Ranking the top 20 players from the Premier League season: No. 20 - 16

With the 2015-16 Premier League season now in the history books, theScore is looking back, counting down the top 20 players of the campaign.

Top 20 Premier League players: The rundown

No. 20 - 16
No. 15 - 11 (May 25)
No. 10 - 6 (May 26)
No. 5 - 1 (May 27)

Just missed: Eric Dier, Christian Fuchs, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.

Without further ado ...

No. 20 - Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City)

2015-16 Premier League season: 35 appearances, 2 goals, 7 assists; 1.3 key passes per 90 minutes

N'Golo Kante, ahem, intercepts all the plaudits when it comes to Leicester City's midfield - and with good reason - but partner Danny Drinkwater needn't be overlooked. His impressive range of passing was absolutely vital to the Foxes' unprecedented success this season, and his ability to pick up the ball in midfield and fire a strike to Jamie Vardy not only alleviated pressure, but instantly turned defence into attack, as Leicester counter-attacked teams to death throughout the early stages of the season.

Perhaps it's simply best to let Vardy, who scored five goals directly off assists from Drinkwater, tell the story, "He is the puppet master," the striker said of his compatriot. "He is the one who holds all the strings and makes sure he pulls everyone into the right places. He feeds the ball where it needs to go."

The 26-year-old could be pulling some similar strings for England at Euro 2016 as a result of his breakout campaign.

No. 19 - Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)

2015-16 Premier League season: 33 appearances, 4 goals; 1.5 tackles, 4 interceptions per 90 minutes

Despite being partnered with the cumbersome Per Mertesacker or the rash Gabriel, Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny continued to shine this past season. On a team that so heavily values ball retention and attractive football, but often lacks sufficient coverage and support in defensive midfield, it's remarkable how infrequently the 30-year-old Frenchman was exposed, his instincts and ability to read the play laid bare in his interception numbers. A defensive rock for the Gunners, he's often been forced to do the work of two central defenders given the lack of quality alongside him. The fact that Arsenal conceded the second-fewest goals in the league was in large part thanks to Koscielny.

No. 18 - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

2015-16 Premier League season: 30 appearances, 13 goals, 4 assists; 2.3 key passes, 3.7 successful dribbles per 90 minutes

That Alexis Sanchez's campaign is viewed as being something of a disappointment speaks volumes to the lofty standards of the dynamic Chilean. True, he seemed to lack his trademark explosiveness after returning from a tiresome summer that saw his national side capture a first-ever Copa American crown, and an injury-induced absence thanks to a freak accident at Norwich that caused him to miss crucial time in the latter stages of the season. But the Arsenal attacker still filled the stat sheet, and was a menace when teamed with assist-king Mesut Ozil. His memorable hat-trick in the 5-2 thumping of Leicester in September kicked off a spell in which he found the net seven times in four matches in all competitions, highlighting just how spectacular he can be when firing on all cylinders.

No. 17 - Wes Morgan (Leicester City)

2015-16 Premier League season: 38 appearances, 2 goals; 1.3 tackles, 2.5 interceptions per 90 minutes

The captain of a title-winning side that goes down in Premier League lore, Jamaican (yes, not English) defender Wes Morgan saw his performances at the heart of Leicester's defence equate to his colossal frame; he was, simply, a mountain alongside fellow titan Robert Huth. Rewarded for his campaign with a deserved place on the PFA team of the year, Morgan became only the third player in Premier League history to play every single minute during a title-winning campaign. A true ever-present figure for the Foxes.

No. 16 - Anthony Martial (Manchester United)

2015-16 Premier League season: 31 appearances, 11 goals, 4 assists; 1.3 key passes, 2.9 successful dribbles per 90 minutes

The undisputed best outfield player at Old Trafford this season, Anthony Martial arrived in England from Monaco with an enormous £36-million transfer fee (that could rise to £58 million) chained to his waist. Would the pressure of being the proverbial high-priced teenager at one of football's most iconic clubs weigh him down? Emphatically, no. Martial, who turned 20 in December, was an electrifying presence amid an otherwise drab side, lighting up the Red Devils' attack with his pace and ability to beat defenders and penchant for finding the net. His debut goal against Liverpool, a mazy solo effort reminiscent of another Frenchman, told the story. This kid is going to be a star for many years to come.