This weekend the pundits drooled over two midfielders particularly. Micah Richards known as “the most effective gamers in world soccer”, whereas Jamie Redknapp described as “the most effective of his kind in world soccer”. Jamie Carragher hailed each and mentioned: “Proper now we’re watching two of the most effective midfielders in world soccer, there’s little doubt about that.”
Placing apart how annoying the phrase “world soccer” has turn out to be, they’ve some extent. Rice and Caicedo are each doing distinctive midfield issues each week. On Saturday, with a flying leap into the field to energy in a header at Burnley and, a few hours later, in six seconds, the third of which arrange Joao Pedro to attain.
Commercial
Watching Caicedo is a bit like watching N’Golo Kane in his prime, working previous his personal teammates to place out fires all around the pitch, and he’s presumably irritating past perception to play in opposition to. His skill not solely to fill the precise area however to impact the sport when he will get there, normally with a well timed interception or deal with, is very uncommon and in contrast to anybody else within the Premier League, because the numbers present.
“He’s an precise animal,” mentioned Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after the 2-0 win at Spurs. “He’s the most effective participant on the planet in his place … who is best than him in that place? He’s a beast. Each 50-50, each problem he wins and he’s so composed on the ball.” You possibly can perceive the appreciation – when Caicedo performs properly, Sanchez has actual hope of holding a clear sheet.
Caicedo is crucial to Chelsea, simply as Rice is significant to the whole lot do proper now. The comparability between the 2 will not be fully honest, given Caicedo is probably the most defensive participant in Chelsea’s midfield and Rice performs alongside a holding participant – normally Martin Zubimendi – and that distinction is borne out within the knowledge. Rice contributes considerably in defence however his influence is more and more within the attacking half.
Moises Caicedo has 4 objectives this season for Chelsea (Getty Photos)
Declan Rice celebrates after scoring Arsenal’s second at Burnley (Getty Photos)
Rice ranks second within the Premier League for ball-carry distance behind solely Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson (extra on Anderson later), and on high of these driving runs with the ball he has added different threats over the previous 12 months, like his knack of timing off-the-ball runs into the field and his skill to ship dead-ball missiles plum on Gabriel’s brow. Simply as Caicedo stands out for defensive actions, Rice comes out on high of the pile for anticipated assists amongst Premier League midfielders.
There are some notable omissions from this season’s knowledge. Rodri has barely performed over the previous 12 months however he’ll little doubt return to the dialog, as the one Premier League participant with a Ballon d’Or at dwelling. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have missed just a few video games and so don’t have the minutes to make the reduce, although each had been pivotal in Liverpool’s title win. has recorded some spectacular numbers and Liverpool are a greater aspect when he performs in midfield slightly than makeshift right-back.
Commercial
It’s price contemplating another gamers within the dialog for the Premier League’s excellent midfielder. has tailored properly to his deeper function this season, or maybe he’s merely not tailored in any respect, nonetheless taking part in high-risk passes and instigating most of Manchester United’s attacking play (1.31 anticipated assists, rating second amongst central midfielders). Mixed along with his excessive tally of ball recoveries (61, joint second), Fernandes’s all-round output is outstanding, even when he often will get caught out in his defensive positioning.
Then there may be Anderson, making superhuman contributions at Forest. Thomas Tuchel had no hesitation in handing over England’s No 6 shirt earlier this 12 months and saying “it’s yours” forward of the 2026 World Cup. Anderson’s figures are massively spectacular in a poor Forest group, driving forwards with entries into the ultimate third (121, first amongst central midfielders) whereas additionally topping the league’s midfielders for ball recoveries (84) – albeit there is a bit more restoration required for a group nineteenth within the desk.
Bruno Fernandes made his three hundredth Manchester United look final weekend (Man Utd/PA)
Elliot Anderson is impressing for membership and nation (Nick Potts/PA)
Who’s the most effective midfielder within the Premier League proper now? Rice is undoubtedly the excellent all-rounder, however Caicedo may simply edge it by the thinnest margin for his sheer quantity of steals – no participant in Europe’s high 5 leagues has recorded extra tackles and interceptions and it’s a freakish expertise.
Commercial
Caicedo is a relentless destroyer of assaults, however he’s additionally a creator within the sense that his interventions routinely spark Chelsea’s personal ahead strikes, usually harmful ones when opponents thought that they had management. Their aim in opposition to Sunderland final weekend was a working example as Caicedo hustled the ball in midfield earlier than feeding Pedro Neto, who performed in Alejandro Garnacho to attain. The 24-year-old has additionally begun including aim contributions to his recreation, like Rodri and Rice have achieved, with 4 objectives this time period. The tackle-assist at Tottenham was maybe probably the most Caicedo-ish factor to occur all season lengthy.
After all they’re totally different profiles with totally different roles in several groups, and the cop out can be to conclude that the most effective midfield within the league can be a mouth-watering mixture of Caicedo holding, Rice carrying the ball upfield and Fernandes there to inject some creativity. After which there’s Anderson, who can do a little bit of all three.