The six fastest players in the Premier League in 2021-22: Salah, Rudiger…

Pace is still an incredibly useful skill in the modern game – but who have been the fastest players in the Premier League this season?

Manchester City and Liverpool, who have established themselves as the best sides in England, both have several speedsters in their squads.

Using data from OptaJoe, we’ve looked at the six players who clocked the fastest pace in the Premier League in 2021-22.

Leicester City spent £22million to sign Daka from Red Bull Salzburg last summer as they looked for Jamie Vardy’s long-term successor.

There are a lot of similarities between the two strikers as they both like to use their blistering pace to stretch the play and threaten the space in behind the opposition.

He’s clocked an impressive top speed of 36.1km/h this season and even managed to impress Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, who is renowned for his remarkable recovery pace. 

“We want to keep a high line because we know we can win the ball up high,” Van Dijk said after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Leicester in February. “It’s the risk you have to take. Today, I played against Patson Daka, who is crazy quick in my opinion, so you have to be ready.”

"He's like a different Jamie Vardy almost you know!"

James Maddison compares Patson Daka to Jamie Vardy and believes they have very similar characteristics pic.twitter.com/qVX9JDeTwT

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 12, 2021

Since leaving Brentford for Aston Villa in a £28million deal in 2020, Watkins has scored 21 goals in his first 63 Premier League appearances.

But the England international is also renowned for his work off the ball and has managed to match Daka’s top speed of 36.1km/h in 2021-22.

“I don’t think there is a limit for Ollie,” Villa boss Steven Gerrard said in