When historians pore back over the 2021-22 Premier League season, it’s hard to imagine quite what they’ll hone in on. This was the year full crowds returned to stadia after COVID; maybe the Year Zero for Newcastle, when the Toon Army began their stomp towards Saudi-fuelled glory. But what else?
It’s the biggest compliment you can give Manchester City that their latest stroll to supremacy will probably be largely ignored; similarly Liverpool and their own enduring excellence which means Pep Guardiola’s side don’t have everything their own way. Whisper it quietly, but we may just be living in an era where the two greatest teams in Premier League history are coexisting.
It’s neither of them who have truly stood out this season, though. Look beyond those systematic machines and it’s a few more overlooked faces who’ve shone; those of rejuvenated forces at Wolves, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, and particularly a West Ham side whose efforts may yet result in Champions League football.
So without further ado…
HOW WE DID IT
Ranking anything is generally a thankless task – but what are FourFourTwo if not gluttons for punishment?
In coming up with our list of the finest Premier League stars, we decided it would be fairest to base it entirely on performances this season – after all, there’s no time like the present, and it’s a lot easier than trying to weigh up how good Jadon Sancho is after a challenging start at Old Trafford.
So, we asked some of our finest brains in the business for their opinions, too – those who follow clubs, cover the league widely and have their eyes on the ground.
Together, this is what we came up with…
HAVE YOUR SAY #FFTPL100
Did we miss anyone? Got a position horribly wrong and you really want to let us know that we’re idiots? Join the conversation on Twitter and tell us your thoughts…
100 HAS HIS BIG MOVE GONE FOR GOOD?
WILFRIED ZAHA
CRYSTAL PALACE, 29
Zaha seems happy again, even if you might not always guess it from his on-field ennui.
Having frequently ploughed a lone creative furrow under Roy Hodgson, the Ivorian now shares that burden with the likes of Michael Olise, Ebere Eze and Conor Gallagher. He’s also relishing his status as one of the elder statesmen of Crystal Palace’s squad.
“It’s enjoyable because you’re watching them grow,” Zaha beamed. “When I look at them, I think, ‘That used to be me…’”
Zaha turns 30 later this year, and his previous dream of joining a Champions League club appears to be fading. He is, though, enjoying life under Patrick Vieira, whose front-foot style suits one of the Premier League’s most thrilling talents.
Zaha is back on the left wing this term after a more central role under Hodgson. He’s still capable of twisting any full-back’s blood, and his combination of speed and skill often means opponents double up on him.
Yet Vieira demands more. The academy product scored only three non-penalty goals in his first 17 outings of the season; a player of his ability really should be producing more moments like the long-range rocket against Norwich in February, not the comical missed spot-kick in the same game. His Boxing Day red card against Tottenham, meanwhile, was the result of ill-discipline more typical of a teenager than a player with over 400 career appearances to his name.
Almost 12 years on from his senior debut, Zaha is firmly in the conversation for Palace’s greatest ever player. It’s not been his finest year, but a strong second half of the season would only strengthen his case.
HIGHLIGHT Zaha was superb in Palace’s 3-0 victory over Spurs in September, scoring one, setting up another and ensuring Emerson Royal endured a miserable debut to forget.
99 MATHIAS NORMANN
NORWICH, 25
Norwich’s recruitment last summer was mixed, but Normann has been terrific. The Rostov loanee is all-action and at his most eye-catching when going forward, with some fine dribbling, creative threat and the odd goal – crucially, as Norwich beat Brentford in November. A lengthy lay-off shortly after was cruel.
DID YOU KNOW? Normann spent two years on Brighton’s books from 2017-19, but didn’t make a single appearance.
98 JOSH KING
WATFORD, 30
Emmanuel Dennis has hogged Hornet headlines, but King has also enjoyed himself as part of a productive attack. The Norwegian contributed five goals and three assists under Xisco Munoz and Claudio Ranieri, and his relationship with Dennis has been a rare bright point of a difficult season at Vicarage Road.
HIGHLIGHT King’s hat-trick in a 5-2 victory over his former club Everton, who didn’t hand him a single start last term.
97 RICO HENRY
BRENTFORD, 24
Various injury issues limited Henry to just 39 appearances in his first three seasons with the Bees from 2016, but he’s since become their Mr Reliable. His speed and energy allow him to continually gallop down the left flank, but the wing-back is well tuned in to his defensive duties, too.
THEY SAID… “He will get his England debut,” hailed boss-cum-cheerleader Thomas Frank. “He needs to continue being consistent.”
96 STUART DALLAS
LEEDS, 30
Right-back, left-back, holding midfield, attacking midfield: Dallas is Marcelo Bielsa’s very own Polyfilla, and invariably he does an excellent job. The all-action Northern Irishman was Leeds’s Player of the Year in 2020-21, and Elland Road continues to adore him.
DID YOU KNOW? Before the winter break, Dallas had played for 99.6% of Premier League minutes since Leeds’s promotion.
95 ANDROS TOWNSEND
EVERTON, 30
With three goals and two assists in his first Everton seven games, Townsend was a stand-out early performer. He hasn’t been as productive since, but fans have still been impressed by the winger’s work. Frank Lampard should appreciate him.
HIGHLIGHT A 30-yard screamer against Burnley in September was the latest thunderbastard in a satisfying series.
“THE DISRESPECT HE GETS IS A DISGRACE. HE’S THE BEST IN TRAINING EVERY DAY”
94 HOW THE HELL DID HE BECOME ONE OF ENGLAND’S MOST LOVED MIDFIELDERS?
JOELINTON
NEWCASTLE, 25
“I’m going to be honest… I didn’t know you were that good.” If Sky Sports interviewer Patrick Davison’s opening gambit after a 1-1 draw with Manchester United threw more than its fair share of shade, it was nothing compared to what Joelinton had faced in two and a half years at St James’.
An uncustomary big-money signing from Mike Ashley in 2019, the £40m forward was thrust into a spotlight that he probably didn’t want, tasked as the firework in a team of wet matches. Instead, he became a boo magnet; a joke for rivals and interviewers alike. Eddie Howe’s job was always going to be more about which players he could sign, not which existing Magpies he could rehabilitate, but Joelinton’s transformation has stood out.
The Brazilian’s new role as a box-to-box midfielder has proved a stroke of genius. His physicality, work-rate and determination have allied perfectly to the new intensity that Howe demands. As Sky’s Davison so backhandedly pointed out, Joelinton busted a gut for every 50/50 ball and strode forward with purpose in a man-of-the-match display which was no isolated incident.
“We went down to 10 men against Norwich and then reshuffled, and played Joelinton as a No.8. He was brilliant defensively,” Howe swooned of the happy accident’s genesis.
It fixed one position ahead of the January window, at least. Joelinton was once the profile picture of this underwhelming side,
