When Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea last season, there was a lot of pressure considering the price tag. He had a slow start but did improve towards the second half of the campaign. But overall there was a lot to be desired. Caicedo averaged just 1.16 interceptions retaining possession per 90 and 1.44 tackles won, alongside 6.27 ball recoveries and 3.01 possessions won in the middle third. This season, Caicedo has become one of Chelsea’s best players, a must-starter. Caicedo has averaged 1.66 interceptions retaining possession per 90 and 2.31 tackles won. He’s looking more comfortable on the ball too, keeping Chelsea in control of possession.

LM: Matheus Nunes

Matheus Nunes didn’t have to do much to improve on his first season at Man City. The Portuguese midfielder played just 754 minutes across his 17 appearances in the Premier League last season, after joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Only seven of those were starts, and he struggled to string together a good run of minutes in the middle of the pitch. This season started the same, but Nunes is proving to be more vital for Man City. Nunes has been playing on the left side of Man City’s midfield, getting more involved in the attack. He’s averaged 0.62 intentional assists per 90 in the league this season, with 0.62 big chances created and 2.78 chances created.

ST: Raul Jimenez

Raul Jimenez struggled in his first season at Fulham. The Mexican striker, still recovering from various injury problems spanning back to his Wolves days, scored seven goals in 24 Premier League appearances. These came at an average of 0.45 per 90 minutes, but Jimenez was only averaging 1.09 shots on target per 90 and 0.33 non-penalty xG. After 11 games this season, Jimenez already has four goals at an average of 0.54 per 90. He’s also averaged 0.27 intentional assists and 0.67 big chances created. Jimenez is hitting the target per often at 1.62 per 90, and his non-penalty xG has also increased slightly to 0.38 per 90.

ST: Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck has already matched his best-ever season for Premier League goals at Brighton. The Englishman has scored six in 11 games, bettering the five he managed in 29 appearances last season. His overall numbers weren’t the best, averaged 0.26 goals per 90 minutes, 0.85 shots on target and 0.28 non-penalty xG. This season, though, Welbeck is a man playing with confidence. He’s scored 0.58 goals per 90 and averaged 1.16 shots on target. His non-penalty xG is also up to 0.49 per 90, the third-best among English strikers in the Premier League. Welbeck’s linkup play has been good too, averaging 2.41 lay off passes completed per 90 this season, compared to 1.74 per 90 in 2023-24.