Top 10 EPL Soccer Players Who Dominated the 2023 Season

As I sat down to analyze the 2023 Premier League season, I couldn't help but draw parallels to Brandon Ingram's situation in the NBA - that constant trade speculation finally materializing into reality. In football terms, this season saw several players who'd been knocking on the door of greatness finally break through in spectacular fashion. Let me walk you through the ten footballers who not only dominated but redefined what excellence means in England's top flight.

Right at the top of my list has to be Erling Haaland - the man shattered records like they were made of glass. His 36 goals in 35 appearances wasn't just impressive, it was downright terrifying for defenders. I've been watching football for over two decades, and I've never seen a striker with such ruthless efficiency. The way he moved off the ball reminded me of a chess grandmaster always thinking three moves ahead. What many don't realize is that his physical transformation this season added about 8 pounds of pure muscle, making him virtually unstoppable in one-on-one situations. Kevin De Bruyne, though, proved why he's still the league's premier creator. His 16 assists might not tell the whole story - it was the 94 key passes that truly demonstrated his vision. I remember watching him against Arsenal where he completed 92% of his passes in the final third, a statistic that still boggles my mind.

Then there's Martin Ødegaard, whose transformation into Arsenal's captain fantastic has been nothing short of remarkable. His 15 goals from midfield represented a 40% increase from last season, and honestly, I think we're witnessing the emergence of a future Ballon d'Or contender. The Norwegian's technical ability is so refined that during one match against Tottenham, he completed 47 of 49 passes under pressure. Speaking of technical mastery, Bukayo Saka's development has been incredible to watch. The 21-year-old contributed to 24 goals this season, and what impressed me most was his durability - he started every single Premier League match for Arsenal. That's 3,420 minutes of football at the highest level for a player who just turned 21 last September.

Newcastle's rise brought Bruno Guimarães into the spotlight, and the Brazilian's impact exceeded even my expectations. His 89% pass completion rate in the opponent's half demonstrates why Eddie Howe built his midfield around him. I'd argue he made more progressive carries than any other central midfielder in the league - approximately 143 by my count. Meanwhile, Manchester City's Rodri often goes underappreciated, but his 2,843 completed passes led all players, and his ability to control tempo is something I wish more young players would study. Over at Manchester United, Marcus Rashford's resurgence saw him net 17 goals in 25 starts after the World Cup break - a scoring rate that briefly rivaled Haaland's during that stretch.

The defensive side produced its own stars, with William Saliba's absence due to injury demonstrating his value to Arsenal more than any statistic could. Before his back issues in March, Arsenal had kept 12 clean sheets in 27 matches with him, compared to just 2 in 11 without. That's a 44% clean sheet rate versus 18% - numbers that don't lie. Liverpool's Alisson Becker, in my opinion, prevented at least 12 certain goals based on post-shot expected goals data, while Kieran Trippier created 98 chances from right-back, which is just absurd when you think about it. Finally, I have to mention Harry Kane, who scored 30 goals for a Tottenham side that created significantly fewer chances than the other top clubs. His conversion rate of 24% was the highest among all regular starters in the league.

Looking back at this incredible season, what strikes me is how these players transformed potential into consistent excellence, much like how Brandon Ingram finally turned all that trade speculation into a definitive career move. They've set new benchmarks that will challenge the next generation of footballers. As we look ahead to next season, I'm curious to see who can maintain this level of performance and who might emerge to challenge their dominance. One thing's for certain - the Premier League continues to deliver football of the highest quality, and these ten players have given us moments we'll be talking about for years to come.