Alexander-Arnold and Messi miss out on Europe's most creative XI!
With Europe's top five leagues forced out of action by the Coronavirus outbreak, we're reflecting on the season so far with a new series of statistic-based XIs. The first in the series takes a look at key passes - as voted by our Twitter followers - while we took the decision to exclude set pieces from the equation due in the interest of fairness.
The results are certainly surprising in some cases, with some very high profile omissions down the right flank in particular...
With a break in proceedings across Europe's top five leagues, we're starting a series of stats-based XIs
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 13, 2020
Which of the following would you like to see first?
Goalkeeper: Nick Pope (Burnley) - 3 chances created from open play
So this hardly a endorsement of any great creativity as far as the England international is concerned, but the case remains that the Burnley stopper is the only keeper in Europe's top five leagues to create more than two chances from open play. For context, three is the same number as teammate Jay Rodriguez, who has made 28 appearances up front...
Right-back: Jesus Navas (Sevilla) - 43
That's right. No Trent Alexander-Arnold! Instead Sevilla captain and former Manchester City winger Navas takes the spot at right-back, edging out the Liverpool youngster 43 to 40. Indeed, while Alexander-Arnold has created 34 chances from set pieces or throw ins, all but one of the chances Navas has created this season have come from open play.
Centre-back: Kaan Ayhan (Fortuna Dusseldorf) - 14
Dusseldorf have put up a fight on their return to the Bundesliga and can thank centre-back Ayhan for his contribution at both ends. While 14 chances created from open play may seem modest, the Turkey internationals ability to find a teammate from defence has heralded three assists, with just one teammate managing more this season.
Centre-back: David Alaba (Bayern Munich) - 16
Moved infield due to an early season injury crisis, Alaba has looked assured at the heart of the Bayern defence and used his experience at full-back and indeed midfield to good use when it comes to playing out from the back. His total of 17 key passes this season - all but one of which have come from open play - is 15 more than his most common centre-back partner Jerome Boateng (2).
Left-back: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) - 39
While his clubmate on the opposite side of the Reds back four is a surprising omission, Robertson makes the cut and, when factoring out set pieces, has created just one chance fewer than Alexander-Arnold. All but four of his total key passes have come from open play, heralding more assists when excluding dead ball situations than his fellow full-back in the league (7 to 6).
Right wing: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) - 57
The second Bayern player in the XI, making the German champions the only team represented more than once, Muller's creativity has really come to the fore in recent seasons. Previously renowned for his goalscoring ability from either a wide or attacking midfield position, the Germany international has played across both once more this season, but registered considerably more assists (16) than he has on the scoresheet (6).
Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 72
With 15 more key passes from open play than any other player, you can consider De Bruyne the captain of this creative XI, and simply put nobody comes close in that regard. The Belgian shares the lead in assists this season with the aforementioned Muller across Europe's top five leagues (16), with 72 chances created from open play the equivalent of over 54 per cent of Alaves' entire squad this season.
Central midfield: Angel Di Maria (PSG) - 56
Still at his creative and influential best at the age of 32, Di Maria has created more clear cut chances than any other player in Europe's top five leagues. The Argentine has played 78 key passes in total, 56 of which have come from open play, reaching double figures for assists in a single season for the seventh time in his career (14).
Left wing: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 57
The fact that only De Bruyne has created more chances from open play and Villa find themselves in the relegation zone highlights just how pivotal Grealish is to his club's survival hopes. For all of his creativity, the England hopeful has registered a pretty modest six assists, but his total of 57 key passes from open play equates to just under a quarter of Villa's total in the Premier League this season.
Forward: Ciro Immobile (Lazio) - 47
Not only is Immobile the top scorer in Europe's top five leagues this season, but the fact that he has created the most chances from open play of any striker proves he is far more than just a penalty box and indeed spot finisher. The Italy international's electric form has inspired a genuine title bid from Lazio this season, with his link up play as important as a remarkable 27-goal haul.
Forward: Josip Ilicic (Atalanta) - 45
In the form of his life by a considerable distance at the age of 32, Ilicic is set to be a free agent at the end of the season and his contract situation will certainly be under close investigation over the coming months. The Slovenian's form in 2020 in particular has been nothing short of sensational, and like Immobile it's not just Ilicic's clinical finish in front of goal that has caught the eye, linking up in a free-flowing Atalanta attack superbly.
