The most improved Prem Xl, according to WhoScored: Henderson, Rashford…

Quick Reads

Planet Football
3rd April 2020

Liverpool and Manchester United stars have made big improvements on their showings from last season according to WhoScored’s average ratings.

Only players who have made at least 10 Premier League appearances in 2018-19 and 20 appearances this season are eligible for the most improved Xl.

The team is displayed in a 4-3-3 formation and it makes for a really impressive Xl on paper.

Mathew Ryan

The Brighton goalkeeper kept six clean sheets in 34 Premier League games last season, conceding 55 goals at a rate of 1.6 per game.

In 2019-20, Ryan has kept six clean sheets in five fewer games while conceding 40 goals at a rate of 1.3 per game, with his average rating rising from 6.41 to 6.71.

Ricardo Pereira

Pereira joined Leicester in 2018 and won their Player of the Year award while recording an impressive rating of 7.34 in his debut season.

The 26-year-old has managed to get even better in 2019-20 according to WhoScored, establishing himself as one of the best right-backs in the league with a 7.5 rating.

Ricardo Pereira is the only defender in Europe's top five leagues with:

❐ 150+ recoveries
❐ 100+ tackles made
❐ 50+ take-ons completed

A workhorse on both sides of the pitch. pic.twitter.com/36x16AEUKE

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 4, 2020

Yerry Mina

Mina had a difficult first season at Everton after signing from Barcelona, but he now looks to have adapted to English football.

The centre-back was on the fringes in 2018-19, but he has become a regular at Goodison Park and seen his average rating rise from 6.58 to 6.85.

Federico Fernandez

Fernandez had an average first season at Newcastle United following his transfer from Swansea, posting an average rating of 6.64 in his debut campaign at St James’ Park.

But the 31-year-old has been a mainstay for Steve Bruce’s side this season, however, and his rating has improved by 0.2 in 2019-20.

Diego Rico

Rico is another player who was getting used to new surroundings last season with the full-back starting just five of his 12 league appearances for Bournemouth.

He has now overcome those early struggles and made 21 starts in the league in 2019-20, while his rating has gone from 6.36 to 6.99.

Jordan Henderson

Henderson may have lifted the Champions League trophy in 2018-19, but he wasn’t always at his best in the Premier League according to the stats and posted a 6.67 average rating.

However, his rating has improved by 0.53 this season and the Liverpool captain is among the frontrunners to win the PFA Premier League Player of the Season award.

"If the season was to end today, Jordan Henderson would be my player of the season."#MOTD #LFC pic.twitter.com/vFPCYOxK35

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 1, 2020

Scott McTominay

McTominay divided a lot of Manchester United supporters after breaking into the first team and posted an average rating of 6.48 on WhoScored last season.

The Scotland international has proved many of his critics wrong since then, though, and is now an integral part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, picking up a rating of 7.10 in 2019-20.

Kevin De Bruyne

Injury problems limited De Bruyne to just 19 Premier League appearances last season and left him a rating of 7.05.

The midfielder has been fully fit and back to his best in 2019-20, registering eight goals and 17 assists with an overall rating of 7.92.

Adama Traore

No Premier League player has made a bigger improvement this season than Traore.

The Wolves winger has shown glimpses of his talent in the past but was always seen as a speed merchant with no end product.

Yet Traore has developed into one of the best wingers in the league in 2019-20, and his four goals and seven assists have seen his rating rise by 1.02 to 7.61.