The top 20 Premeir League players in terms of minutes played in 2018

Two Chelsea stars feature in the top 20 for minutes played by Premier League outfield players in 2018.

With a World Cup sandwiched between two seasons, there has been precious little rest for the wicked and weary.

In a list of the top 20 players in terms of minutes in all competitions for club and country in 2018, eight Premier League clubs are represented, as well as 11 countries.

So let’s take a look.

 

20. Kieran Trippier (2,213 minutes of a possible 3,570)

Has earned that extended break. Oh, to relive the Croatia free-kick for eternity.

19. Roberto Firmino (2,249/3,240)
Just ahead of teammate Mohamed Salah (2,206 minutes of a possible 3,150).

18. Christian Eriksen (2,254/3,170)
Lord knows how many chances he has created for club and country in that time.

17. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (2,254/2,730)
One of just two representatives from outside the big six, owing to some extra-curricular work at the World Cup and in the Europa League.

16. Romelu Lukaku (2,326/3,330)

Jose Mourinho did literally say he could not afford to rest him in December; nor can Roberto Martinez.

15. Granit Xhaka (2,374/3,420)
And yet Arsenal are no closer to discovering – or at least maximising – his strengths.

14. Raheem Sterling (2,395/3,570)
A different player for club compared to country, but a regular for both.

13. Davinson Sanchez (2,422/3,180)
His Manchester-based namesake was formerly a perennial resident on such lists, but the Tottenham centre-half is carrying the South American slack.

Image result for dele alli goal against newcastle

12. Dele Alli (2,435/3,570)
Has spent at least 2,434 of those minutes teaching his teammates how to mimic that new goal celebration he does with his hand.

11. Nicolas Otamendi (2,450/3,240)
Three minutes in the Community Shield and a role as an unused substitute in the Premier League opener against Arsenal is unfamiliar territory.

10. Paul Pogba (2,498/3,420)
Was man of the match in his first game of this season after a similarly influential performance in the final game of last campaign, with just 26 days in between.

9. Harry Kane (2,516/3,570)
A return of 24 goals for club and country this calendar year alone ain’t half bad.

8. Sadio Mane (2,578/3,150)
Liverpool’s new No.10 has certainly earned his shirt upgrade.

7. Cesar Azpilicueta (2,599/3,480)
Has missed just 90 minutes of Premier League football since December 2015.

6. Harry Maguire (2,655/3,150)
Did not miss a minute of the last Premier League season, played all but 45 minutes of England’s World Cup, and promptly returned to feature for 90 as Leicester lost to Manchester United.

What a hero.

5. Kyle Walker (2,677/3,570)
“This is a title, and I have not won many. So to not be a part of this would have been stupid, for me to not want to come back.” The man has had about a week off this summer.

4. Kevin de Bruyne (2,830/3,600)
Someone notify Raymond Verheijen.

3. Eden Hazard (2,841/3,750)
Has presumably been fouled about 3,000 times in 2018. But seriously, those are ridiculous numbers for an attacking player his club and country sides are built around.

2. Jan Vertonghen (2,956/3,330)
Has missed one Premier League game, three in the FA Cup and just one match for Belgium this calendar year. Boy’s good.

1. N’Golo Kante (3,232/3,810)
His club minutes alone in 2018 (2,301) would put him 17th on this list. Chuck in a World Cup-winning 901 minutes for France this year, and he is the runaway leader.

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