Premier League Playmakers: Who Creates Big Chances and Carries the Ball?

3rd March 2025

The Premier League is home to some of the world’s most creative footballers, but who excels at creating big chances and who dominates with the ball at their feet? Recent data through match week 27 of the 2024-25 season reveals fascinating insights into the league’s attacking midfielders and wingers.

The Pass-First Maestros

Manchester United‘s Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo stand out around the “Pass-First Playmakers” quadrant. Diallo leads with an impressive 1.9+ big chances created per 90 minutes, while Fernandes contributes around 1.75, demonstrating United’s creative strength despite their inconsistent season.

Chelsea‘s Cole Palmer also features prominently in this category, creating approximately 1.7 big chances per 90 while maintaining a balanced approach to his game. Newcastle‘s Anthony Gordon shows similar creative tendencies, though with slightly more successful dribbles than Palmer.

The Explosive Dribblers

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Manchester City‘s Jeremy Doku epitomizes the “Direct Dribble Merchants” with a staggering 5+ successful dribbles per 90 minutes. While his chance creation is lower (approximately 0.9 per 90), his ability to beat defenders is unmatched in the league.

West Ham‘s Mohammed Kudus also excels in this category, registering around 3.8 successful dribbles per game while maintaining decent chance creation numbers.

The Complete Packages

The most valuable players often combine both skills effectively. Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah maintains impressive numbers in both metrics, creating around 1.3 big chances while completing 2 successful dribbles per 90 minutes. Arsenal‘s Bukayo Saka shows similar versatility with strong performances in both categories.

What This Means For Teams

Teams with players in the top-right quadrant possess the most dangerous attacking threats – those who can both create for teammates and beat defenders individually. Manchester United’s representation at the top of the chance creation metric suggests their finishing, rather than creativity, may be a primary concern.

As the season progresses past week 27, these creative forces will likely play decisive roles in determining European qualification and the title race outcome.