theScore's Top 50 Premier League Players: 50-41

With the 2015-16 Premier League season set to get underway this weekend, theScore is counting down the top 50 players the top flight of English football has to offer heading into the campaign. Our list was compiled by theScore's quintet of footy editors: Gianluca Nesci, Carlo Campo, Gord Brunt, Michael J. Chandler, and Armen Bedakian.

Agree or - more likely - disagree? Let us know on Twitter, where you can find all five of our editors responsible for the rankings you either love or loathe.

theScore's Top 50 Premier League Players: The Rundown

• No. 50 - 41
• No. 40 - 31 (Aug. 4)
• No. 30 - 21 (Aug. 5)
• No. 20 - 11 (Aug. 6)
• No. 10 - 1 (Aug. 7)

No. 50: Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool

2014-15: 12 appearances, 4 goals, 1 assist, 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes

Daniel Sturridge's lower body is a ticking time bomb, and that may never change. And yet, it's impossible to deny the fact that when healthy - like he was in 2013-14 when he scored 21 Premier League goals - the striker's combination of pace, trickery, and finishing ability easily makes him one of the Premier League's most exciting attackers. - Gianluca Nesci

No. 49: Leighton Baines, Everton

2014-15: 31 appearances, 2 goals, 9 assists, 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes

Leighton Baines was on track to being one of the best full-backs in the Premier League, and don't get us wrong - he still is. But, a persistent ankle injury last season saw Baines struggle to reach his top form. If he has overcome those nagging injury pains, he'll shoot up the rankings once more, but for now, he'll sit at the bottom, biding his time. - Armen Bedakian

No. 48: Daley Blind, Manchester United

2014-15: 28 appearances, 2 goals, 3 assists, 0.8 key passes per 90 minutes

After an inaugural campaign at Old Trafford in which he was deployed at numerous positions, the versatile Daley Blind appears poised to feature at centre-back on a regular basis this season. The adaptable 25-year-old took the pitch in Manchester United's preseason fixtures alongside Phil Jones, and it should be fascinating to see whether the partnership works out. - Carlo Campo

No. 47: Pablo Zabaleta, Manchester City

2014-15: 34 appearances, 1 goal, 5 assists, 0.9 key passes per 90 minutes

Pablo Zabaleta was a busy, busy man this year. He helped Argentina to a second-place finish in the FIFA World Cup last year and the Copa America this summer, all while securing a second-place finish for Manchester City in the Premier League. That just about sums up Zabaleta's form lately, too; a second-place full-back for a second-place team. - Armen Bedakian

No. 46: James Milner, Liverpool

2014-15 (Manchester City): 32 appearances, 7 goals, 7 assists, 1.6 key passes per 90 minutes

For a player who is viewed as boring, James Milner is anything but on the pitch. Rarely injured and seemingly capable of featuring at any position - with the obvious exception of 'keeper - the James of all trades will look to flaunt his versatility at Anfield after joining Liverpool on a free transfer from Manchester City, intent on helping to fill the void left by Steven Gerrard. - Carlo Campo

No. 45: Nathaniel Clyne, Liverpool

2014-15 (Southampton): 35 appearances, 2 goals, 0 assists, 0.6 key passes per 90 minutes

Nathaniel Clyne's transfer appears to be yet another successful visit to the Southampton-well for Liverpool. Clyne's arrival is a massive upgrade at left-back if the England international can replicate last season's breakout performance. It wouldn't be a surprise if his transfer ranks among the best by season's end. - Gordon Brunt

No. 44: Dimitri Payet, West Ham

2014-15 (Marseille): 36 appearances, 8 goals, 17 assists, 3.7 key passes per 90 minutes

Dimitri Payet's transfer to West Ham from Olympique Marseille flew under the radar compared to some of this summer's other moves, but Payet has all the talents to become one of this year's more successful pick-ups. The 28-year-old Frenchman should become immediately acclimated to the pace of the league and his prowess with set pieces will be an asset for the Hammers. - Michael J. Chandler

No. 43: Yannick Bolasie, Crystal Palace

2014-15: 34 appearances, 4 goals, 3 assists, 1.5 key passes per 90 minutes

Best known for stealing Christian Eriksen's dignity and stomping all over it, the Congolese star is one of the Premier League's most eclectic, unpredictable players with the ball at his feet. If he can develop any semblance of a scoring element to his game, we could be looking at one of the league's very best wingers. - Gianluca Nesci

No. 42: Dusan Tadic, Southampton

2014-15: 31 appearances, 5 goals, 7 assists, 2.2 key passes per 90 minutes

During last summer's window, club favourite Adam Lallana left for Liverpool and Southampton seemed doomed not to replace his attacking prowess. Then new manager Ronald Koeman used his first signing with the club to bring in the relatively unknown Dusan Tadic from Twente and his world-class passing skills turned Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane into goal-scoring wonders. Tadic made our Top 50. Lallana did not. - Michael J. Chandler

No. 41: Theo Walcott, Arsenal

2014-15: 14 appearances, 7 goals, 0 assists, 0.3 key passes per 90 minutes

With the his new contract surely coming with the promise of increased playing time, the pressure to produce will weigh heavily on Theo Walcott like never before. His long-term commitment ahead of his 10th season with Arsenal could also come with the promise of his preferred position upfront. - Gordon Brunt