For years, the idea of having an English footballer with the natural skillset of James Maddison was seen as fanciful. Ever since he first appeared on the scene, though, the youngster has looked a sublime talent. His first major moment came at Aberdeen, on loan from Norwich City, when he scored a sublime free-kick into Glasgow Rangers. Since then, he’s never really looked back.

What makes James Maddison stand out?

It would be hard to say just one thing that makes James Maddison a stand-out in the league. A creative talent with both assists and goals aplenty, he’s a creative fulcrum for Leicester City. His crossing, his ability to shoot from distance, and his movement makes him so hard to mark. He also links up very well with his teammates, playing tremendously well alongside some very important players.

He’s become a creative spark in the league, and one of the most important players to Leicester. If he was to become injured, they’d lose much of their creativity. He’s a fantastic set-piece taker, too, and tends to make the right choice. For one so young, he’s got a much greater understanding of the game than most would expect.

What does James Maddison need to work on?

However, where Maddison needs to work heavily on his game is defensively. While in the past a player of his creative skills could get by simply coasting, today that is not the case. Even at Leicester, his lack of defensive quality can be a bit of a standout issue.

Before Maddison could take that next step to a major Premier League contender, he’ll need to become better defensively. And he could do with becoming more reliable in the air, too; for someone so naturally fit, strong, and tall, he’s not great in the air. If he can work on these things, though, Maddison would be one of the most complete midfielders in the country.

When Eintracht Frankfurt forward Sébastien Haller signed for West Ham United, more than a few eyebrows were raised. Here was a player being linked with the elite of Europe, signing with a mid-table Premier League club. Despite not truly hitting it off in the league so far, with only 6 goals, Haller has steadily grown into his role as the lead forward at West Ham.

What makes Sébastien Haller stand out?

A tremendous asset in the air, Haller is one of the most technically gifted forwards in England. He works hard for the defence, too, often working a their primary opening line of defence. A good finisher when it matters, too, he’s got an array of finishes that he can produce with either feet. This makes Haller one of the most intriguing players in the league to watch; he’s got a bit of everything.

However, as is noted below, he perhaps lacks the fluidity to play in more than a set few systems.

What does Sébastien Haller need to work on?

One thing that we noticed about Haller is that he does not seem to work as well outside of his previous partnership. At Frankfurt, he was paired with Luka Jovic and Ante Rebic. Both of his partners were grafters wo worked hard, moved around, and could easily rotate positions with one another. At West Ham, though, he’s used as the primary focal point of their attack.

Despite his size and his strength, Haller is not your archetypical target man. However, he’s often typecast as such due to his natural look and frame. However, it would be fair to say that Haller could improve on this side of his game. If he was less specific in which systems benefited him, he’d move even higher up the football food table.

When Aston Villa first went down under Remi Garde, Grealish was seen as the one bright spark about the future. Given the club has gone through about four full squads worth of players since they went down and returned, Grealish has been there throughout. From the wild days in the Championship to the madcap summer of 2019, where the club signed many players, Grealish has always been more or less the first choice.

Watch him for a few minutes, and it’s easy to see why that is the case.

What makes Jack Grealish stand out?

Always touted as a player with tremendous ability, Grealish has started to live up to the hype in the last 24 months. His passing is arguably among the best in the top flight, as is his ability to hold on to the ball. When Grealish no longer wants the ball, he’ll either play a smart pass or win a foul. In fact, he’s among the most fouled players in the top flight – he knows just when and how to win a foul.

He’s also a great player for making sure that his team can shift from one end of the pitch to the other. His long-range passing is tremendous, as is his dribbling. Despite not being rapid fast, he can get Villa up the pitch quickly and easily with his vision.

What does Jack Grealish need to work on?

The main thing that Grealish needs to improve upon is his ability to cross. For someone with such natural technique, his crossing can be wayward. He would be well-suited working on this, as his overall ball technique is among the best in the UK. If he can get it together and improve on his crossing – as well as be a touch more dynamic from a defensive standpoint – Grealish could be essential to club and country.

Go back to his debut at Old Trafford for Liverpool, and the talent that Trent Alexander-Arnold was immediately noticeable. He handled what was a very challenging game away from home, and played well outside of the level that was expected. However, it’s quickly become apparent that Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the best attacking and defensive players in the world.

What makes Trent Alexander-Arnold stand out?

If you watch Trent Alexander-Arnold for more than a few passes, you can see that he was originally a midfielder. He used to play a controlling role in the middle of the park, and his vision – not to mention his diagonal switches – are world-class. So, too, is his ability to hold onto the ball and break off into space to create attacking chances for his teammates.

His passing is smooth, yet varied. He can play a cushioned short pass as easily and as quickly as he can a sharp diagonal. He can also take tremendous free kicks and corners, and his crossing is among the best in the world. It’s safe to say that from an attacking standpoint, few clubs in the world can be as confidently reliant on their full-back. Liverpool can, though, with the outstanding output that Trent Alexander-Arnold provides.

What does Trent Alexander-Arnold need to work on?

While many claim that Trent is a poor defender, the numbers say otherwise. He wins his fair share of tackles, and is a brilliant interceptor of the ball. His attacking instincts mean he’s caught up the pitch from time to time, but that’s a consequence of how his club play rather than anything to do with the player himself.

If Trent could improve even slightly on his defensive positioning, he’d be among the best players in the world. Right now, his only main issue is he isn’t scoring enough goals. Once he adds another 3-5 goals per season, he could realistically be the best full-back in world football.