In football, the limelight naturally gravitates towards the attackers, and understandably so, given their role in scoring goals. However, a shift has become apparent in recent times, where midfielders have seized the attention. In the year 2023 alone, the transfer market has witnessed four midfielders moving for sums exceeding £100 million each. Notably, three of these transfers involve movements within or towards the English Premier League: Enzo Fernández (Benfica to Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham to Arsenal), and Moisés Caicedo (Brighton to Chelsea). It appears clubs have finally recognized the pivotal role played by the midfield - the engine driving their teams - and will back their acknowledgment with investments. Here, we’ll rank some of the best midfield parings in the league and offer some betting tips tailored around how these midfield pairings could impact the overall season of their respective teams, so you can make the best betting decisions on Premier League matches today. **Rodri, Mateo Kovačić, and Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City** Manchester City have the best midfield in England and that isn’t an opinion open to discussion. I mean, you only have to look at the fact that they’ve won 5 of the last 6 Premier League titles as proof of this. While they’ve been blessed with exceptional attackers like Riyad Mahrez, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, and now Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, their equally excellent midfield over the years has ensured they have dominated nearly every game they’ve played in over half a decade. Key to their supremacy is the dynamic duo of Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne, who can be strongly argued as the best in their respective roles. Despite De Bruyne’s injury woes over the past year, his indispensable role in steering the team towards a historic treble just three months ago remains undeniable. The departure of İlkay Gündoğan to Barcelona on a free transfer has prompted Pep Guardiola to secure Mateo Kovačić as a replacement. Kovačić’s illustrious track record includes being a four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid and Chelsea. On the international stage, his contributions played an integral part in Croatia securing 2nd and 3rd positions in two FIFA World Cups. With the growth and refinement observed in Rodri’s performance over the past year, Manchester City’s midfield now possesses an immaculate blend of creative flair, defensive solidity, and the capability to control games. This unique combination of attributes holds the potential to elevate the entire team’s performance to greater heights, as we’ve seen. For this reason, our bet prediction is for them to keep the most clean sheets this season, and also score the most goals, with Erling Haaland leading the pack once more. At BetKing, we have the best odds for these for our online sports betting clients.
**Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton - Newcastle United** Newcastle United have gone about their midfield construction intelligently. Last season, they brought in Bruno Guimarães from Lyon and this season, they’ve brought in Sandro Tonali from Milan - two players who, at the time of joining the club, were in their early 20s. In addition to this is Joelinton, a player who admittedly divides opinions. Although this midfield might not boast the same attacking output as teams like Manchester City or Arsenal, their strength lies in their adeptness at providing defensive coverage, robust tackling and pressing, and effective midfield control. These attributes are executed at a notably high level. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the strength of this trio lies in their collective synergy. Any absence within this unit might lead to severe consequences for the team’s overall performance. An illustrative example of this dynamic occurred on the season’s opening day, where Newcastle United convincingly defeated Aston Villa with a resounding 5-1 home victory. However, a fortnight later, during a match against a 10-man Liverpool, the team exhibited commanding control while Sandro Tonali and Joelinton were on the field. Yet, as soon as these two players were substituted out, the midfield’s grasp on the game slipped away, resulting in two goals being conceded in the final 10 minutes, culminating in a 2-1 defeat. **Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and Kai Havertz - Arsenal** Arsenal’s midfield certainly has the potential to be second best on the list. However, Mikel Arteta’s tinkering could be its demise. Last season, the Gunners came very close to lifting the Premier League title and they did so with a midfield three of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Ødegaard. Partey provided the defensive cover for the team, Xhaka excelled in his box-to-box role providing a career high 7 Premier League goals & 7 assists while newly named captain, Martin Ødegaard had the most productive season of his young career highlighted by his 15 goals and 8 assists. This season, however, Mikel Arteta has made two notable changes to his midfield. First was the excellent signing of Declan Rice but then came the questionable move of bringing in Kai Havertz - a player who barely featured in midfield while at Chelsea. Granit Xhaka has since moved to Bayer Leverkusen while Thomas Partey has been used out of position so far. While, at the time of writing, the Gunners have picked up a respectable 7 out of a possible 9 points, they have labored for each of those points. Most believed Arsenal would field Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard as they provide the perfect blend of attack, control and defensive solidity in midfield but have so far been denied this. However, it is important to note that these are still early days, and they could still have that. **Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, and James Maddison - Tottenham Hotspur** Although it might seem a bit premature to say this, Ange Postecoglou’s reshuffle of Spurs’ midfield has already shown promising outcomes. The addition of James Maddison, a highly skilled playmaker, has eased the creative responsibilities on Son Heung-min, and the team is profiting from this. Young Senegalese midfielder, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, the Malian international, have also been favored choices in the midfield over Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, and this tough call has been a masterstroke. Particularly clear in their match against Manchester United, especially during the second half, they had complete control over the game and could have netted over two goals if they had been more clinical in their finishing. With both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr likely to miss up to a month of action when the AFCON rolls in next year, Spurs could have a bit of problem coping in their absence. For this reason, we think they might narrowly miss out on a Top 4 finish but should secure a Top 6 spot. At **BetKing**, we have the best odds available for this.
**Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and Christopher Nkunku - Chelsea** Chelsea’s investment in their midfield trio of Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and Christopher Nkunku amounts to approximately £300 million. With the inclusion of Roméo Lavia, this total escalates to £350 million. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see all three in action simultaneously till early 2024 due to Christopher Nkunku’s injury. Nevertheless, it’s indisputable that this midfield ensemble has the potential to assert dominance in the league for the next decade if they can synergize effectively. Enzo Fernández has seamlessly adapted to the demands of the Premier League and truly shines on the field. Caicedo has already showed his value during his time at Brighton, and despite a forgettable debut at Chelsea, his exceptional talent is clear. Nkunku contributes significantly to the midfield’s attacking prowess. While he can be used as a striker, his natural role is that of an attacking midfielder who boasts an impressive track record of goal-scoring, as evidenced by his Bundesliga Golden Boot award from last season, even after enduring a 3-month absence because of a knee injury. Again, it must be added, that due to their young age, their best years are ahead of them. However, they’re still expected to be among the best. **Honorable Mentions** Normally, **Liverpool** would be included in this list, potentially displacing Chelsea. However, their midfield has undergone significant transformations during this off season, and it will require a considerable amount of time to get back to their expected level. The departure of club captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League is a setback that might take some time to recover from. The existing trio in their midfield, comprising **Wataru Endō, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister,** holds a lot of promise, but they have some big shoes to fill. **Manchester United’s** midfield three of **Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and… Mason Mount?** Yeah, that could be problematic. For starters, the mileage on Casemiro’s legs over an accomplished career at Real Madrid finally seems to be catching up to him. The 5-time Champions League winner who turns 32 later on in the season has lost a yard of pace and has been breezed past with ease in games this season. The decision to bring in Mason Mount is puzzling, especially as he continues to be played in a role that differs slightly from his accustomed position. While Bruno Fernandes maintains a consistently high level of performance and remains the sole reliable component within the midfield, this doesn’t bode well for Erik ten Hag and his plans. **West Ham United** is a surprising example of a team making significant strides in the transfer window which is something we couldn’t have imagined saying a month ago. They’ve reinvested their Declan Rice funds astutely by acquiring **Edson Álvarez, James Ward-Prowse, and Mohammed Kudus.** These additions amplify an already decent midfield that includes **Paqueta and Tomáš Souček.** Edson Álvarez brings a wealth of experience as an accomplished international player with multiple club and country titles to his name. James Ward-Prowse, a proven talent in the Premier League, indisputably holds the title of the country’s best dead ball specialist and makes them a significant threat from set pieces. Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus, a potent attacking force, racked up an impressive 18 goals for Ajax last season and has already netted 4 in 3 games this season prior to his move to East London. This assembled midfield possesses the potential to clinch a European spot for David Moyes’ side in the upcoming season.
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