We continue with this episode being the third, looking at the best Premier League players who were brought up by their clubs' academies and currently still play for such teams. You Can read the first two episodes in my previous posts.
9. Ben Davies
Although born in Liverpool, Ben is another promising graduate from the Everton Academy who grew through the ranks and currently a first team regular with the Toffees.
He made his debut as a substitute in April 2016 under former manager Roberto Martinez and earned a Man of the Match award in his next game which was his first senior start in a 3-0 win over Norwich City.
He plays a game of flair, bringing creativity to the middle of the park at Goodison Park and has represented England at all age-group levels.
Despite making hid debut as a 17-yeaar old, he became Everton's youngest ever captain when he got the armband at the age of 20.
The 23-year old has not featured for Everton since November in the draw against Tottenham when he picked up a knee injury. On his road to recovery, he picked up another hamstring problem in December and has successfully undergone a surgery, and on his way to recovery.
He has scored one goal in seven appearances for the Toffees this season and has racked up 135 league appearances in the blue shirt, scoring six times.
10. Kavin Philips
The midfielder joined the Leeds Academy in 2010 after playing for a local side, Wortley between 2003 and 2010. He went on to make his debut for Leeds in April 2016 against Wolves after having made the bench is previous games.
Philips is known for his great ability to shuttle between both boxes on the pitch and his deft passes. Although he has been played in a more defensive role by Marcelo Bielsa, he was deployed in his more preferred box-to-box role at the Euros with England, where he starred for the Three Lions. He was definitely a surprise inclusion, but well justifiable due to the fine season he had with Leeds.
He was an integral part of the Leeds side that won the Championship title in 2020 and also named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Having made 19 appearances for the England national team already and following his impressive outing at the Euros, he was named the England Men's Player of the Year for the 2020/2021 season.
The 26-year old is currently sidelined from action due to a hamstring injury he picked up on December 5 during Leeds United's in 2-2 draw against Brentford and is not expected back earlier than March 2022
11. Harvey Barnes
Another young English sensation that grew through the ranks at Leicester City and has established himself as a regular with the Foxes, although his time has been troubled with injuries.
The Burnley-born winger, although of Scottish descent has represented England at U18 and U20 levels and made his Three Lions debut as a substitute in England's 3-0 win over Wales in October 2020
Before making his debut for Leicester, he had enjoyed loan spells at Milton Keyne Dons, Barnsley and West Browmwich Albion.
He has been limited to 9 appearances this season for Leicester, in which he scored and assisted one each. Last season, although also hampered by injury, he was able to rack up 9 goals and four assists in 25 appearances.
12. Trent Alexander-Arnold
A Liverpool bred true and through. The right back is been touted as one of the best full backs in the history of the beautiful game for the strides he has achieved in his still growing career.
Some rank him arguably along with the likes of Cafu, Philip Lahm and Roberto Carlos citing that these legends were almost into the twilight of their careers before they racked up the numbers,both in assists and gol involvement that the England international is already doing at just 23.
The 23-year old has won the Champions League and Premier League titles, all with Liverpool. He has represented England at all youth levels and featured for the Three Lions at the 2018 World Cup in Russia at the age of 18.
Born in West Derby, Liverpool, Trent has become a formidable force within the Liverpool setup, although he has struggled to maintain such consistency or command such power with the Three Lions, especially as he has been in and out of the team. He ultimately missed the 2020 Euro Champions due to injury picked up in a warm-up game.
His strongest gift is his ability from set plays - either putting in dangerous crosses or direct free kicks. This season, he already has 10 Premier League assists for Liverpool, more than any other defender in the competition.
While his quality in the final third and his ability to press are never in doubt, questions have been raised several times over his defending which is seen as his main duty as a defender. Nonetheless, this deficiency seem to always go away whenever he makes up for it in the final third.
After winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019, he was named in the Champions League Team of The Year. He also won the PFA Young Player of the Year Award in 2020, before taking home the inaugural Premier League Young Player of the Season award in the same season.
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