Monday, 23 April 2018

The fastest players in the Premier League: Mohamed Salah misses out on top 10 - but who are the speed demons?

Some of these players, you'd expect to see in such a list. Others, however, will almost certainly surprise you

The Premier League is one of the most intense football leagues in the world.

Players who stand out in the English top flight are often blessed with pace.

But who would stand a chance of keeping up with Usain Bolt?

Our friends at Opta have recorded every player’s top speed in the league this season.

The top 20 includes the well-known speed demons, but there are certainly some surprises too.

Here are the top 20 fastest players in the Premier League:

=20. Jose Izquierdo (Brighton)

Jose Izquierdo is a willing runner for Brighton
Top speed : 34.83km/h

Newly promoted Brighton have used Izquierdo’s pace to frighten Premier League’s defences all year.

The Colombian winger has been a willing runner in behind for the Seagulls and has been pivotal to their success.

=20. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fits nicely in Liverpool's high-energy team
Top speed : 34.83km/h

Oxlade-Chamberlain has settled in well at Liverpool and has been enjoying a new role in central midfield, offering energy and, clearly, a lot of speed.

=20. Jordan Ibe (Bournemouth)

Jordon Ibe is a tricky - and speedy - customer
Top speed : 34.83km/h

Ibe is well known for being a speed demon in the league, and he regularly uses his pace to trouble opposition defences.

19. Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Sadio Mane's blistering pace helps Liverpool on the counter attack
Top speed : 34.84km/h

Mane has been one of the quickest and most dangerous forwards in the league in recent years.

And this season has been no different, as he's been a constant threat in an impressive Liverpool team.

18. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Mohamed Salah is quick - but not quick enough to make the top 10
Top speed : 34.93km/h

Salah has been the best player in the league this season, netting 30 goals so far.

His electric pace combined with his clinical finishing has made him a force to be reckoned with. The only surprise is that he doesn't appear higher in this list.

=16. Joshua King (Bournemouth)

Joshua King is a key part of the Bournemouth attack
Top speed : 34.94km/h

A key part of a speedy front line at Bournemouth, King ranked at 20 in the list last year.

This season, he's again used his pace, often giving defenders nightmares.

=16. Kurt Zouma (Stoke)

Kurt Zouma has great recovery pace
Top speed : 34.94km/h

Zouma is a surprise name in a list full of wingers, strikers and full-backs.

His pace comes in handy if he needs to recover quickly when caught out of position.

15. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Raheem Sterling has been in devastating form this season
Top speed : 34.97km/h

Sterling has been part of an outstanding City team who are now Premier League champions.

A devastating attacking force this season, he's added goals to his game, scoring 17 in the league so far.

=13. Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang (Arsenal)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has already showed Premier League what he's all about
Top speed : 34.99km/h

Aubameyang moved to Arsenal from Borrusia Dortmund in January and has already displayed high speeds.

Defenders will have to watch out for the striker next year.

=13. Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

Hector Bellerin likes to bomb on from right-back
Top speed : 34.99km/h

Bellerin has a reputation for being up there with the league's quickest.

He uses his pace to bomb down the right from full-back, aiding Arsenal in attack.

12. DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle)

DeAndre Yedlin's pace is vital at both ends of the pitch
Top speed : 35.08km/h

Yedlin is another speedy full-back who likes to get forward.

His pace has helped Newcastle in their first season back in the top flight.

11. Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Jamie Vardy loves to run in behind defences
Top speed : 35.09km/h

Vardy is one of the league’s fastest strikers and is always a willing runner in behind defences.

This year, he's helped Leicester towards a potential top ten finish.

10. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)

Laurent Koscielny gives Arsenal recovery pace at the back
Top speed : 35.11km/h

Koscielny is one of the quickest centre-backs in the league and has been a consistent performer for Arsenal in recent years.

9. Kiko Femenia (Watford)

Kiko Femenia has enjoyed a decent debut season in the Premier League
Top speed : 35.12km/h

Femenia is yet another fast full-back who likes to bomb forward and join in attacks.

He joined Watford in summer and has impressed in his first season.

8. Oliver Burke (West Brom)

Oliver Burke has hit a top speed of 35.13km/h this season
Top speed : 35.13km/h

The young winger hasn't had the easiest season at West Brom, but it hasn't stopped him hitting top speeds.

This stat suggests it might have been worth giving him more game time.

7. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

Wilfried Zaha is Palace's star man
Top speed : 35.14km/h

Wilfried Zaha has shone in a struggling Palace side.

His pace and skill on the counter attack will be vital if the Eagles survive.

6. Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)

Leroy Sane continues to improve
Top speed : 35.19km/h

Rudiger's inclusion so high in the list may come as a shock.

His recovery pace is vital for Chelsea, who favour a back three.

5. Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Kyle Walker has settle in at Man City with ease
Top speed : 35.21km/h

Walker has been part of a thrilling City side who have blown away the competition this year.

His constant running from full-back adds another element to an already exciting attack.

4.Theo Walcott (Everton)

Theo Walcott is now tearing up the Everton wing
Top speed : 35.23km/h

It's no secret that Walcott is very, very fast.

The only difference this season is that he's flying down the wing at Everton, not Arsenal.

3. Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham)

Moussa Sissoko hasn't had much game time, at Spurs but he's not lost any of his pace
Top speed : 35.33km/h

It's fair to say Sissoko hasn't been an overwhelming success at Spurs.

But while his commitment and general quality could be questioned, his pace has never been in doubt.

2. Patrick Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace)

Patrick van Aanholt is the league's fastest full-back
Top speed : 35.42km/h

It's official - Van Aanholt is the fastest full-back in the league.

He enjoys getting forward at every opportunity, often finding himself in goal-scoring positions.

1. Leroy Sane (Manchester City)

Catch him if you can, Leroy Sane is the quickest player in the league
Top speed : 35.48km/h

Sane takes the crown for being the fastest player in the Premier League this season.

He has been part of an electric City team and has played a significant part in their success.

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