The most important player for each of the 20 sides.
With the 2014/15 Premier League season now seven matches old CaughtOffside decided to pick out the single most important player for each of the 20 clubs in the division.
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Arsenal – Danny Welbeck
We have gone for the £16m deadline day signing not because we believe he is the Gunners’ best player, but because with Olivier Giroud injured for some time the England international is the most irreplaceable.
Aston Villa – Fabian Delph
Captain Ron Vlaar and Christian Benteke were both on the shortlist, but with the duo often injured we had to opt for the midfield enforcer that is Delph.
Burnley – Jason Shackell
The newly promoted side are finding life tough in the top tier so far, particularly in attack, but at the back things are a lot better largely thanks to the skipper Shackell.
Chelsea – Diego Costa
Manager Jose Mourinho has such an impressive squad at his disposal that this is a difficult one to judge, but with the aging Didier Drogba and Loic Remy the only other alternatives upfront we have to give this one to Costa.
Crystal Palace – Mile Jedinak
The Australian was among the best central midfielders in the entire division last term and his dominant displays in the middle are key to Palace’s success.
Everton – James McCarthy
Many would opt for Leighton Baines, but with Bryan Oviedo his backup we think the loss of the left-back would be felt a lot less than the loss of this midfield ace, who is a brilliant figure in the centre circle.
Hull City – Curtis Davies
A little over a year ago this centre-back was derided as something of a joke, but since arriving at the KC Stadium in 2013 the Englishman has proven most of those doubters wrong with his fine performances.
Leicester City – Leonardo Ulloa
The second promoted side now and despite a tough start the team that are doing the best of the three thanks largely to the goals from this brilliant club record signing.
Liverpool – Daniel Sturridge
When he is absent it is clear just how much the team misses him and that is why Sturridge takes the slot despite the importance of Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling.
Manchester City – David Silva
This was a tough one to call as Manuel Pellegrini perhaps has the best rounded squad in the league, but having provided more assists since 2010 than any other player we opted for Silva ahead of the likes of Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany.
Manchester United – Angel di Maria
It’s something of a transition phase for the Red Devils currently and anyone who has watched them play will know defence is not their strong point, but this club record £59.7m signing is vitally important in midfield.
Newcastle United – Papiss Cisse
A difficult one to choose, but despite the plethora of new signings this summer at St James’ Park, with four league goals in his last three games Cisse is showing he is still the best option in attack.
QPR – Charlie Austin
Despite their significant financial backing the Hoops have looked weak this campaign and although Leroy Fer could one day be their most important player, currently we have to give it to Austin for his goals.
Southampton – Morgan Schneiderlin
There are a couple of new signings making a decent case with Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic both impressing, but for the moment Schneiderlin takes it for his fine displays in midfield.
Stoke City – Asmir Begovic
Blues loanee Victor Moses has been good, but the only current Potteries player we think is irreplaceable is the goalkeeper, with Begovic continuing to impress between the sticks.
Sunderland – Connor Wickham
This was a tough one to call with a two-man shortlist of Wickham and Sebastian Larsson being drawn up in the end, but due to his age and increasing potency in front of goal the striker takes it.
Swansea City – Wilfried Bony
Another forward now and a relatively easy one to call as after loaning Michu to Napoli the options upfront behind Bony took pretty bleak – especially with Bafetimbi Gomis failing to find form.
Tottenham Hotspur – Hugo Lloris
We were tempted to go for Emmanuel Adebayor, but the striker is too inconsistent and whilst Younes Kaboul has played well this season he too cannot always be relied upon – unlike Lloris who is genuinely world-class.
West Bromwich Albion – Saido Berahino
This isn’t a case of jumping on the bandwagon as Berahino has been impressing quietly for some time and due to the other options in attack for the Baggies he has to be considered the most important player.
West Ham United – Mark Noble
For years Hammers fans – and many others – have been calling for this midfielder to get an England call-up and judging by how important he is at Upton Park that doesn’t seem like such a silly suggestion.