Stats Analysis: WhoScored's Top Rated Centre-Midfielders

The former Liverpool man is a crucial figure in Real’s bid for La Liga title, producing 84.7 passes per game from his role alongside Sami Khedira in the double pivot. Alonso is second only to Xavi in Europe’s top five leagues here - given that Sergio Ramos is next best for Madrid with 62.6, the reliance on Alonso to dictate play for Jose Mourinho’s side is obvious.

Alonso’s passing is well-suited to Madrid’s rapid attacking game - an average of 10.1 long passes supply the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria on the wings from deep, with Khedira making a mere 1.1 beside him. In terms of creating goalscoring opportunities, Alonso is third top for Madrid; an average of 1.8 key passes betters Ronaldo’s 1.6 and is inferior only to Mesut Ozil (2.6) and Di Maria (2.1). Of all the side’s main creators, Alonso has the most impressive accuracy – 88.5% - and has so far provided 5 assists over his 25 appearances.

A look at his attacking stats indicate that Alonso is quite happy to stay in a deeper role, allowing the front four in Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 to provide the vast majority of the forward threat. A mere 0.6 shots - which have returned a single goal - in addition to 0.1 successful dribble per game highlights just how rarely he advances forward when in possession.

Alonso’s defensive contribution is also impressive. His reading of the game means he makes the same number of interceptions (2.2) as the likes of Pepe, with his tally superior to both Khedira (1.4) and Lassana Diarra (1.5) in the central midfield area. Alonso is second only to Diarra when it comes to tackles (4.3 to 3.1), with Khedira (1.6) making just more than half the playmaker’s average in comparison. Yet to pick up a WhoScored man of the match award, his average of 7.55 is third for Mourinho’s title-chasers, behind Ronaldo (8.39) and Di Maria (7.65) with just twelve games of the season remaining.

Se7en wrote:Alonso is only 2nd in averaging most passes per game and is third (after Xavi & Messi) in passing in the final third

Like I said, him being a defensive liability isn't his fault. He isn't a DM, so it's not his fault his coach plays him as one.

Only "liability" is him under pressure, but even so, he performs great more often than bad.