Top ten players who have gone backwards the most this season

Manchester United could account for the entirety of this list of players who have regressed the most this season in comparison to last.

10) Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa benefited from that decision last season but this campaign has been a climbdown. Martinez has not been poor, just more middling in comparison to his previously high standards. His save percentage of 76.8% in 2020/21 was second only to Nick Pope’s 77%; it has crashed to 67.3% and the Argentina international ranks higher than just three other Premier League regulars in that respect. Tim Krul, Jordan Pickford and Illan Meslier can all point to extenuating circumstances but Villa are on course for a top-half finish despite Martinez’s stock falling below that of Jose Sa and Arsenal successor Aaron Ramsdale.

9) Jack Grealish (Manchester City)

Since that charmingly frank interview in December, Jack Grealish has added just two more goals to his collection. His last assist remains a well-executed run and pass on the counter against Brighton last October. The numbers pale in comparison to those that were posted at Villa to tempt Manchester City into signing the first nine-figure British player. As he has belatedly recognised, there is added nuance to taking a big fish out of a small pond and placing them in an ocean; they cannot be expected to perform to the same standard or produce to a similar degree. But Grealish must be hoping his second season echoes those of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and others who needed a bedding-in period under Pep Guardiola, because the sense of him having taken a step back in terms of performance will linger.

Rio Ferdinand has had his say on next Man United manager

Is Jordan Pickford England's best