Which Players Have Been Dispossessed The Most In The Premier League So Far This Season?

The Premier League is four weeks into the season and while most players will enjoy a rest this weekend during an international break, we take a look at the players who have been dispossessed the most so far this season.

Figures courtesy of WhoScored.

10. Mohamed Salah – 9 Times Dispossessed

Coming in at number ten on our list of players who have lost the ball the most so far this season is Mohamed Salah, who has kicked off his season as good as ever for Liverpool.

The Reds have won three Premier League matches in a row so far this year, with Salah shining in his side’s latest 3-0 win against Aston Villa last weekend.

Despite losing the ball nine times this season, Salah has scored two goals and picked up two assists in a good start to the campaign, as well as only having five ‘unsuccessful touches’ according to WhoScored.

9. James Maddison – 9 Times Dispossessed

New Tottenham signing James Maddison has been a sensation for Spurs so far this season and it could be argued that no other player has enjoyed a better start to the Premier League season this year.

Maddison has scored two goals and recorded two assists in his first four matches in North London and he certainly doesn’t look like slowing down for a new-look Ange Postecoglou side this season.

As well as being amongst the goals, Maddison has seen more of the ball than any other player in the Tottenham midfield, so losing the ball nine times in four matches isn’t too bad in hindsight.

8. Eberechi Eze – 9 Times Dispossessed

Crystal Palace superstar Eberechi Eze comes in at number eight on out list, with the midfielder being dispossessed nine times in his first four matches this season.

Palace have begun the season in fine form, with seven points from their first four matches. Eze has yet again been one of the Eagles best players and has provided a creative spark where they otherwise lack without Michael Olise who is still recovering from an injury.

Eze himself started his season slowly in terms of goalscoring, but the talented youngster got off the mark against Wolves at the weekend with a brilliant finish at the end of a well worked team move.

7. Dominic Solanke – 10 Times Dispossessed

Dominic Solanke has played every single minute of the Premier League season so far, and he has been one of Bournemouth’s best players in a disappointing start to the season.

The striker has lost the ball a total of ten times so far in his first four games, but having scored two of Bournemouth’s four goals this season he may be excused for his poor ball control.

Solanke plays as a hold up striker for the Cherries, so it is slightly unsurprising that the 25-year-old has struggled to keep possession in a side that rarely dominates possession.

6. Matheus Cunha – 11 Times Dispossessed

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha is the first of four players on our list to have lost the ball 11 times this season, with the Brazilian struggling to retain possession from his advanced role.

Cunha did manage to score his first goal of the season at the weekend, so perhaps his inability to keep the ball at times can be excused if he provides the goals for Wolves this season.

The Brazilian does lead the stats in our list for most unsuccessful touches this season with 17 to his name, so ball control is clearly something that Cunha is lacking at the beginning of the season.

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Marcus Rashford has struggled at the start of this season and although he managed to score his first goal of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign against Arsenal on Sunday, he has already lost the ball a total of 11 times this season.

The 25-year-old made a slight improvement to his statistics at the weekend, as he has averaged 2.8 possession losses per game so far this year and Rashford lost the ball just once against the Gunners.

It seems that Rashford’s game against Arsenal may be a sign of things to come, as he returned to his more favoured left wing position and scored a stunning solo goal to get off the mark this year.

Perhaps the Manchester United star’s poor ball retention so far this season can be put down to being played out of position, but having moved back to a wider role the Englishman may have more joy following the international break.

4. Lucas Paqueta – 11 Times Dispossessed

West Ham’s fast start to the season certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the Hammers sitting fourth in the league with three wins and a draw in their first four Premier League matches.

Lucas Paqueta is one of the main reasons West Ham are flying so high this season, with the Brazilian already creating a formidable midfield partnership alongside new signing James Ward-Prowse.

Paqueta can be guilty of giving away the ball for the Hammers though and he has lost possession a total of 11 times in his 355 minutes played so far, which works out to be one possession loss almost every thirty minutes.

3. Jordan Ayew – 11 Times Dispossessed

Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew is the final player on our list to have lost the ball 11 times this year, but the Eagles forward has also played the most amount of minutes of anyone on this list.

Palace have enjoyed a good start to the season and Ayew has started every one of their games so far, recording two assists as well in an impressive start to the year.

Perhaps Ayew’s possession loss’ can be forgiven due to his output of goal contributions this season, but the Ghanaian forward will be looking to improve on his ball retention over the upcoming international break.

2. Raul Jimenez – 12 Times Dispossessed

New Fulham signing Raul Jimenez has lost the ball for the Cottagers on 12 different occasions so far this season, despite only playing 315 minutes in his first four games (lowest minutes played on this list).

Jimenez is still yet to score his first goal for Fulham in the Premier League, so questions could be raised over the Mexican’s start to life in London in a poor start to the campaign.

Fulham do have a slightly easier run of fixtures coming up when they return from the international break, as they face Luton and Crystal Palace in two matches where Jimenez will certainly be looking to get off the mark.

1. Raheem Sterling – 15 Times Dispossessed

Coming in at number one on our list is Raheem Sterling, who has actually been a shining light in an otherwise disappointing Chelsea side so far this season.

Sterling has been dispossessed 15 times so far this year, but despite losing the ball more than any other player in the league he is still also one of the most in form players this year.

The Englishman has scored two of Chelsea’s five goals so far this year and he looks like the player most likely to lift his side from their disappointing start to the campaign.

It is perhaps due to the amount of dribbles Sterling is attempting as to why he is losing the ball so much, with the winger also one of the most fouled players in the league this season with 21 fouls against him in just 351 minutes.

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