The best individual performances of the Premier League season so far

 

With the Premier League now closed for business for 2019 we run through the best individual performances from the first 20 gameweeks by position, forming an XI.

Goalkeeper: Tim Krul (Norwich) - 9.33 vs Manchester United

While his efforts were ultimately in vain, Krul's display at home against Manchester United at the end of October was outstanding. The Dutchman produced eight saves in total in a 3-1 defeat, keeping out two penalties, first from Marcus Rashford and then Anthony Martial.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 9.66 vs Leicester

It's extremely rare that a full-back should have a direct hand in three goals - with none of those being penalties - but infinitely less so when you are Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 21-year-old Liverpool star registered more assists than any other Premier League player over the course of 2019 (17), two of which came against Leicester before rifling in from the edge of the box himself.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 8.89 vs Brighton

Moving on nicely to the first centre-back in our XI, Virgil van Dijk netted a match-winning brace from two Trent Alexander-Arnold corners against Brighton in November. The Reds titan also won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and tackles in the 2-1 win, whilst completing 90 per cent of his passes.

Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea) - 8.74 vs Wolves

It may have come back in September but Chelsea's 5-2 win over Wolves is one that will live long in the memory for Tomori. The youngster, on only his second league start for the Blues, opened the scoring from fully 30 yards with a curling effort that left Rui Patricio no chance. The 21-year-old also won 100 per cent of his aerial duels, three tackles and made five more interceptions (eight) than any other player on the pitch.

Ben Chilwell (Leicester) - 10 vs Southampton

Matching opposite full-back and England teammate Alexander-Arnold's feat of a goal and two assists, Chilwell is the first of three Leicester player's in this side owing to their performance in the same match. That, of course, was the 9-0 win at Southampton, with the defender creating a match high of six chances as well as winning four out of four aerial duels.

Ayoze Perez (Leicester) - 10 vs Southampton

Without a goal to his name in a Leicester shirt prior to the trip to St. Mary's, Perez bagged a hat-trick within 38 minutes of notching his first of the game. The Spaniard hit the target with five of seven shots in total, completed five dribbles and even chipped in with three tackles on a night to forget for Saints.

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 10 vs Watford

The Belgian has been at his brilliant best for much of the season but never more so than in City's 8-0 demolition job of Watford back in September. De Bruyne capped an imperious display by thundering home the champions' final goal of the game having had four shots, completed four dribbles and created eight chances in total, registering two assists.

 

The best individual performances of the Premier League season so far

 

Dele Alli (Tottenham) - 9.54 vs Bournemouth

There's no doubt Jose Mourinho's arrival at Spurs has had a galvanising effect on the form of Alli, who put in his best performance of the season in the 3-2 win over Bournemouth last month. The 23-year-old scored twice from five shots in total whilst completing all seven of his dribble attempts, which was more than he had managed all season under Mauricio Pochettino beforehand.

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) - 10 vs Watford

While his longest distant strike of a treble in the aforementioned rout over Watford may have come from just seven yards out, Silva was in the right place at the right time to take home the match ball. The Portugues misplaced just two of 56 passes in total, completed two dribbles and four out of four tackles in a superb all round performance.

Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 10 vs Burnley

In what was the finest performance of Mourinho's reign at Tottenham so far, Kane led from the front in every sense in a 5-0 win over Burnley earlier this month. The striker opened the scoring inside five minutes, notched another 50 minutes later and assisted the last of the game from Moussa Sissoko. Kane mustered six shots in total, completed three dribbles, two key passes and won six aeriald duels.

Jamie Vardy (Leicester) - 10 vs Southampton

It's been an outstanding campaign for Vardy, with his hat-trick in the embarrassment of Southampton really igniting a sensational streak. It was in fact the second game of an eight-match scoring run from the striker, who found the net with three of five shots in total and completed two dribbles.

The best individual performances of the Premier League season so far