The Players Who Bring Good Luck to Their Teams
If you’re a fan of a Premier League club, there’s likely a player who brings a sense of calm and confidence whenever they step onto the pitch. These players might not always be the most high-profile, but their impact on the team’s performance is undeniable. According to Opta, here are the top 20 ‘lucky charms’ in the English top flight this season, along with the ‘luckiest’ player at each club.
Nico O’Reilly: A Rising Star at Manchester City
The player with the highest winning percentage in the league is Nico O’Reilly, an English rising star who has become a crucial part of Pep Guardiola’s team. At just 21 years old, O’Reilly has proven himself as an elite-level defender, capable of playing at full-back or in midfield. His goal threat is also impressive, having scored eight goals and provided four assists in all competitions.
O’Reilly has started 26 games this season and won 20 of them, giving him a 77% win rate. This makes him one of the most reliable players in the league.
Manchester City have four of the top five players on the list, including Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, and Nico Gonzalez. However, the surprise name at number three is Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United.
Kobbie Mainoo: A Turnaround for Manchester United
Mainoo was heading towards the exit after being sidelined by Ruben Amorim, but he has since reversed his fortunes under interim manager Michael Carrick. He has been entrusted with a starting role and recently signed a contract extension until 2031.
Despite having a smaller sample size of 12 starts this term, Mainoo has a 75% win rate, which is still impressive.
Arsenal’s Strong Showing
The list features five Arsenal stars, led by Bukayo Saka. Mikel Arteta must wish Saka was fully fit for the entire season, as Arsenal could have secured the title earlier if he had been available. Saka has a 73% win rate, having started 22 games and winning 16 of them.
Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, Ricciardo Calafiori, and Viktor Gyokeres follow closely behind, all with win rates of 72% or higher.
Boubacar Kamara: Aston Villa’s Key Player
Unsurprisingly, Arsenal and Manchester City dominate the rest of the top 20, but there’s another unexpected name on the list—Boubacar Kamara of Aston Villa. His 71% win rate is outstanding, and he is the only player not from Man City, Man United, or Arsenal to make the top 20.
Kamara’s season-ending knee injury in January severely impacted Villa’s form, highlighting his importance to the team.
Other Notable Players
Harry Maguire from Manchester United is also in the list, with a 67% win rate over 15 starts. Other notable names include Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, Gianluigi Donnarumma, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, David Raya, Rayan Cherki, and Tijani Reijnders.
The ‘Luckiest’ Players at Each Club
Looking at the ‘luckiest’ players at each Premier League club, we see that Nico O’Reilly, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bukayo Saka are among the top performers. Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike and Chelsea’s Malo Gusto are also listed, though Gusto’s 43% win rate shows how difficult the season has been for Chelsea.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez deserves mention, with a 48% win rate. However, Mohammed Kudus of Tottenham has struggled due to injuries, resulting in a 37% win rate.
Other notable names include Kenny Tete (Fulham), Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Vitali Mykolenko (Everton), Kevin Schade (Brentford), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Evanilson (Bournemouth), Jayden Bogle (Leeds), Jacob Brun Larson (Burnley), and Jarrad Bowen (Wolves).
Conclusion
These players have played a significant role in their teams’ performances this season. Whether it’s through their skill, consistency, or ability to inspire confidence, they have become essential to their clubs’ success. As the season continues, their contributions will undoubtedly remain a key factor in determining each team’s fate.
