Just who is the Premier League’s dirtiest player right now?
The Premier League is no stranger to the old midfield enforcer, and as it stands there are a fair few currently patrolling the pitches everywhere from Sunderland to Southampton.
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The players on the list below are the dirtiest in the top flight this season. The man at the summit of the pile has committed a half century of fouls, while those below him aren’t far behind.
Not taking into account the amount of cards they’ve picked up, the corresponding numbers show just how many fouls they have been called on this term.
Erik Lamela – Tottenham Hotspur
Total fouls: 39
The Spurs man has committed more fouls than he has been on the end of, surprisingly. Could this be further evidence that his time in England isn’t working out?
Fernandinho – Manchester City
Total fouls: 39
The Brazilian has been patrolling the City midfield to give it an added bite, but so far it’s proved to be a bigger bite than he can chew.
Mame Biram Douf – Stoke City
Total fouls: 40
Diouf was brought back to the Premier League to score goals, not chalk up fouls. Sadly, it’s not panned out that way.
Gareth Barry – Everton
Total fouls: 40
The man known as ‘custard pants’ in certain areas of the West Midlands has slowed down considerably with age. Not a dirty player by any stretch, but his heavy legs are starting to wear him down.
Moussa Sissoko – Newcastle United
Total fouls: 41
Sissoko is known for many things, one of which is running through his opponents because he’s too big to get out of the way. Referees have noticed.
Graziano Pelle – Southampton
Total fouls: 47
The Italian international hasn’t been in the goals so much recently, but his foul tally has continued to rise. That’s the nature of the game, though, when you’re a physical player.
Leonardo Ulloa – Leicester City
Total fouls: 48
Another striker whose physicality can sometimes work against him.
Victor Wanyama – Southampton
Total fouls: 49
Wanyama can accurately be described as a ‘unit’, and unfortunately for units they often have fouls given against them.
Ashley Barnes – Burnley
Total fouls: 50
Maybe Jose was right! With 50 could to his name already, the Burnley man has shown that he is not afraid to put himself about a bit.