The 2022/23 Premier League season is in full swing and there have been mixed fortunes across the so-called 'big six' clubs.

While the likes of Erling Haaland, Gabriel Jesus and Lisandro Martinez have all shone in the high-profile jerseys of their big-name clubs, there has also been plenty of ballers who have wilted under the spotlight.

Whether it's new arrivals who have hitherto failed to adapt or long-serving players coming to the end of their cycle, we all know one or two players who are struggling at Premier League giants this season.

Strugglers at 'big six' Premier League clubs

As such, we decided to look a little closer at the Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City squads by perusing the statistics over at WhoScored.

One of the most revered statistical sites in the footballing scene, WhoScored awards every Premier League player a match rating for each of their appearances based on various attacking, defensive and passing metrics.

When that's averaged across the season, it makes for one of the most accurate objective measures of footballers that you can possibly construct. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn good.

Stats name worst 'big six' XI

And when we took to the overall database of average ratings for Premier League stars this season, the high-profile players underwhelming on the big stage quickly became apparent.

There were, naturally, a few fringe players struggling to make an impact and even stars who can probably feel hard done by, but there were also big-name ballers who truly have made a poor start to the 2022/23 campaign.

However, don't just take our word for it, because you can check out what the WhoScored statistics reveal to be the lowest-rated XI of Premier League 'big six' players so far this season:

And yes, we've not sweated too much over the positions and formation being absolutely spot on, because it's more about the players who finished bottom of the data sheet as opposed to fussing over hypothetical tactics.

GK: David de Gea (Manchester United) - 6.49

Man Utd's De Gea celebrates.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: David De Gea of Manchester United celebrates after Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United (not pictured) scores their sides second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 19, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

DF: Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) - 6.34

CB: Raphael Varane (Manchester United) - 6.61

Man Utd's Varane running,

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Manchester United defender Raphael Varane in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on October 15, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

DF: Kieran Tierney (Arsenal) - 6.28

RM: Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) - 6.30

Chelsea's Pulisic in action.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea runs for the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on October 08, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

CM: Cole Palmer (Manchester City) - 6.21

CM: Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal) - 6.26

Arsenal's Lokonga on the ball.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Albert Sambi Lokonga of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and FK Bodo/Glimt at Emirates Stadium on October 06, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

CM: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur) - 6.28

LM: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 6.36

Man Utd's Ronaldo warming up.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United during the warm up in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 19, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

ST: Armando Broja (Chelsea) - 6.32

ST: Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) - 6.21

Nketiah in action for Arsenal.
ST GALLEN, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal FC in action during the UEFA Europa League group A match between FC Zürich and Arsenal FC at Kybunpark on September 08, 2022 in St Gallen, Switzerland. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

ST GALLEN, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal FC in action during the UEFA Europa League group A match between FC Zürich and Arsenal FC at Kybunpark on September 08, 2022 in St Gallen, Switzerland. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

Have the stats got it right?

Well, well, well, that won't go down well with Mr. Ronaldo on the back of being an unused substitute for arguably United's best performance of the season so far.

In a week where Ronaldo solemnly trudged down the tunnel before the final whistle had even sounded at Old Trafford, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner found himself beached amongst the lowest-performing players at the biggest Premier League clubs.

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The goalkeeping category is a particularly tough gig with very little in the way of competition, so don't read too much into De Gea making an appearance, while Varane has also been slightly hard done by with all the top centre-backs performing reasonably well.

However, the stats do highlight just how much Pulisic continues to struggle at Chelsea, Lokonga enduring as a bit-part player at Arsenal and Bissouma still waiting to make his impact at Tottenham.

It is a little surprising to see two Gunners full-backs lumped into the team, though, given their early title surge and we definitely back Broja to turn the tide at Chelsea having already shown some flashes of brilliance.

Goldbridge BRUTUAL ON RONALDO😡Expressions LOSES IT🤬🤬Tottenham Fans EXPLODE🤯🤯 (Football Terrace)

But with so much talent showed to be underperforming in the data, it just goes to show that it really is tough at the top, especially when the 'top' is the Premier League.


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