We’re just over a third of the way through the Premier League season and the competition has already provided an abundance of talking points. From Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian takeover to Ole and United’s divorce through to West Ham’s emergence as a UCL candidate, the EPL's flashing lights never seem to run out of electricity.

As for the players themselves, the very identities which keep the world’s most famous league ticking, there are just as many storylines lurking around every corner. 

While many wonder at the sight of the perpetual brilliance of the likes of Mo Salah and Jack Grealish, we’re also witnessing players elevate themselves to a new level entirely, away from the fireworks of the league's more established names. 

Let's take a look at a handful of players whom ought to now hold a different place within your mind when thinking about EPL excellence. 

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Reece James

While Reece James’ level last season was already elite, morphing himself into one of the best-attacking outlets for Chelsea while playing a pivotal role in their UCL triumph, he’s tapped into an even richer pipeline of form this campaign. 

Continuing to play as a right-wing back in Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-3 system, James functions as one of the most important cogs with the German’s system, maintaining a solid defensive front while also progressing high up the pitch and cutting inside to create offensive havoc.

Though James has only started in 9 of the Chelsea’s 14 games he’s scored 4 times and provided a further 4 assists, producing an astonishing 0.99 goals/assists per 90 minutes which places him 4th in the EPL behind only Mo Salah, teammate Mason Mount and the injured Paul Pogba. 

The dramatic increase in offensive output has been aided by an extra 0.65 key passes per 90 than last season while also sending in a massive 2.35 passes into the penalty box each game. His 3.83 shot-creating actions per 90 is well up on the 2.80 he posted last season as well further illustrating how damaging he's been in attack. While his defensive contribution has decreased somewhat he’s still very effective without the ball producing a 41% pressure success rate so far which is up massively on his 15.4% from last season. 

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Raphinha

In a season where Leeds have regressed, Raphinha has done anything but. 

After a good first season in the Premier League last year the Brazilian has elevated his game to another level and is a strong reason why Leeds isn’t in deeper relegation danger. While the marauding winger hasn't supplied an assist this season, his 6 goals represents 46% of the entire Leeds tally and already represents a career high since moving to Europe as a teenager. 

With Patrick Bamford missing so much football this season, having Raphina in white-hot form has been massive, occupying a much more aggressive place with Marcelo Bielsa’s 4-1-4-1 formation. As well as this, he's exclusively played on the right-hand side as opposed to playing on both wings last season. This has allowed him to establish continuity in his game thus making him much more of a consistent threat. Having a career-high for progressive carries per 90 with 6.67 is indicative of a player getting more involved in build-up play instead of existing as more of a poacher. He's recently earned a place in the Brazilian starting eleven and will look to maintain that illustrious job ahead of the World Cup in 12 months time. 

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Bernardo Silva

Simply put, the the 27-year old, highly decorated Portuguese international is one of the most underrated players in world football. Bernardo Silva has taken his already excellent game and elevated it to another level this season, mainly operating on the right-wing for Manchester City who are hunting down their fourth title in five seasons. 

His positional adaptability, a trait adored by his manager Pep Guardiola allows for plenty of variation in how City opt to use space all over the pitch with Silva often seen making late runs into the box and getting on the end of crosses and diagonal passes.

This season is his second-best in terms of shot and goal-creating actions per 90 with 3.80 and 0.45 respectively , with only the 2019/20 season topping it. That season has set a very high standard for Silva to meet, however in the form he's in anything's possible while he'll continue to play a role in City's quest for that elusive UCL crown. 

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Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher had a good, but not overly impressive stint on loan at West Brom last year, unable to save them from relegation while not making any waves in the process. 

So when the 20-year old young Englishman moved to Crystal Palace on loan, expectations weren’t particularly high. Yet, he's proved his doubters wrong with Patrick Viera deploying him on the right-hand side of a flat midfield 3 which has given him the freedom to express his considerable talents. 7 goal contributions in 12 starts this season speaks to his offensive threat which is often expressed through his frame and physicality breaking the lines while also possessing a technical ability that often allows him to dictate games. 

4.36 shot-creating actions per 90 and 0.71 goal creating actions per90 rank 8th and 11th in the EPL, numbers which will have Gareth Southgate closely monitoring his progress ahead of next year's World Cup. Gallagher's 1.41 dribbles completed and 0.43 dribbles into the penalty area this year ranks him in the top 13% of attackers in Europe top 5 leagues. In short time he's become an integral piece for Palace while Chelsea will be salivating at the prospect of him returning to them at the conclusion of his loan at end of the season. 

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Jarrod Bowen 

We had to get at least one West Ham player in here. 

The hammers’ brilliance this season has come off the back of hard work, a structured system and plenty of discipline. However, if you had to pick a player who has elevated their game along with the club, it'd be Jarrod Bowen. The left-footed winger predominantly plays on the right-hand side adding a completely different dimension for David Moyes’ team this season. Bowen demonstrated these traits this past weekend against Chelsea first earning his club a penalty to squared the game at 1-1 before scoring a belter to get the score back to 2-2. He was instrumental in West Ham ultimately winning 3-2 and securing one of the club's most famous wins in recent history. 

In a West Ham system that's very functional he provides that bit of spark when attacking, whilst also doing more than his part without the ball. His 1.10 interceptions and 1.55 blocks both rank in the top 30% of all Europe's top-5 leagues among forwards and will also undoubtedly be on Southgate's radar when thinking about options around Harry Kane ahead of the World Cup. He's so far produced career-highs in both shot and goal-creating actions per 90 with 3.68 and 0.74 respectively indicating how integral he's been to this surprising Hammers season.

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