The Premiership's key men

Who means most to their club?

By Tom Fordyce BBC Sport Online

With just 14 games to go, the Premiership is entering its critical phase.

But who are the players at each club who will do the most to decide their team's destiny?

Arsenal | Aston Villa | Birmingham | Blackburn | Bolton | Charlton | Chelsea | Everton | Fulham | Leeds | Liverpool | Man City | Man Utd | Middlesbrough | Newcastle | Southampton | Sunderland | Tottenham | West Brom | West Ham

Have your say on the 606 Premiership page

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Arsenal

The usual answer to the question of who is Arsenal's key man is Patrick Vieira - and the midfielder's driving displays will once again be of huge importance to the side's title hopes.

But more important still is Thierry Henry. Why? Because it is his goals that can win Arsenal the championship and decide their fate in Europe.

Should he continue his current rate of goal-scoring - particularly in the Champions League - silverware is almost certain to come to Highbury.

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Aston Villa

Not a team of stars, Villa rely more on collective ability than perhaps any other Premiership team.

But if Darius Vassell can recapture his form of a year ago, when he burst into the England team with a flurry of goals, Villa might just be able to shake off the smell of mid-table mediocrity that has hung around them all season.

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Birmingham

Steve Bruce has gambled on a rush of new signings in a desperate attempt to scramble clear of the relegation trap-door.

And, with apologies to Stephen Clemence and Jamie Clapham, the most talismanic of these is Christophe Dugarry.

His display against Blackburn on Saturday suggests he can be the catalyst for change in a side that was crying out for an injection of Premiership class.

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Blackburn

There are cases for Andy Cole (goals), Tugay (pulls the strings) and Matt Jansen (comeback kid).

But, as in the second half of last season, it is Brad Friedel's heroics in goal that will make the biggest difference to Rovers' hopes.

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Bolton

Argue Michael Ricketts' case as much as you will, but Youri Djorkaeff will ultimately have a greater impact on Sam Allardyce's team.

After a dip in form pre-Christmas, he is now playing the best football of his Bolton career.

Bolton need every point they can get - and moments of individual brilliance, like Djorkaeff's overhead kick against Charlton, are key to that quest.

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Charlton

Stand up Scott Parker, who has emerged this year as a player of true Premiership class.

Parker's drive, energy and touch give Charlton a hub around which they can construct their Premiership plans for the foreseeable future.

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Chelsea

Gianfranco Zola has gone off the boil, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink seems to be distracted by interest from sunnier climes.

William Gallas, in contrast, has managed the almost impossible - being the more impressive half of a central defensive partnership that also includes Marcel Desailly.

Is there a better pairing in the Premiership?

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Everton

Brian McBride might have scored just as many league goals in only two games, but is anyone really going to argue against Mr Rooney?

Eventually, Premiership defenders will work out how to play him - but for the moment, he remains the most dangerous of live wires.

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Fulham

A pat on the back for the reader who suggested Mohamed Al Fayed's accountant.

On the pitch it's between Steed Malbranque and Sean Davis - with Davis getting the nod for being the closest the club has to a local heartbeat.

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Leeds

It would have been Jonathan Woodgate, until he was ruled out for a month and a half with a serious thigh tear.

So up steps Harry Kewell, who has to begin to justify the biggest salary in the club's history by playing like a true star rather than just someone who thinks they are.

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Liverpool

There's a case for Michael Owen - goals win games, and if Owen can start scoring regularly again Liverpool's slump will be no more.

But Owen relies on decent chances being created by his midfield - and in a side short on width and creativity, Steven Gerrard's ability to find a defence-splitting pass becomes crucial.

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Man City

Anelka's goals, Eyal Berkovic and Ali Benarbia's creativity - all important.

But the team's driving force is Marc-Vivien Foe. He might have missed a couple of sitters against Newcastle, but his work-rate in midfield and ability to get forward and score goals give him the nod.

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Man United

Argue your way past this one: Roy Keane.

He might be the obvious choice, and United might be laden with players who can change games - but history shows that when United are at their best Keane is at the heart of it all.

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Middlesbrough

Boro, so woeful on their travels, need goals away from home - having scored a miserable four all season.

With all respect, few expect them to come from Noel Whelan - which means it's time for Massimo Maccarone to show Teesside what all the fuss was supposed to be about.

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Newcastle

Sometimes, when one player is missing from a team, their entire approach has to change.

Craig Bellamy might score fewer goals than Alan Shearer, but his pace up front creates - directly or indirectly - a huge proportion of Shearer's strikes, and defines the brand of football Sir Bobby Robson likes to play.

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Southampton

Hats off to James Beattie and Fabrice Fernandes. Even more plaudits to Antti Niemi, whose form since replacing Paul Jones has been consistently outstanding.

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Sunderland

Leaky at the back, hard-working but uninspired in midfield and goal-shy up front - the present and future for Sunderland is bleak.

One man who can remind them of better days is Kevin Phillips. If he can find a fraction of the goals of three seasons ago, hopes of Premiership survival will bloom again.

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Tottenham

There hasn't been a great deal for Spurs fans to celebrate this season, with an ageing side frequently failing the biggest tests.

At least in Robbie Keane they have a hero who has the best years of his career ahead of him, a player who can change games with a touch of class and is not shortly to qualify for a free bus pass.

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West Brom

Hard work can only take you so far in the Premiership, which is why Gary Megson will be praying Jason Koumas hits his best form for the final 15 games of the season.

Russell Hoult is already performing above the call of duty - now it is time Koumas did the same at the other end of the field.

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West Ham

Messrs Di Canio and Kanoute might be nearing full fitness, and Glenn Roeder will be glad to have them back.

In the meantime - and even when they return - the question of whether Lee Bowyer can produce his very best in the Hammers' midfield matters even more.

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