The top 10 aerial threats in the Premier League: Van Dijk, Schar, Mitrovic

Last season in the Premier League over 160 headers were scored and so we’ve looked into the biggest aerial threats this season.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 players to have won the most aerial duels in the Premier League so far this season. 

10. Adam Webster 

Brighton’s back line is well known for its reliably these days and Adam Webster has grown in to his role well since joining from Bristol City. 

The English defender has won 21 aerial duels so far this season, with a success rate of 77.8%. 

9. Pascal Struijk 

Pascal Struijk won an average of 1.8 aerial duels per 90 last season and his numbers have shot up so far this season. 

The Leeds United defender has won an average of 3.5 aerial duels per 90, with 21 aerial duels won in total so far. 

8. Fabian Schar 

Fabian Schar ranked fifth in the Newcastle squad for aerial duels won last season with 45 and he’s almost halfway through that tally this season already. 

The Swiss defender has won 21 aerial duels, with a success rate of 72.4%. 

7. Kieffer Moore 

Whilst playing for Cardiff in the Championship, Kieffer Moore won a staggering 11.6 aerial duels per 90 and was a constant threat in the air. 

Standing at six foot five, he will do doubt cause plenty of problems for defenders in the Premier League this season.  

So far the Bournemouth forward has won 22 aerial duels with a success rate of 52.4%. 

6. Rodri 

While Rodri is necessarily known for his aerial prowess, he is one of the tallest players in the Manchester City side and adds a physical touch to City’s technical midfield. 

Rodri himself is brilliant under pressure and keeping the ball moving, but his ability in the air shouldn’t be underestimated. 

The Spanish midfielder has won a total of 24 aerial duels, with a success rate of 64.9%. 

5. James Tarkowski 

James Tarkowski was a stalwart of Burnley’s back line for over six years and he now finds himself at Everton. 

Frank Lampard’s side have managed to tighten things up this season and Tarkowski has had a major role to play in that. 

So far he has won 26 aerial duels, which is more than any other Everton player. 

4. Virgil van Dijk 

Virgil van Dijk has had a frustrating start to the season as Liverpool have had a stuttering start to their league campaign. 

Van Dijk is always expected to be up and around the top of the rankings for aerial duels though and this season is no different. 

In total, he has won 27 aerial duels with a success rate of 87.1%, which is higher than anybody else on today’s list. 

3. Ben Mee 

We’ve already had James Tarkowski pop up on the list and his former Burnley teammate, Ben Mee seals third place. 

The former Burnley captain has made a good impression at Brentford so far as he has won 27 aerial duels across his opening six matches for the club. 

2. Max Kilman 

Bruno Large has tinkered with his tactics this season and we now see Wolves lining up with a back four, instead of the back three we had become accustomed to. 

Max Kilman seems to get better each time he steps onto the pitch and he is a dominant force in the air. 

The Wolves defender currently ranks second in the Premier League for aerial duels won with 28 so far. 

1. Aleksandar Mitrovic 

Not only does Aleksandar Mitrovic currently rank first in the Premier League for aerial duels won, but he absolutely blows everyone else out of the water. 

The Serbian forward has won 42 aerial duels, which is 14 more than anyone else in the Premier League. 

He has already managed to brush off the claims that he can’t do it in the Premier League with his fantastic start to the season and he gives Fulham every chance of survival this season.