Harry Diamond
James Maddison continued his rich vein of goalscoring form with another goal in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Chelsea in midweek, the midfielder having now scored five goals in his past seven league appearances for the Foxes.
Maddison has been one of the most creative midfield talents in the division since signing for Leicester from Norwich two-and-a-half years ago, but how does the 24-year-old compare to the Premier League’s best goalscoring midfielders?
Here are the six midfielders with the most Premier League goals since 2018/19:
Luka Milivojevic – 15 goals
Ranked in at number six is Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic, who has netted 15 times in the division since the start of the 2018/19 season.
Milivojevic’s total has been greatly boosted by his status as the Eagles’ designated penalty taker, with a huge 80% of his goals having come from 12 yards, including netting a league leading 10 penalties during the 2018/19 season.
There are few players as reliable from the spot, the Serbia international having scored 21 of his 23 penalties since moving to Selhurst Park from Olympiakos four-and-a-half years ago.
Paul Pogba – 17 goals
Paul Pogba has had more than his fair share of critics since signing for Manchester United in a world-record deal, but only three Premier League midfielders have scored more league goals than the Frenchman since 2018/19.
The France international enjoyed the best season of his Red Devils career during the 2018/19 campaign as he finished as the club’s leading scorer, netting 13 goals in the Premier League.
An injury-interrupted season last term saw the midfielder score just one league goal, but he has found his best form in recent weeks and has netted crucial winning goals against both Burnley and Fulham.
Paul Pogba, stop that! 🤯
The control, the turn, the finish.
Ridiculous! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/4WOazDVX1Y
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 20, 2021
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope the 27-year-old can maintain his current level of performances, as the league leaders look to sustain their surprise title challenge.
Gylfi Sigudsson – 17 goals
Gylfi Sigurdsson has been a regular source of midfield goals throughout his Premier League career, enjoying his finest individual season during the 2018/19 campaign to finish as Everton’s joint-leading scorer.
The Icelandic international scored 13 league goals, a tally which saw him finish as the Premier League’s highest-scoring midfielder alongside the aforementioned Pogba.
Sigurdsson has flattered to deceive in recent seasons with the club-record signing having struggled to win favour, though he has returned to the side in recent weeks and has scored two goals this season, netting in victories over both Chelsea and Sheffield United.
Kevin De Bruyne – 18 goals
Kevin De Bruyne is widely regarded as the Premier League’s best creative talent and has regularly topped the division’s assist charts, including equalling the single season record with 20 last term to be named as the PFA Player of the Year.
Whilst the brilliant Belgian’s passing range is rightly lauded, the Manchester City star also ranks amongst the most prolific midfielders of recent seasons.
De Bruyne has netted 18 goals since the start of the 2018/19 season, including a career-best 13 league goals last season as City finished as runners-up.
The 29-year-old will be hoping to increase his tally of three goals for the campaign to date over the second half of the campaign, having established himself as the club’s number one penalty taker.
James Maddison – 19 goals
No midfielder in the Premier League has scored more goals than James Maddison since his debut in the division for Leicester, his goal against Chelsea in midweek taking him to 19 league goals for the Foxes.
Maddison has handled the step up to the highest level admirably since arriving from Norwich, registering double figures for goal involvements in 2018/19 before providing six goals and three assists last season.
The 24-year-old has already matched that goal tally this season for a Leicester side in pursuit of Champions League football, and will hope to maintain his recent purple patch as he bids to force his way back into the England set-up.
James Maddison is on fire this season 🔥
Quality finish, @Madders10 🦊pic.twitter.com/LCNlhfc5Bh
— Goal (@goal) January 20, 2021
Maddison is yet to add to the sole cap he won against Montenegro in November 2019 and will have his sights set on securing a place in Gareth Southgate’s plans for Euro 2021.
Bruno Fernandes – 19 goals
Even by the extraordinary standards Bruno Fernandes has set since arriving into the Premier League, his place at the top of these rankings is hugely impressive.
The Portugal international has scored 19 league goals since signing for Manchester United, the joint-most of any midfielder in the division since the start of the 2018/19 campaign – despite not making his debut in the competition until February 2020.
It is a phenomenal return from a player who has helped transform the Red Devils’ fortunes, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side currently top of the Premier League and eyeing a genuine title challenge.
No midfielder has scored more goals than the 26-year-old in the Premier League this season, Fernandes netting 11 times in just 19 appearances.
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