How five Aston Villa stars made brutal £83m worst Premier League XI of season so far
The 2026/27 Premier League’s worst players so far this season, as the campaign pauses for the international break
We’re five weekends in to the 2026/27 Premier League season, and it’s already shaping up to be another classic campaign in England’s top tier. Manchester City have stormed three points clear at the table’s summit with a 100% record, closely followed by Arsenal in second, while Coventry City, Fulham and Tottenham make up the bottom three.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has scaled his way to the top of the scoring charts with five goals in as many matches. Chelsea have looked potent in front of goal and completely clueless at the back, while Manchester United’s decision to spend their almost entire summer transfer budget on three midfielders is looking worse by the day.
It’s now time to pause for a while, as the Premier League takes a three-week rest for the international break, which will see Thomas Tuchel’s England play four matches as they get their Nations League campaign underway with a blockbuster encounter against Spain. Further tests against Croatia and Czechia await, as the Three Lions look bounce back from their World Cup heartbreak.
We’ve already run the numbers to find the Premier League’s best XI so far this season, with the likes of Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, Brighton’s Pascal Gross and Everton’s James Tarkowski all making the cut. Using data from WhoScored, we’ve now reversed the figures, and sifted through every player in the Premier League to piece together the worst XI.
To make things fair, we’ve made it a rule that players are only eligible if they’ve started at least four Premier League games this term. This is rather good news for Aston Villa’s Pau Torres, who is let off the hook with his division-worst average of 5.6 from three full appearances.
The Premier League’s worst XI of 2026/27 season so far: goalkeeper and defence
We’ll start off in goal, where Sunderland’s Robin Roefs has been deemed statistically the worst Premier League stopper so far this season, averaging just 6.15/10. Conceding five goals and making just one save in his side’s 5-3 loss to Man City last weekend certainly didn’t help his cause. Overall, Sunderland have conceded ten goals from the 15 shots they’ve allowed on target.
Moving to the back line, Coventry City’s Milan van Ewijk (6.16) is named at right-back. He’s been part of a side who, despite beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 last weekend, have looked out of their depth in the Premier League. Van Ewijk’s rating is so poor largely due to the Sky Blues getting torn apart down his flank in their 5-0 loss to Brighton, and the player’s notable lack of threat going forward.
Ipswich Town’s Jacob Greaves (6.10) and Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof (6.04) make up the decidedly dismal defensive duo. The former saw his average slashed after scoring an own-goal and being part of a back line that conceded five goals to Man United, while his two bookings so far this season didn’t help matters either. Lindelof, who has been part of a woefully leaky defence, has also notched up some underwhelming tackle and interception numbers.
On the left side of the back four, it’s another - and certainly not the last - Villa inclusion with Ian Maatsen (6.35). The Netherlands international is currently injured after a brutal challenge from Nottingham Forest’s James McAtee. His repeated fouling, lack of defensive contributions and low attacking input saw him complete the dire defence.
The Premier League’s worst XI of 2026/27 season so far: midfield and attack
Moving into the heart of midfield, it’s another Coventry City entry with £7m summer signing Frank Onyeka (6.23). The Nigerian central midfielder scored poorly for pass completion, as well as committing fouls and losing possession. He’s joined by Villa’s Ross Barkley (6.30) whose lack of attacking contributions, successful dribbles and generally passive performances have seen him struggle.
Things don’t get much better for Villa, with the surprise inclusion of workhorse skipper John McGinn (6.18) on the right flank. The fan favourite’s dire score was derived from data including a dismal 4.5 rating in his side’s goalless draw with Hull City. Overall, a number of fouls and two yellow cards also did some serious damage to his total.
Coventry’s Ephron Mason-Clark (6.24) takes the central attacking midfield role in our worst eleven. He’s lost possession a staggering eleven times, made seven fouls, and failed to provide a single goal or assist, with just two shots in total. George Hemmings (6.21), our fifth and final Villa entrant, was penalised for a poor final product and repeatedly losing possession in transition.
Up top, it’s Spurs loan signing Omar Marmoush (6.44), who will join on a permanent £60m deal from Manchester City next summer. He’s led the line for a woeful, incoherent Spurs attack who had to wait until deep into their fifth game of the season to score their first goal. His lack of attacking output and losing possession 17 times cost him dearly here.
The Premier League’s worst XI so far this season: Roef; Van Ewijk, Lindelof, Greaves, Maatsen; Onyeka, Barkley; McGinn, Mason-Clark, Hemmings; Marmoush.