It’s a wonderful sight when you watch a perfectly weighted pass split a defence and put forward through on goal.
Through balls can leave defences out on their feet with almost no hope of preventing the attacking side putting the ball in the back of the net.
In the Premier League we are blessed with numerous playmakers capable of doing the deed at any given moment, keeping fans and opponents on edge, anticipating the killer pass.
According to OPTA statisticians, a pass splitting the defence for a team-mate to run on to is the criteria for a through ball.
But currently the man to have played the most in the English top flight this season isn’t a player you would expect, despite his abilities on a football pitch.
So, who is the ultimate splitter of defences? Find out below.
11= Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea) – Eight through balls this season
11= Paul Pogba (Manchester United) – Eight through balls this season
11= Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) – Eight through balls this season
11= Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) – Eight through balls this season
11= Dele Alli (Chelsea) – Eight through balls this season
9= Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – Nine through balls this season
9= Victor Camarasa (Cardiff City) – Nine through balls this season
8. David Brooks (Bournemouth) – Ten through balls this season
6= Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 11 through balls this season
6= James Maddison (Leicester City) – 11 through balls this season
4= Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) – 12 through balls this season
4= Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) – 12 through balls this season
3. Felipe Anderson (West Ham United) – 13 through balls this season
2. Jorginho (Chelsea) – 14 through balls this season
1. David Luiz (Chelsea) – 31 through balls this season
