After each matchday in the English Premier League, Sportsnet will rank the top 20 players for the 2018-19 season. Regardless of reputation, everyone starts from scratch at Matchday 1, and will steadily move up, down, or out of the rankings as the games progress.
1. Eden Hazard, Chelsea (Previous matchday: 1)
Manchester United had clear intent to disrupt him by any means necessary with both Nemanja Matic and Ashley Young picking up yellow cards after chopping him down.
Young did a good job overall and United will say it worked, but Hazard unfortunately woke up the next morning with back problems and one can only hope he isn’t forced to miss matches because of it.
Eden Hazard walked off on Saturday with a grimace and back pain. In an average Premier League game he gets fouled 2,6 times, in the last 4 games against United in London 5,5 times. #cfc pic.twitter.com/GbLshBqHwq
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) October 22, 2018
2. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City (Previous matchday: 2)
It’s almost a little disappointing that City potted five against Burnley and Aguero scored just once. That’s an indication of the level of both the team and the man this season, who is now just a goal behind Hazard on the scoring chart.
3. Aymeric Laporte, Manchester City. (Previous matchday: 3)
It was a quiet afternoon for the Frenchman as Burnley managed only five shots all game without ever hitting the target. Still, it’s another clean sheet and another week where Pep Guardiola can pencil him in to start without a second thought.
4. David Silva, Manchester City (Previous matchday: 5)
He continued his sparkling form and chemistry with Aguero, who he has now assisted 20 times over the course of their careers in Manchester. That’s more than any other City combination.
Silva added another assist for City’s second goal, putting him in rare company.
5. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 4)
Liverpool were certainly tested by Huddersfield Town, and a couple of nervy moments could have gone very differently. Van Dijk has a lot of responsibility now with carrying both his club and country’s defence, and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his level as the matches pile up.
Also:
6. Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal (Previous matchday: 6)
Lacazette was very good once again in linking up with both Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi and will be livid with himself for missing an absolute sitter with less than 15 minutes remaining that would have sealed the fixture.
Arsenal are very much back and the Frenchman is a huge reason why.
7. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 11)
Salah’s continuing to do the right things as far as movement in and around defenders and picking and choosing when to pass and when to shoot. He provided a great finish to Xherdan Shaqiri’s through ball but the finishing wasn’t quite the same after that.
Mohamed Salah's game by numbers vs. Huddersfield:
67 touches
4 shots
2 crosses
2 take-ons
2 shots on target
1 goal
His 50th for an English club. pic.twitter.com/ys6dX2GVXD
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 20, 2018
8. Ryan Fraser, Bournemouth (Previous matchday: 7)
It was a surprise that Fraser played at all as all the pre-match talk was about his struggles with a hamstring injury. He was clearly below his best, but his willingness to battle through pain for 76 minutes in a draw is a testament to his commitment and leadership.
9. Jorginho, Chelsea (Previous matchday: 10)
Jorginho was at his best in the first half against United when Chelsea were the better side, but wasn’t the same in the second half as United made a couple of tactical changes to get themselves back in the match.
He’s still comfortable atop the league in passes completed and this was quite an interesting take on what the midfield maestro means to his manager:
10. Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham (Previous matchday: 9)
He played his part in a high-scoring thriller, flicking on brilliantly for Ryan Sessegnon to follow through and score his first Premier League goal.
That both players either side of him (Andre Schurrle being the other) got in among the goals is a reflection of the attention he commands and the chemistry the trio have developed playing alongside each other.
11. Andrew Robertson, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 13)
Robertson seemed to have a better flow to his game than in the past couple of matches and that may have had a bit to do with being awarded more freedom in the absence of Sadio Mané.
12. Marcos Alonso, Chelsea (Previous matchday: 8)
Alonso was withering in pain in the box when United were allowed back into the game with a scrappy goal, and he will feel hard done by that the referee didn’t manage to stop play.
The bottom line is that it cost his side a goal. He has failed to inspire his side going forward as much as he did early in the season, so he drops a few spots.
13. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal (Previous matchday: N/A)
He is absolutely buzzing now, with four goals in his last two matches, and he was a massive difference-maker in the match against Leicester City after coming on as a substitute.
Unai Emery has a problem all managers like to have with both Lacazette and Aubameyang firing on all cylinders.
14. James Milner, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 14)
Milner is just a smooth engine that motors along, hardly ever needing any maintenance. He doesn’t need goals or plaudits but his team ranks show just how important Liverpool’s leader is to the club’s balance.
15. Marko Arnautovic, West Ham United (Previous matchday: 17)
It was a fascinating battle between the Austrian and Hugo Lloris this weekend. Arnautovic was denied four times by the French goalkeeper, a major reason why West Ham were held scoreless.
There’s no doubting Arnautovic’s form and he’ll look to get back on the scoring trail against Leicester City next week.
16. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City (Previous matchday: 12)
He didn’t play, as Champions League was clearly the priority this week, so Sterling suffers a drop down the rankings.
17. Lucas Moura, Tottenham (Previous matchday: 18)
With Erik Lamela making the most of his opportunities now and Moura maintaining his level, there is growing confidence that the Spurs have found a formula for success even when Harry Kane isn’t at his best.
As long as Moura can keep dancing around defenders the way he dances in the locker room, Tottenham will have every reason to be confident.
#MondayMotivation, courtesy of @LucasMoura7
@MoussaSissoko #COYS pic.twitter.com/H9IBjhpYtw
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 22, 2018
18. Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham (Previous matchday: N/A)
The competition gets stiffer for Tottenham from here, but if this past week was any indication, he is relishing the opportunity to go up against the best. West Ham had some very good moments and Alderweireld played a big part in keeping them at bay.
The Belgian central defender seems to have impressed even himself with a sliding challenge on Arnautovic.
Best way to slide back into the @premierleague after the international break Important derby win! #COYS pic.twitter.com/bZSoGkL7GG
— Alderweireld Toby (@AlderweireldTob) October 20, 2018
19. Sadio Mané, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 15)
Mané didn’t play after suffering a thumb injury during the international break and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that all this time away will help rejuvenate one of his main men.
20. Bernardo Silva, Manchester City (Previous matchday: N/A)
On form alone he’s been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, but City’s squad rotation has kept him from consistent minutes. The return of Kevin De Bruyne looms large as well now so he’ll have to fight hard to ensure this isn’t his only appearance.
Honourable mentions:
Joseph Gomez, Alisson (Liverpool), Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), James Maddison, Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Richarlison, Idrissa Gueye (Everton)
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