Top 5 Players Who Have Been Dispossessed The Most Times In The Premier League So Far This Season

David Tully

5 months ago

Categories: Galleries, West Ham United News

Tags: Arsenal, aston villa, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Southampton, Spurs, West Ham, Wolves

After looking at the goalkeepers who have made the most saves in the Premier League last week, we now move on to the players who have been dispossessed the most times this season.

Losing the ball can have huge ramifications, especially if you lose possession in a dangerous area. More often than not a goal will be conceded or, at the very least, a chance given away.

In general, though, the higher up the pitch you are, the more license there is for taking risks and, therefore, the more liable you are to being dispossessed. It is not surprising then that our list comprises exclusively of attack-minded players.

Press the next page as we count down the top 5 Premier League stars who have lost possession the most times this campaign (as of 6th December 2023).

5) Mohammed Kudus (West Ham) – 26

The Ghanaian international has really impressed since moving from Ajax back in August.

Kudus has racked up 3 goals and 1 assist in 5 starts for the Hammers, catching the eye with his pace and skill from out wide.

However, it is inevitable, considering the way he players, that he loses the ball more often than others.

Kudus has played 544 minutes of Premier League action so far this campaign, and he has given away possession every 21 minutes on average.

4) Matheus Cunha (Wolves) – 27

The Brazilian may be rather profligate in front of goal but he is a masterful dribbler.

Cunha has taken on a defender 72 times in the Premier League so far this campaign, which is the fourth-most in the division.

Dribblers will lose the ball more often than others, so his position on this list won’t come as a shock.

Wolves fans will still be happy with Cunha’s performances, though, having made 7 goal contributions in 15 Premier League appearances this season.

3) Lucas Paqueta (West Ham) – 31

The Brazilian is the second West Ham player we have mentioned and the only midfielder in our top five.

Paqueta is certainly a very talented player, and the evidence for that is the interest which Manchester City showed in him over the summer.

However, the 26-year-old does have a tendency to dally on the ball for too long, allowing opponents to nick possession off him.

Considering the creativity he provides, though, Hammers fans will be happy to take the rough with the smooth.

2) Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) – 42

Like Cunha, the Cherries forward does have a preference for running with the ball.

This campaign, Solanke has been rewarded for the risks he has been taking in possession, having scored 7 times in 14 Premier League games.

Of course, it is not ideal that Bournemouth’s attacks are breaking down so much when the club’s main striker gets on the ball.

As it stands, though, Solanke’s goals are outweighing the fact that he is being dispossessed too easily.

1) Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) – 43

As a winger, one of your key jobs is to take on an opposition fullback.

However, based on the stats since the beginning of the campaign, Ayew is not really making the most of things when he gets on the ball.

As well as losing possession the most times of any player in the top flight, the Ghanaian has only 1 goal to his name, and that came against Tottenham back in October.

Manager Roy Hodgson is seemingly happy with Ayew’s contributions, having started him in 13 of Palace’s first 14 league fixtures.