5 players above 30 who are doing well in the Premier League
It has been only ten games into the season but the Premier League has already produced some nail-biting and mesmerizing football. While some youngsters like James Maddison, Trent Alexander Arnold, Ryan Sessegnon and Ben Chilwell have taken the Premier League by storm with some amazing performances, some of the veterans of the game have also come to the party.
It is a common modern-day cliche in the Premier League that players who are above the age of 30 are not good enough any longer to compete at the highest level. However, the ongoing season of the Premier League has already seen some of the veterans rolling back the years to their glory days. Here are 5 players above the age of 30 who have done really well so far this season:-
1. Fernandinho (Manchester City)
The Brazilian has to be one of the first names in this list. Even at the age of 33, the midfield maestro has proved with his consistent performances that a player of his calibre is virtually irreplaceable.
Fernandinho put in another solid shift in central midfield against Spurs and his game-reading and tenacity proved to be the difference between the two sides. To be honest, he is still the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League and few would dare to argue to that statement.
The 33-year-old averages 1.4 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.3 clearances per game this term in the Premier League. Furthermore, he averages 70.2 passes per game with an accuracy percentage of 87.2.
The fact that he already has a goal and a couple of assists to his name speaks volumes of his attacking contribution as well.
2. James Milner (Liverpool)
A key cog in Liverpool’s midfield engine, Milner still has high levels of fitness to perfectly fit Jurgen Klopp’s high-intensity pressing football. The 32-year-old former England international averages 57.3 passes per game with a success percentage of 86.2. He also averages 1.2 key passes per game and has a goal and a couple of assists to his name in the Premier League.
However, those numbers do not actually do justice to his contribution to the team. In fact, he has been at the centre of everything good that Liverpool have done this season. Not only has he been impressive with his work-rate up and down the pitch, but has also created loads of chances with his accurate crosses.
3. David Luiz (Chelsea)
There were speculations about his future at the club at the start of the season but the 31-year-old Brazilian has silenced his critics with a series of impressive performances.
His best performance came in the all-important game against Liverpool where he put in a solid shift at the back, making a number of key interceptions and saving a certain goal with a clearance off the line.
He has formed a great partnership with Antonio Rudiger in the heart of the defense and has looked very confident with his long passing and distribution. In fact, Luiz averages 76 passes per game with an accuracy percentage of 88.8, which is one of the best in the Premier League.
4. Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion)
He is perhaps the biggest surprise on the list. The 35-year-old has already scored 6 goals in the Premier League and it would be hard to back against him replicating his number in the previous season where he scored 12 in the Premier League.
It has been really impressive to see how he has spearheaded the attack even at the twilight of his career. Murray has lost none of his instincts and poaching abilities and still has the knack of being at the right places to find the net.
5. Pablo Zabaleta (West Ham)
The 33-year-old former Manchester City man is past his prime but he still has a lot to offer at the Premier League level, as evident from his performances for West Ham.
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He has been undone by pacy opponents at times but overall, he has been quite solid at the back. He still has the confidence to turn back the years and does not hesitate to embark on powerful runs down the flanks.
The Argentine averages 2 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game, which are as good as any other full-back in the Premier League. His aerial prowess is also an asset to the team while defending set-pieces, averaging 2.3 successful aerial duels per game.
