LiveScore Introduces Positional Rankings: Who was the best in every position in the 2025/26 Premier League Season?

The 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off on Friday, and to mark the occasion, LiveScore introduces their positional rankings.

The system highlights the best player in each role, and is broken down into eight individual positional models ranging from the four core positions - goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and striker.

Goalkeeper is self explanatory. Defender is broken down into both full-back and centre-back, midfielder focuses on the defensive midfielder (No. 6), central midfielder (No. 8) and attacking midfielder (No. 10). Finally, forward players are broken down further into both a winger and a striker.

That way a fairer score is provided with each player scoring highly or poorly depending on their respective roles. An attacking midfielder, for example, will rank better for creating a chance. A holding midfielder, meanwhile, will score higher for a successful tackle. It is designed to give a fairer representation on how a specialist player has performed.

As such, players are judged according to the demands of their actual role.

Follow LiveScore’s Positional Rankings for the 2026/27 Premier League Season

The rankings will be updated throughout the 2026/27 Premier League season, so users can follow their favourite players or positions over the duration of the campaign.

And to celebrate the launch, we run through the best performers from the 2025/26 season.

How do the LiveScore Positional Rankings work?

Below is a run through on how the LiveScore positional rankings work:

• Rankings built by LiveScore using Opta and Twenty3 data

• Each positional model uses 40+ individual metrics, specifically selected for the demands of that position

• We avoid a one-size-fits-all approach - a centre-back shouldn't be judged using the same criteria as a winger or attacking midfielder

• Metrics are grouped and weighted according to what matters most within each role

• Minutes played are factored into the scoring, rewarding players for delivering consistently over longer periods and being regularly available for selection

• Stats are possession-adjusted to reduce bias caused by team structure, ensuring players from both defensive and attacking teams are assessed fairly

• Each position has bonuses attached to the top 10 performers across different play-styles, with the No.1-ranked player in each play-style receiving the highest bonus

• Examples:

  • Goalkeepers → shot-stopping, goals prevented, distribution, clean sheets and errors

  • Centre-backs → defending, duels, aerial ability, ball progression and possession

  • Full-backs → balance of defending, progression, chance creation and attacking output

  • No.6s → defensive contribution, ball recovery, retention and progression

  • No.8s → all-round involvement, progression, creativity, defensive work and output

  • No.10s → chance creation, attacking progression, creativity and goal contributions

  • Wingers → attacking threat, dribbling, chance creation and goals/assists

  • Strikers → goalscoring, finishing, chance quality, link-up play and sustained attacking output

• Scores are calculated within each individual positional model, creating a LiveScore rating out of 10

• Players can appear in more than one midfield model where their role overlaps, helping show the difference between how they perform across different midfield responsibilities

• These positional rankings will also contribute towards LiveScore's Team of the Season and Player of the Season, coming soon

Best Goalkeepers of 2025/26

Manchester City may have failed to win the Premier League last season, but Gianluigi Donnarumma still caught the eye for the Cityzens. The Towering Italian ranked second for clean sheets (15) and returned the best save success rate (72.9%) in the division. Another such campaign will boost City’s title hopes.

Best Centre-Backs

It’s an Arsenal one-two for the best performing centre-backs in the 2025/26 Premier League season. Gabriel Magalhaes edges William Saliba, and for good reason. Not only did the Gunners concede fewer goals (27) than any other team, the Brazilian brute was a handful in the opposition box having scored three times and laid on four assists. 182 clearances ranked among the top 20 players.

Best Full-Backs

While a central midfielder by trade, Matheus Nunes has shone at right-back in recent seasons for Manchester City. In fact, the Portugal international was so effective in a City shirt, that his LiveScore rating of 8.8 was the best in the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Best Defensive Midfielders / No. 6s

Arsenal star Declan Rice was the best performing defensive midfielder in the 2025/26 Premier League season. The Gunners man was crucial as the north London side ended their 22-year wait for a title. Second to Rice was compatriot and England midfield partner Elliot Anderson.

Anderson earned a big money move to Manchester City over the summer, and if his LiveScore rating is anything to go by; then it’s fully deserved. A 0.2 difference between Rice (8.0) and Anderson (7.8) was the smallest at the top of any of the eight positions.

Best Central Midfielders / No. 8s

Not only was Rice the best defensive midfielder, he also topped the central midfielder category. Anderson, meanwhile, ranked third, with Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes sandwiched between the England pair. This demonstrates just how effective the trio can perform in a number of midfield positions.

Best Attacking Midfielders / No. 10s

That’s because Fernandes ranked top of all attacking midfielders. The United skipper created more chances (136), big chances created (33) and assists (21) than any other player in the Premier League last season.

Best Wingers

Antoine Semenyo’s Bournemouth and Manchester City showings saw the Ghana star come out on top here. The 26-year-old transferred his fine Cherries performances to the Etihad Stadium as he scored 17 goals in total. Bukayo Saka, despite a sub-par attacking showing, ranked second, highlighting the attacking output and wider involvement beyond goals and assists.

Best Strikers

Erling Haaland takes the inaugural striker crown, and for good reason. The Norwegian hitman ended the campaign with more goals (27) than any other player, and chipped in with an additional eight assists. Chelsea’s Joao Pedro (7.4) was Haaland’s (8.0) nearest challenger

Follow the rankings throughout the 2026/27 season

The positional rankings will change throughout the season as the LiveScore ratings continue to change on a weekly basis. This isn’t a one-off end-of-season feature. Indeed, they will update as fresh Premier League data comes in.

Throughout the campaign, fans will be able to see:

• Who is leading each position

• Which players are climbing or falling

• Whether early-season form is sustained

• How the league's biggest names compare with emerging performers

The LiveScore positional rankings will give fans a data-led view on the best performing player in each position rather than attempt to cram as many of the league’s best rated players into one XI.

Keep an eye on LiveScore throughout the season to see who takes over at the top of each positional ranking