The Premier League 2022/23 season is over and with it came Manchester City's continuance as the competition's top dog, but Arsenal pushed Pep Guardiola's side mighty close for much of the season.
As we at PFF reflect on the third season in which we have collected data used to grade the performance of each and every player that steps foot on the pitch, there is plenty to look forward to for the likes of Newcastle United, Brighton and Aston Villa as they prepare to compete in European Cup competition next season.
With teams who finished in the top half of the Premier League standings all boasting real quality, there is also recognition for the merits of players as far down as bottom-placed Southampton.
So, after some careful consideration and debate among PFF's team of analysts, here is the Top 50 Premier League players of the 2022/23 season.
50. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, centre-back
Virgil van Dijk kicks off this list after a season where Liverpool ultimately disappointed and missed out on Champions League qualification. Jurgen Klopp has already taken steps to revamp his squad with the expected signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, but van Dijk will remain a key influence in defence.
He was the only centre-back in the Premier League to record win rates higher than 60% across aerial duels, 50-50s, and defending dribbles to lead all defenders with a 92.4 challenge grade.
49. Alexander Isak, Newcastle United, striker
Isak provided one of the assists of the season for his dribble into the box against Everton before laying the ball on for Jacob Murphy to finish.
And when it was Isak who had the chance to shoot at goal he rarely lacked quality, generating a grade of 91.2 from 40 events.
48. Philip Billing, Bournemouth, midfielder
Bournemouth are a team short of superstar names but managed to run close Arsenal at the Emirates and beat Liverpool late in the season before eventually securing their safety, with Philip Billing performing well as a versatile midfielder.
The Dane finished the season as the club’s top goalscorer with seven goals, led the team in blocks (71), and led the whole league as the midfielder with the most pressures (1,254).
47. Max Kilman, Wolves, centre-back
There is not one challenge facet where Wolves defender Max Kilman has graded lower than 70.0, standing out as a dominant aerial presence that could see rival clubs come calling.
With broadcasters reminding us regularly of Kilman’s background in futsal, his 90.5 aerial duel grade ranks third in his position.
46. Miguel Almirón, Newcastle United, winger
While the likes of Callum Wilson and aforementioned Alexander Isak provided the good for Newcastle’s top four push late in the season, Almirón’s displays earlier in the season were equally significant for Eddie Howe.
In a 4-1 win over Fulham in October, Almirón would score twice to earn a 95.5 shooting grade – the fifth-best grade all season and then go on to score six times in Newcastle’s next eight games.
45. John Stones, Manchester City, centre-back
John Stones’ return from a hamstring injury that saw him miss all of February coincided with a new position in Manchester City’s midfield, while also featuring as a centre-back and right-back as he had done previously.
As a midfielder, though, he provided the final piece to Pep Guardiola’s 3-2-2-3 formation puzzle when in-possession, combining his 81.1 passing-grade ability with his qualities as a defender.
44. Solly March, Brighton & Hove Albion, winger
Behind the set-piece inflated tally of 82 for Brighton’s chances created leader Pascal Groß lies teammate Solly March, who was so often a threat from open play this season.
March contributed seven goals and the same number in assists for Brighton, as he finished with grades of 70.0 or higher across shooting, passing, crossing and dribbling.
| Name | Club | Passing grade | Crossing grade |
Chances created
|
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 73.5 | 80.0 | 74 |
| Michael Olise | Crystal Palace | 72.4 | 78.9 | 72 |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 82.4 | 60.7 | 67 |
| Heung-min Son | Tottenham | 71.2 | 85.5 | 67 |
| Solly March | Brighton | 74.9 | 77.0 | 66 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | 83.1 | 69.0 | 63 |
43. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, full-back
It’s now back-to-back seasons of Trent Alexander-Arnold hitting double digits in assists for Liverpool. On top of a 91.4 crossing grade, a key factor in Alexander-Arnold’s ten assists was a high chances created rate of 2.1 per-90 – tied-sixth among all positions.
And while a defending dribbles grade of 84.8, the tenth-best among full-backs, carries significant weight, so too to his detriment does a negative net positioning grade of -60.5 compared to the full-back average of -25.6 (min. 2,000 minutes played)
42. Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa, striker
Centre-forward Ollie Watkins is a huge reason why things are looking up for Aston Villa under head coach Unai Emery.
Though a run of one goal in Villa’s last seven to finish the season may have cost him an England recall in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad, Watkins’ streak of 11 goals in 12 goals between January and April gave Villa the impetus to finish seventh and help to deliver a 88.7 shooting grade for the striker.
41. Lewis Dunk, Brighton & Hove Albion, centre-back
The performances of Lewis Dunk recently earned him a first England call-up in five years as an ever-present figure in Brighton’s impressive campaign.
Dunk’s aggressive passing role saw him attempt 353 passes which sought to break an opposition line, a full 82 more than Spurs’ Cristian Romero in second. The risk often led to reward for Dunk, whose 80.2 pass grade ranks fourth among centre-backs.
40. Douglas Luiz, Aston Villa, midfielder
Aston Villa’s turnaround in the second half of the season saw them assure themselves of a Europa Conference League spot for next season and this was in no small part thanks to the performances of Luiz at the heart of the midfield.
Especially impressive were his tackling grade of 79.8 and crossing grade of 78.3, which saw him ranked ninth and fifth respectively at his position, while also overseeing set-pieces.
39. David Raya, Brentford, goalkeeper
The first goalkeeper to appear on our list is Brentford shot stopper Raya. The Spaniard’s outstanding form for ‘The Bees’ this season has seen him linked with a big money move, with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United reportedly leading the charge.
His 87.8 shot stopping grade ranked him third amongst all goalkeepers, ahead of both David De Gea of Manchester United (seventh) and Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur (tenth).
38. Eberechi Eze, Crystal Palace, midfielder
The 24-year-old midfielder had his most productive season yet in a Crystal Palace shirt, notching ten goals in the Premier League. They will need more of the same from Eze in the future with star man Wilfried Zaha potentially on his way out of the club.
Considering he scored twice as many goals in the league this season as he has in the previous two seasons combined, it’s no wonder that his shooting grade of 82.4 ranked him at seventh at his position. He’s also known for dribbling ability and this is reflected in our grades where he posted the joint-highest grade last season (90.0).
37. Ethan Pinnock, Brentford, centre-back
Jamaican international Pinnock split his time this season between the centre of a back three and as a right-sided centre-back in a back four but never skipped a beat in either role, aiding Brentford in achieving a ninth-place finish in only their second season in the Premier League.
He ranked sixth among all players on aerial duels with a grade of 89.5, but even more impressive was his tackling grade of 90.2 which was the highest tackling grade recorded all season.
36. Callum Wilson, Newcastle United, striker
Newcastle’s stout defensive record played a huge part in the club securing a top-four finish, but the old adage says that ‘goals win games' and Wilson’s 18 meant they had enough firepower up front to break up the stranglehold that the traditional ‘Big 6' have had on the Champions League spots.
Unsurprisingly, given his prolific form this season, Wilson's shooting grade of 91.8 saw him rank second in the league behind only Erling Haaland.
35. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal, full-back
Coming in at no.35 is Arsenal's no.35 Oleksandr Zinchenko. One of Mike Arteta's signings from his old club Manchester City, Zinchenko has excelled throughout the season with his technical and tactical acumen
During this season, Zinchenko played in the inverted full-back role, picking up the ball between the lines and building attacks from the Arsenal defence. His stand-out grade from the season is his 86.2 passing grade, ranking him top at his position (1/87).
34. Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United, centre-back
The below-average height of Lisandro Martinez made many pundits and fans question whether he could cope with the physicality of the Premier League. He has not only proved his doubters wrong, but he has also helped Erik ten Hag acquire silverware and a top-three finish in his first season with the Reds.
A 50-50 grade of 83.4 and a tackle grade of 80.6, has proven he has the ability and physical prowess to deal with the challenges of the English top flight.
33. James Ward-Prowse, Southampton, midfielder
Despite Southampton's relegation, Ward-Prowse demonstrated his quality throughout the season. For a team that finished rock bottom in the league, he scored a respectable nine goals and provided four assists. In addition, he scored a league-leading three free-kicks.
Our PFF grades also reflect his abilities. He is ranked second amongst his peers with a shot grade of 87.1, behind only Kevin De Bruyne. He also produced a crossing grade of 89.3 illustrating how deadly he can be from dead ball and open play positions.
32. Casemiro, Manchester United, midfielder
It was a solid debut campaign for the five-time Champions League winner following his move from Real Madrid to Old Trafford. Casemiro helped guide Manchester United to a top-three finish and the EFL Cup trophy.
His grades epitomise how he plays within Erik ten Hag's double pivot 4-2-3-1. A tackling grade of 72.5 and a 50-50 grade of 76.1 has shown how effective he has been at breaking up the play in the midfield. Ever dependable, he will look to build on a successful campaign next season.
31. James Maddison, Leicester City, attacking midfielder
In all likelihood, James Maddison will not be playing in the Championship next season as one of the top names available out of the three teams relegated from the Premier League.
Despite the 2015/16 Premier League champions finishing the season 19th, Maddison's grades didn't suffer as he contributed with ten goals and nine assists. With a dribbling grade of 87.6, he ranked first (1/106) among attacking midfielders. Additionally, his shooting grade of 79.5 puts him in the top 10 for his position and making him a name to be watched in the summer transfer window.
30. Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace, centre-back
Crystal Palace will be aiming to keep their hands on defender Marc Guehi if they are to avoid a repeat of this season, which saw them flirt with relegation until Roy Hodgson guided them to safety after the sacking of Patrick Vieira.
Guehi, the subject of interest from Arsenal and Spurs, performed effectively as an imposing defender with a 86.0 challenge grade while also leading all centre-backs with his ball-carrying grade of 81.4.
29. Sven Botman, Newcastle United, centre-back
Sven Botman was one of five Newcastle players to play in more than 3,000 minutes for the team who will return to the Champions League next season – tellingly, the three others were all members of Newcastle’s defence and goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Signed last summer from Ligue 1 club Lille, Botman earned the 15th-highest challenge grade (81.6) at his position and received only two yellow cards all season without ever being sent off.
28. Aaron Ramsdale, Arsenal, goalkeeper
Although not the top-rated goalkeeper in this list, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale was still elite in goal for the title challengers. His 92.9 shot-stopping grade places him second overall among keepers across the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1, with first revealed further below in this article.
27. Ilkay Gündogan, Manchester City, attacking midfielder
In the season run-in, Ilkay Gündogan came to the fore as Manchester City’s captain to emulate Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho in lifting the Premier League trophy.
Whether in a deeper or more attacking role in midfield, Gündogan was consistent in his quality as a passer with the third-best grade overall, 93.2.
26. Pervis Estupiñán, Brighton & Hove Albion, full-back
Pervis Estupiñán’s all-round abilities provided the perfect compliment to Kaoru Mitoma as a dual-threat down Brighton’s left flank.
As a defender, Estupiñán was hard to beat when opposition dribblers attempted to beat him in recording an 80.4 defending dribbles grade. Yet, he was also decent as a passer, 78.3, and crosser, 78.0 – both top seven grades among full-backs.
25. Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal, winger
Martinelli played a key role in Arsenal’s title challenge, contributing 15 goals and five assists. Only four players scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League this season.
The 21-year-old Brazilian winger's PFF shooting grade of 75.3 ranked 25th at his position showing there is still room for growth. But he will be hoping to not to regress from a PFF passing grade of 83.1, which ranks an impressive fifth at his position.
24. Granit Xhaka, Arsenal, midfielder
Xhaka finally fulfilled his potential in an Arsenal shirt this season, becoming one of the best passers in the league. The Swiss midfielder ranked seventh among all players in PFF passing grade with an elite grade of 89.8.
Xhaka also contributed seven goals from midfield with his PFF shooting grade of 75.0 ranking 15th at his position. Xhaka was solid defensively with a PFF challenge grade of 68.0 ranking 35th at his position among qualified players.
23. João Palhinha, Fulham, midfielder
Palhinha was a revelation for Fulham this season, a PFF challenge grade of 83.7 ranked second at his position and 12th among all players. An exceptional tackler, the former Sporting CP enforcer had a PFF tackling grade of 85.8, ranking second among midfielders. Palhinha combined his quality in challenges with volume, winning 278, of which were 117 tackle events, by far the most in the league.
22. Marcus Rashford, Manchester United, winger
Rashford had a special year, bouncing back from a disappointing season in 2021/22. His 17 non-penalty goals tied for third in the league. His PFF shooting grade of 82.8 ranked first at his position, but it's also worth stressing Rashford's accuracy as a passer with a 78.3 passing grade ranking 13th at his position.
21. William Saliba, Arsenal, centre-back
Saliba was exceptional in Ligue 1 last season and that instantly translated to the Premier League. If not for an injury that cost him 11 games, he may of been higher on this list as his absence was felt by Arsenal's defence when their title challenge begun to unravel.
Saliba was vital to Arsenal's build-up, excelling as a ball carrier, his PFF ball carry grade of 74.5 ranked seventh among centre-backs, while his 161 line-breaking passes completed tied for 11th-most.
20. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, winger
Mohamed Salah possessed the ball in the opposition penalty area a league-leading 298 times this season, he converted those possessions into 19 goals, whilst also recording 12 assists and six ‘second assists’.
His 82.4 passing grade ranked eighth out of 114 eligible wingers, while his 67 chances created placed him seventh.
19. Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa, goalkeeper
World Cup-winner Emiliano Martinez led the Premier League this season as the goalkeeper with the highest shot-stopping grade — 98.8. The Argentinian saved 71% of shots faced on target this season and was a crucial contributor towards Aston Villa securing Europa League qualification. His 63.9 passing grade also ranked third out of 20 eligible goalkeepers.
18. Moises Caicedo, Brighton & Hove Albion, midfielder
No player in the Premier League won more 50/50 duels than Moises Caicedo (70). The Brighton man also showed his prowess with the ball at his feet, completing 228 line-breaking passes (third among midfielders), creating 42 chances and notching up an 84.2 passing grade (11th/134 midfielders).
No player in the Premier League won more 50/50 duels than Moises Caicedo this season – 70 💪#BHAFC pic.twitter.com/lYLIS7WWRh
— PFF FC (@PFF_FC) June 5, 2023
17. Bruno Guimarães, Newcastle United, midfielder
Bruno Guimarães had a stellar season for Newcastle, he recorded an 87.2 passing grade and his 27 passes breaking the defensive line was 16 more than any other Newcastle player, ranking fourth in the league.
Guimaraes also held up physically, registering a 71.1 challenge grade to rank inside the top-25 out of 134 midfielders.
16. Gabriel, Arsenal, centre-back
Gabriel was a mainstay in the Arsenal lineup playing the most minutes among any outfield player in the squad. He showcased the skills required of the modern centre-back showing physicality in duels, yet being comfortable with the ball at his feet.
His ability to progress play was shown with 197 line-breaking passes completed, ranking fourth among all defenders in the Premier League, alongside an 85.0 challenge grade ranking seventh out of 98 eligible centre-backs.
15. Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United, attacking midfielder
Bruno Fernandes had quite the season in his first year under Erik ten Hag, leading the Premier League in chances created with 120. On top of this, he also completed 170 line-breaking passes which was a contributing factor behind a passing grade of 88.5.
Fernandes was also a menace for defenders when dribbling the ball, ending the year with an 86.0 dribbling grade — the fifth-best rank amongst all players.
14. Ivan Toney, Brentford, striker
Ivan Toney had his breakout campaign for Brentford this season, scoring 20 goals for the first time in the Premier League. The 20-goal campaign led to Toney having a shooting grade of 88.4, sixth-best in the Premier league.
Toney was also a force on the ball, ending his stellar year with a ball carry grade of 75.0.
13. Luke Shaw, Manchester United, full-back
Luke Shaw showed why he is one of the best modern fullbacks this year, with his ability to progress the ball forward and be solid defensively. Shaw completed 150 line-breaking passes, the fourth-highest amongst full-backs.
Shaw, who will mark a decade at Old Trafford next season, recorded a passing grade of 78.9, an aerial duel grade of 79.1, and a 50/50 duel grade of 78.0, showcasing his defensive and attacking prowess this year.
| Name | Club | Aerial duel grade | 50-50 grade |
Defending dribbles grade
|
| Kenny Tete | Fulham | 70.2 | 82.1 | 87.1 |
| Rasmus Kristiansen | Leeds United | 62.7 | 67.7 | 85.4 |
| Diogo Dalot | Manchester United | 77.9 | 71.6 | 86.6 |
| Serge Aurier | Nottingham Forest | 75.6 | 64.1 | 84.9 |
| Luke Shaw | Manchester United | 79.1 | 81.6 | 74.9 |
| Joel Ward | Crystal Palace | 77.5 | 71.7 | 79.2 |
12. Jack Grealish, Manchester City, winger
Jack Grealish found his footing this year in his second season in Manchester. The England international completed 51 dribbles this season, eighth amongst all players, which drew plenty of attention from the defenders as his 4.0 fouls won per-90 rate led the Premier League.
Grealish produced a ball carry grade of 81.8 (second amongst wingers), a passing grade of 90.2 (sixth amongst all players), and a shooting grade of 76.8 (17th amongst wingers).
11. Kaoru Mitoma, Brighton & Hove Albion, winger
Kaoru Mitoma's first full season in the Premier League was one to remember as he found his way into PFF FC’s Team of the Season at left wing.
Mitoma completed 64 dribbles this year, the third most out of all players, and also created 1.7 chances per-90, good for 21st amongst wingers. Mitoma produced a ball carry grade of 78.2 (sixth amongst wingers), a passing grade of 87.7 and a shooting grade of 78.4 — both top-12 rankings.
10. Alexis Mac Allister, Brighton & Hove Albion, midfielder
It was quite the season for the Argentinian international, who was an influential part of his country’s World Cup win in addition to helping Brighton finish 6th in the Premier League, their best ever performance. Mac Allister produced a 85.2 shooting grade on his way to becoming the Seagulls’ top scorer (11 goals) and also created the fourth most chances of any Brighton player (52).
Looking further at his grades, it’s easy to see why Liverpool are so keen on signing the 24-year-old. A 87.0 ball carry grade is the fourth-highest recorded by any player this season, while his 91.1 passing grade ranks fifth among all players.
9. Rúben Dias, Manchester City, centre-back
Dias only started 22 games this season for City, but it’s hard to argue that he was not one of their most influential players, as City did not lose another meaningful Premier League game following his reintroduction into the team in February. Our analysis gave Dias only six positioning downgrades this season, less than half the number given to teammates Manuel Akanji and Nathan Aké.
The Portuguese international graded well across the board, earning a 77.9 aerial duel grade (43rd among centre-backs) and a 50/50 duels grade of 77.5 (25th). Unsurprisingly, Dias also performed well in our passing grade, recording the fifth-highest grade by a centre-back (77.5).
8. Rodri, Manchester City, midfielder
No Manchester City player made more appearances than Rodri this year (36), who repaid the faith that rotation-happy manager Pep Guardiola showed in him by topping the charts of PFF’s passing grade (94.5).
Rodri’s performance was a perfect representation of City’s style under Guardiola, as he attempted 3,141 passes, the second most of any player, while completing 92% of them. He also led the league in completed line-breaking passes (304).
Rodri: best passing grade in the Premier League for back-to-back seasons 🔥🏆#MCFC pic.twitter.com/3fkMMSQbXA
— PFF FC (@PFF_FC) June 3, 2023
Rodri also excelled defensively, producing grades of 84.9 (second among midfielders) and 82.3 (1st) for aerial duels and 50/50 duels, respectively.
7. Declan Rice, West Ham United, midfielder
It was an up and down season for the Hammers, although ultimately Premier League survival was secured alongside a trip to the Europa Conference League final. Rice was undoubtedly their standout player in what is likely to have been his final season at the club.
He recorded a 82.1 grade for 50/50 duels (second for midfielders), and won the third-most 50/50 duels of any player with 59 (65% win rate).
Rice graded equally well in defending dribbles (83.9) and in tackling (84.9), while his passing grade of 81.5 (16th) shows how well rounded his performance was this season.
6. Kieran Trippier, Newcastle United, full-back
Trippier deservedly earns the highest spot on this list of any defender after a fantastic season where he was instrumental to their top-four finish. The right-back’s crossing performance was remarkable, attempting 422 crosses in total (148 more than Trent Alexander-Arnold in second), while completing 32% of them (sixth-highest among all players, min. 25 crosses). Trippier received a 92.3 crossing grade, the highest of any player.
The 32-year-old also graded well elsewhere, earning a 75.5 dribbling grade (13th among full-backs) and an 83.0 passing grade.
5. Bukayo Saka, Arsenal, winger
The 21-year-old England international firmly cemented himself as one of the best players in the Premier League this year. He’s played in every league game for Arsenal in back-to-back seasons and his performances, particularly before Christmas, are one of the main reasons Arsenal got off to a dominant start.
His 80.0 crossing grade is seventh amongst wingers and he created 74 chances this year, eighth highest in the Premier League. His reward was a new contract which Arsenal fans hope will mean they can compete for the title for years to come.
4. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, striker
In a year where Spurs underperformed, their talisman had one of his finest seasons by almost single-handedly dragging them to an eighth-place finish in the league. He scored 30 goals and had a 92.7 shooting grade, bettered in both categories only by the man who beat him to the Golden Boot.
As has become expected of Kane, he not only scored but was also Tottenham’s finest provider. His 87.2 passing grade is good enough for 10th best in the league (first among strikers) and he led all centre-forwards in chances created (61).
3. Martin Ödegaard, Arsenal, midfielder
The Gunners’ captain led by example this year, a constant name in discussions for a place in the PFF Team of the Week. Arsenal’s creative outlet, he supplied 81 chances (sixth best in the league, third amongst wingers and attacking midfielders) and had 45 defensive-line breaking passes — more than anybody else this season.
He also had seven assists and was Arsenal’s joint-top scorer with 15 goals in the Premier League. His 91.8 passing grade was better than anybody else at his position and he was one of only six players to top the 90.0-mark grade in that category.
2. Erling Haaland, Manchester City, striker
Haaland might have had the finest debut season of anyone to play in the Premier League. On his way to the title, he broke the record for most goals in a season scoring 36 times (in 35 games) and unsurprisingly had the highest shooting grade this season (94.6).
The Norwegian scored 15 in his first ten games, including three hat-tricks, and after City’s FA Cup win this weekend is now one match away from being part of the second English team to win the treble.
1. Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, attacking midfielder
Not many could have stopped Haaland from taking the top spot but De Bruyne had another exceptional season in what is likely to be, if it isn’t already, an all-time great Premier League career.
De Bruyne played a vital role in City retaining the title, his finest moment coming towards the end of the season in the top-of-the-table clash against Arsenal where he opened the scoring with an incredible solo effort.
He had a 93.4 passing grade (second in the league), a 90.3 crossing grade (first among midfielders), and an 87.4 shooting grade (first among midfielders). His triple threat across these attacking facets led to eight goals and a league-high 16 assists from 104 chances created.
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