Goalscorers get all the credit. But without the guys pulling the strings and setting them up, football would be a very dull place.
So adept are some players at the creative side of the game that they don’t even need to score many goals to forge a stellar career, getting by on their ability to carve open a defence or whip in a tempting cross.
For some time now, the demand for creativity has applied to every position on the pitch. Long gone are the days when this job solely fell to No.10s and wingers. As football modernises, even goalkeepers are expected to pull their weight now and then!
That in mind, take a look at our combined XI made up of the Premier League’s of every position who have created the most chances in 2022/23 so far.
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
Club: Everton
Appearances: 28
Chances created: 2
Assists: 1
The Englishman is one of just three goalkeepers to create two chances in the Premier League this season, alongside Emiliano Martinez and David Raya. He is also one of four Premier League goalkeepers to assist a goal this season, none of whom belong to the former set (Alisson, Ederson and Jason Steele). Hence Pickford’s inclusion here.
Right-back: Kieran Trippier
Club: Newcastle United
Appearances: 27
Chances created: 80
Assists: 6
The mantle of most creative right-back in the Premier League has been Trent Alexander-Arnold’s for a few years now. But while the Liverpool man is still laying on plenty of chances, he’s currently having to settle for second place.
That’s because Kieran Trippier is enjoying arguably the best season of his career so far as he helps Newcastle United compete for Champions League qualification. The England international is second only to Kevin De Bruyne (83) in terms of chances created with 77, six of which have been converted. A small caveat is that 54 were created from set pieces, but we’re all well aware by now of Trippier’s quality in those situations, and that’s an incredibly important weapon for any team.
Centre-back: Fabian Schar
Club: Newcastle United
Appearances: 25
Chances created: 13
Assists: 0
Alongside Trippier, Fabian Schar is another who is enjoying one of his career-best seasons with Newcastle. The Switzerland international has maintained his place in the face of increasing investment and proven himself one of Eddie Howe’s most important assets, with his exploits extending to a healthy 12 chances created, supplementing his endless defensive output.
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Centre-back: Ben Davies
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Appearances: 25
Chances created: 17
Assists: 2
Tottenham are enduring an inconsistent season at best but while he may have a few defensive misgivings, at least Ben Davies is having no issues in the final third. From his position as a left-centre-back where he has played the vast majority of his league minutes this season (1,619) — albeit often moved outright to the flank of late — the Wales international has created 17 chances so far this season. All of these came from open play, with two of them ending up in the back of the net.
Left-back: Andy Robertson
Club: Liverpool
Appearances: 25
Chances created: 39
Assists: 6
Like Spurs, Liverpool haven’t enjoyed themselves this season. And like Alexander-Arnold, Robertson has not been the same player of past seasons.
However, they can continue to rely on the Scotland international for creative output, where he has set up 39 goalscoring opportunities. ‘Robbo’ sits level with Trippier on six assists, with no Premier League defender having managed more so far.
Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne
Club: Manchester City
Appearances: 26
Chances created: 83
Assists: 13
We’ve arrived at the biggest shock of the article. Who knew Kevin De Bruyne was so adept at splitting defences and laying on chances for his teammates?
Jokes aside, this is just what KDB does. The 31-year-old is part of three of the Premier League’s top 20 most effective assister-to-goalscorer partnerships this season, setting up three goals each for Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, and six for Erling Haaland. Nobody can match him for chances created or assists and the Belgian’s wizardry is one of the main reasons why Man City still have a chance of catching Arsenal in the title race.
Central midfield: James Ward-Prowse
Club: Southampton
Appearances: 29
Chances created: 63
Assists: 2
James Ward-Prowse has had no problem creating chances this season, laying on 63 so far (28 from open play and 35 from set pieces). That’s been good for 4.15 xA but, unfortunately for the England international, he’s playing for the Premier League’s bottom club, meaning only two of his chances have been converted so far.
Ward-Prowse is far more than a set-piece merchant and will surely find himself at a much more competitive and stable club next season. But the fact is his ability with dead-ball situations and creative spark make him arguably the best player in the relegation battle and the main reason why Southampton still have a chance.
Central midfield: Martin Ødegaard
Club: Arsenal
Appearances: 28
Chances created: 64
Assists: 7
It’s been years in the making, but Martin Ødegaard has finally come of age. In truth, he’s been excellent ever since joining Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021 but since making that move permanent the following summer, he’s gone from strength to strength, even taking up the captain’s armband.
This season, Ødegaard has created a very impressive 64 chances and provided seven assists, with only three players in the Premier League managing more.
If Ødegaard, now 24, lifts the Premier League title come the end of the campaign, he’ll know just how big a role he played in making it happen.
Right wing: Bukayo Saka
Club: Arsenal
Appearances: 29
Chances created: 61
Assists: 10
Arguably even more important to Arsenal this season — and another of their players who seems to have truly come of age — is Bukayo Saka. The much-loved England international has been the attacking focal point for the Gunners all season, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists from 61 chances created.
Of those 61, only 12 have come from set-pieces, highlighting just how much of a menace the 21-year-old has become for Mikel Arteta’s would-be champions.
Striker: Morgan Gibbs-White
Club: Nottingham Forest
Appearances: 28
Chances created: 54
Assists: 5
Okay, we hear you. Morgan Gibbs-White is not an out-and-out striker. In fact, he’s only scored two goals all season. However, where he has shone for Nottingham Forest this season is acting as a second striker to provide a boatload of chances for Brennan Johnson and Co. Fifty-four chances to be precise, five of which have been converted into goals.
Whether Forest stay up or not, Gibbs-White — alongside Johnson — has done his reputation no harm and proven himself a very capable Premier League player.
Left wing: Bruno Fernandes
Club: Manchester United
Appearances: 26
Chances created: 76
Assists: 6
Despite coming in for criticism at times, Bruno Fernandes is still one of the main catalysts behind Manchester United’s resurgence under Erik ten Hag. The Portugal international has contributed 76 chances created so far this season, notching six assists along the way. And so often pigeon-holed as a penalty and set-piece specialist, only 11 of those chances have come from dead-balls.
More often than not this season, Fernandes is seen picking up the ball on the left and quickly shifting inside to whip balls to the far post or find the run of Marcus Rashford with a reverse pass.
