4) Fernandinho (31, Manchester City)
“I think Fernandinho can play in ten positions,” said Pep Guardiola this summer as he pondered moving the Brazilian back into central defence. For now, Fernandinho remains the stalwart of his central midfield, his intelligence and discipline allowing Guardiola to indulge himself (and us) with more creative players like David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.
Fernandinho is the only City player to have been on the pitch for every minute of this thus-far-faultless season and he has barely put a foot wrong, his reliability allowing the youngsters in front of him the freedom to express themselves. The ignorant still mix him up with Fernando but there is a really obvious clue: He’s bloody good.