Each and every team has that one player that is absolutely crucial in determining their success.

If these players don’t play, their team usually struggles in their absence. It is for this reason that there is a select few players in the Premier League that are quite simply irreplaceable.

In this article, we analyse the six most ‘irreplaceable players’ in the Premier League and justify why they are so crucial to their team’s success.

(Statistics provided by Whoscored.com and Premierleague.com)

N’Golo Kante – Chelsea

We start with this all-action Frenchman, who has perhaps been under appreciated in the past two seasons.

Last year, it was Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez that stole the limelight each week. This year it has been Diego Costa and Eden Hazard. But for us, the real star in each of those sides has undoubtedly been Kante.

He’s the main reason why Leicester City won the Premier League last year, and he’s the main reason why Chelsea are heavy favourites to win it this year.

Since Kante arrived in England in the summer of 2015, he has only tasted defeat six times in 62 appearances. Given his contribution, it is easy to see why. Last year, he led the League in interceptions (156) and tackles (175). This season, he is ninth in interceptions (58) and second in tackles (91).

Although his numbers have dropped slightly this season, they are still very impressive and underlines his status as one of the league’s best box-to-box midfielders.

Chelsea have already lost Costa and Hazard to injury on separate occasions this season, but have performed adequately in their absences. Fortunately for Chelsea, Kante has been ever-present for virtually the whole campaign.

Although we have no evidence in which to draw from, if Chelsea were to lose him to injury or suspension for a prolonged period of time, I guarantee his incredible work rate and contribution on both ends of the pitch would be impossible to replace.