Most underrated players in Prem – from Andreas Christensen to Illan Meslier

Spend enough time watching football in a public space – be it at the pub or inside a stadium, and you will overhear snippets of conservations.

One of the most popular talking points after a few pints is underrated players. Everyone believes they have spotted something others haven’t – and, inevitably, they want to share their wisdom.

The world and their dog are aware of Mohamed Salah’s form at the moment, but Match of the Day does not show the intricacies that John from the Dog and Fox has noted.

So, who are these players that only the true fans appreciate?

Well, Daily Star Sport has compiled a handy list of 10 names you can trot out next time you need to show examples of your footballing brain.

Andreas Christensen

Chelsea’s defence has been revolutionised by Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues have kept 16 clean sheets in the Premier League under the German manager . Coincidentally, they have conceded the same number of goals in total since he replaced Frank Lampard in January.

While the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger have received their dues for this run of form, Christensen hasn’t.

The Danish international is a quiet and understated presence in the heart of Chelsea’s defence, but that shouldn’t diminish his importance.

Chelsea have five clean sheets in the Premier League this season – Christensen has played the full 90 minutes in each of them. Liverpool are the only league team to score while he’s been in the side in 2021/22 so far.

Abdoulaye Doucoure

After the unfulfilled ambition of the Carlo Ancelotti years, Everton have gone back to basics under Rafa Benitez this season.

Their organised, workmanlike 4-4-2 formation has benefited Doucoure in particular, with the French midfielder hugely impressive in the centre of the pitch.

Doucoure is a brilliant all-rounder, a true athlete who thrives with the freedom to play the box-to-box role.

The results have been seismic: Doucoure has returned two goals and four assists already this season, more than he managed in the entirety of the 2020/21 campaign.

Who is the most underrated player in the Premier League? Have your say in the comments section below.

Pablo Fornals

Fornals has started every Premier League game for West Ham this season and after picking up an assist and two goals in the first three matches he has settled into a more under-the-radar role.

The Argentine was previously seen as a flashy, creative attacking midfielder, but Fornals has shown this season that he has the workrate to fit David Moyes’ system.

The 25-year-old pops up all over the Hammers’ midfield, knitting together play and directing traffic, knowing he has Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek behind him to mop up.

Max Kilman

When Kilman first broke onto the scene with Wolves his background in futsal was enough to peak the interest of fans.

Having broken through last season, Kilman is now firmly established in the Wolves defence under new boss Bruno Lage.

The 24-year-old has played every minute in the Premier League so far this campaign, with his composure and eye for a pass particularly impressive.

The fact he is keeping the previously-entrenched Willy Boly out of the side shows the level he has reached.

Illan Meslier

Leeds have endured a poor start to the campaign, but their young goalkeeper continues to impress nonetheless.

Meslier is still only 21 years old, which makes him a clear outlier in a league which generally opts for experience over youth between the posts.

The Frenchman’s consistency is shown by the fact that, in March, he broke Joe Hart’s record of seven Premier League shut-outs before the age of 21.

He has been busy this season, making 31 saves in just eight games – four more than the next nearest goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel.

Oriol Romeu

Romeu has been around the block in the Premier League and has now made 210 appearances in the competition – yet he is still underappreciated.

He may not play like a player schooled in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, but he is absolutely vital to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton side.

The battle-hardened Spaniard is a brilliant ball-winner and master of the tactical foul. It makes him a nuisance for opponents and a target for abuse from opposing fans, but he is exactly the sort of player you want on your team.

The fact he is wearing the Saints armband with James Ward-Prowse suspended shows his standing on the south coast.

Jonny Evans

When Evans was sold by Manchester United in 2015, they were not expecting him to go from strength to strength.

But the defender who cost Leicester City just £3million in 2018 has proven to be one of the best bargains in the league’s recent history.

The Northern Ireland international is a hugely important leader at the heart of the Foxes’ defence. His experience of 92 clean sheets in 327 Premier League appearances shouldn’t be underestimated.

Positional intelligence is not something that is easy to quantify, but the 33-year-old undoubtedly has it in bundles.

Leicester sold Harry Maguire to United for £80m. They replaced him for a fraction of that price and it has proven to be money well spent.

Chris Wood

Burnley manager Sean Dyche would probably nominate each and every one of his players for this article, but Wood is the best candidate of the lot.

The New Zealand striker is a familiar face in the Premier League, but rarely has his praises sung.

His statistics suggest that he should. Wood is Burnley’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League and has scored at least 10 league goals in each of the past four seasons.

He is therefore a part of an exclusive club which also includes: Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Harry Kane, Alexandre Lacazette, Son Heung-min, Raheem Sterling and Jamie Vardy.

Bernardo Silva

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As a player who cost £45m and has played in the Premier League for four years it is hard to be underrated.

But when you play for a team as packed with world-class players as Silva, it can be hard to stand out and earn your plaudits.

The diminutive Portuguese midfielder is certainly doing that this season, though.

Silva has emerged as one of the top performers for Pep Guardiola’s side this campaign, playing further back as part of the midfield. He has two goals and an assist in the league so far, but it is his tenacity and willingness to do the dirty work that has stood out.

Lukasz Fabianski

Fabianski has long been a consistent goalkeeper at Premier League level, but he still manages to fly under the radar.

Like his Polish compatriot Wojciech Szczęsny, Fabianski spent his early years at Arsenal. And like Szczęsny he has since gone onto bigger and better things elsewhere.

While he will never top the league for clean sheets, West Ham fans know just how good Fabianski is.

The 36-year-old is one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the division and has been one of the reasons behind West Ham’s upturn in form under Moyes in recent years.

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