Stats Show The 10 Premier League Players Who Have Declined The Most This Season

Statistics reveal the top 10 Premier League players to have experienced a decline in the first phase of the season and there are some interesting results.

WhoScored.com regularly collect key data on the top leagues in the world, including providing a comprehensive overview of the English top flight in terms of stats.

And through their match rating system, they've been able to work out who has declined the most this term. They've looked average match ratings from last season and compared it to their scores this season to determine whose form has dipped after the first eight games.

Mo Salah is the first man on the list after struggling to get going this season. Unable to hit his dizzying, record-breaking heights of last term, he's bagged just three goals this season and his average match rating is 0.32 less as a result.

Image: PA

Abdoulaye Doucouré and Wilfried Zaha both had brilliant seasons last time out but WhoScored have marked them down based on their showings in the current campaign.

Moreover, Paul Pogba, the ultimate footballing enigma, is in seventh - with his average match rating 0.41 worse off following a very poor start to the season from Manchester United.

Image: PA

And the worst two of the bunch are players at the lower end of the table. Huddersfield's Christopher Schindler and Lewis Dunk are down 0.61 and 0.71 respectively.

List in full:

10. Mohamed Salah: -0.32
9. Abdoulaye Doucoure: -0.32
8. Ayoze Perez: -0.34
7. Paul Pogba: -0.41
6. Mousa Dembele: -0.42
5. Florent Hadergjonaj: -0.45
4. Wilfried Zaha: -0.48
3. Jordan Pickford: -0.51
2. Christopher Schindler: -0.61
1. Lewis Dunk: -0.71

WhoScored have also put together a top 10 for the most improved players and it sees Callum Wilson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Troy Deeney and Ryan Fraser at the very top.

Image: PA

List in full:

10. Etienne Capoue: +0.38
9. Glenn Murray: +0.39
8. James Milner: +0.39
7. Jose Holebas: +0.43
6. Bernardo Silva: +0.46
5. Eden Hazard: +0.46
4. Ryan Fraser: +0.50
3. Troy Deeney: +0.57
2. Gylfi Sigurdsson: +0.62
1. Callum Wilson: +0.73

Stats don't always tell the story of course but they do provide some interesting insight. What are your thoughts on the two lists and how the player have fared this season?

Sound off in the comments.

Topics: Paul Pogba, Football News, Football, Premier League, WhoScored, Mohamed Salah

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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