16 November 2023 , 08:53
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Kyle Walker has been a regular presence in Premier League 'fastest' XIs over the years, but the Manchester City star is only just clinging onto his place in the 2023-24 edition.
England right-back Walker was the fastest in the Premier League last term, hitting a top speed of 37.3km/h in one game for Treble winners City. Approaching the run-in, the former Spurs man was way down the list, but he eventually pipped the likes of Myhailo Mudryk and Brennan Johnson to the top spot.
After 12 games of the 2023-24 season, reigning champions City once again sit at the top of the table. However, when it comes to top speeds, Walker is their only player to make it into the league's fastest XI.
According to figures released this week , Walker has hit a top speed of 35.3km/h this term. That still makes him the most rapid right-back in the league, though others have been quicker.
It's Chelsea who have two representatives at the back, though, with Robert Sanchez (35.1km/h) the quickest keeper and Ben Chilwell hitting a top speed of 35.5km/h before suffering his latest injury. Another currently injured man makes the cut at centre-back, with Spurs' impressive new signing Micky van de Ven (35.5) partnering Burnley's rapid defender Dara O'Shea (36.7).
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While two Premier League new arrivals have made the cut, one of last season's quickest defenders is no longer in the league. Kieran Tierney hit a top speed of 35.99km/h last term, but no Arsenal players feature in this season's XI.
Are you surprised by any of the top speeds? Have your say in the comments section
Luton's Chiedozie Ogbene leads the way (Paul Phelan/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)In midfield, there's a distinctly Merseyside flavour. Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai and Everton's Amadou Onana take two of the spots, with the third belonging to Luton man Tahith Chong.
Another Luton man, Chiedozie Ogbene, takes his place in a fluid front three. The Irish international has been the quickest in the league this season with a top speed of 36.9km/h - that would have made him the second quickest last term - with Wolves winger Pedro Neto and Newcastle's Anthony Gordon also making the grade.
Gordon, who joined the Magpies from Everton in January, is the only one of last season's five quickest forwards to also post rapid speeds this term. The aforementioned Johnson and Mudryk - as well as Darwin Nunez and Arnaut Danjuma - have some catching up to do.
“Chieo, what a guy. It's a great bit of business, that’s why we wanted him," Luton boss Rob Edwards said after the versatile forward starred in the Hatters' first Premier League win. "He’s flexible, you saw the position he ended up in at the end of the game.
"We were able to put him deeper when we were weathering some pressure. But then we trust him as one of our most threatening players in the front line to then put him in at left wingback and he helped us see the game out as well."