Premier League Player Rankings: Silva, Yaya Toure, Oxford & Payet Star
Welcome to another season of Premier League player rankings, where we make it our mission to quantify the form of the division's best performers and rank them in order of how well they're playing right now.
The rankings are formed based on players' last six games, with slightly more emphasis placed on their most recent outing. Only Premier League performances are counted, and, typically, one-week wonders do not find their way in by default.
We look beyond the statistical measures and into the performance, reviewing tape and gauging impact. It's not just goals, assists and heroic clearances that impress; it's about how a player contributes to the tactical plan at hand and what impact he has over a 90-minute period.
However, on a one-off basis as we start the season, there is only one game to judge from, and therefore this ranking resembles a list of the top 20 performances in the division from the weekend...until we get a little more material to peruse.
Fair warning to you all: This week's selection is Aston Villa- and West Ham-heavy; claret and blue impressed on the opening day.
Take a look and see if you agree with our selections, and if you feel like we've missed anyone, let us know in the comments section below.
Honourable Mentions
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Simon Francis, AFC Bournemouth
Matt Ritchie, AFC Bournemouth
Rudy Gestede, Aston Villa
Willian, Chelsea
Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace
Shinji Okazaki, Leicester City
Eliaquim Mangala, Manchester City
Chris Smalling, Manchester United
Dusan Tadic, Southampton
Andre Ayew, Swansea City
Jose Manuel Jurado, Watford
Craig Cathcart, Watford
20. Miguel Layun, Watford
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Questions abounded in pre-season as to how Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores would utilise Miguel Layun following the acquisition of Jose Holebas. The solution? combine both in a deadly left-sided duo.
Layun, famed for his ability to take the outside lane and stretch the pitch, dropped inside during the Hornets' 2-2 draw with Everton, allowing his teammate to hit the line instead and open up pockets to take advantage of.
The Mexican was a constant threat in the box and scorer of a lovely opening goal, and this performance looks to have cemented his spot in a competitive XI as a result.
19. Geoff Cameron, Stoke City
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Ryan Shawcross out for two months? No problem. Geoff Cameron is here to save the day.
Stoke City will be without their best overall player, Shawcross, for the opening stages of the season, and many were questioning how they'd cope. Marc Muniesa's developed into a very capable centre-back, sure, but no one's quite able to match the captain.
But Cameron was superb on Sunday, stifling the threat of £32.5 million man Christian Benteke easily and producing some excellent individual moments. Twice he recovered and stopped his opponent running through on goal and he held his ground superbly in the face of Philippe Coutinho's cutting passes.
18. Georginio Wijnaldum, Newcastle United
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"Georginio Wijnaldum would certainly have been the name on everyone’s lips as they left St. James' Park on Sunday," wrote What Culture's Matt Smith.
The Dutchman, newly signed from PSV Eindhoven thanks to the Premier League's financial allure and Steve McClaren's Eredivisie familiarity, impressed greatly on his competitive debut and scored an impressive goal.
He scored a typical box-to-box goal and powered up and down the pitch, proving his pedigree as a central dynamo early and sewing up his place in a competitive team.
17. Matteo Darmian, Manchester United
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Matteo Darmian was voted the supporters' Man of the Match in Manchester United's opening fixture, a 1-0 victory over a strong Tottenham Hotspur outfit.
Classy on the ball, willing and capable to defend and also eager to go forward, he appears the full package at right-back—a position that's been troublesome for the Red Devils since Gary Neville's retirement.
The Italian locked up Nacer Chadli fairly easily and dealt with any Spurs playmaker that drifted over to his side. It's also notable how much ground United made down the right, a direct consequence of Darmian's good play.
16. Jamie Vardy, Leicester City
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Jamie Vardy is a name that carries a hint of a snigger in England due to his questionable national-team call-up in June. He may not quite be of the quality The Three Lions demand, but he flashed ability in 2015 and his performance on Saturday was in keeping with that.
Relentless pressing out of an impressive front two (paired with Shinji Okazaki), clever runs and excellent link play allowed him to shine in a 4-2 victory. His goal opened the scoring, set the tone and stands a much-deserved reward for his hard work.
Vardy's upturn in form has made colleague David Nugent expendable, with the former Portsmouth man rumoured to be returning to the Championship, per Gazzette Live.
15. Reece Oxford, West Ham
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Let's talk about Reece Oxford. What a revelation he was on Sunday.
A 16-year-old who, granted, starred at the European U-17 Championships this summer, would never be expected to put in the performance he did at The Emirates this weekend—especially since he played out of position and against the likes of Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil.
Oxford, a centre-back by trade, filled in in midfield against a team expected to challenge for the Premier League title, and he aced it. Blocking, tackling and making simple passes; nothing complicated, but then again, nothing needed to be.
14. Brad Guzan, Aston Villa
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Make no mistake, Aston Villa tried to replace Brad Guzan this summer. The Daily Mail, among others, confirmed Tim Sherwood's unease with the goalkeeper and it's only because no targets were secured that he's still between the sticks for the club.
But the American showed his undoubted pedigree in the opener against Bournemouth, making three key saves in the first half to keep the score level and his team still in the contest. The most important and impressive stop was the one-on-one with Callum Wilson.
Villa went on to win the game, sorting themselves out at half-time and finding the winning goal in the second period. "We're thankful to Guzan," Sherwood told reporters after the game, for ensuring that remained a possibility.
13. Adrian, West Ham
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Adrian's already set about proving last season's heroics were no fluke; his brilliant shot-stopping and athletic frame were on full display on Sunday afternoon.
West Ham's 2-0 victory over Arsenal, borne of brilliant defending and incisive counter-attacking, also relied on the goalkeeper to act as the last line of the defence at times. As the game wore on and the Gunners edged closer to scoring, it was the Spaniard who sprung to action, claiming crosses and shots cleanly, allowing no room for error.
The ability to cling onto the ball is an underrated trait; it means no chance for Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott to pounce. Adrian played an immaculate game.
12. Cheikhou Kouyate, West Ham
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Cheikhou Kouyate's debut for West Ham last season was brilliant, bossing the midfield in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day. Fast-forward approximately 12 months and he's done it again; his opening showing in the 2-0 win over Arsenal was powerful, bullying and ultimately decisive.
The goal was easy; the marking was poor and Petr Cech made an error in judging his attempted run and claim. But Kouyate's 90-minute performance put opposite number Francis Coquelin's to shame, proving too strong, too fast and too determined to stop.
Kouyate will run through walls for the cause, and the Gunners' midfield caved easily to his brute-force strength.
11. Dimitri Payet, West Ham
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You want a fast start from your marquee summer signing, and that's exactly what West Ham got from Dimitri Payet.
He bagged an assist after dropping a delicious ball in for Cheikhou Kouyate to head home in the first half—tempting Petr Cech into a dangerous area and forcing him to come off his line—and emerged as the go-to dribbler when the Hammers were countering out of defence.
What struck home immediately was his level head and excellent decision-making; he doesn't dribble into blind alleys or fail to spot runners, his head is on a swivel and he always makes the right choice.
10. Winston Reid, West Ham
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Suddenly, Winston Reid is under pressure to deliver top performances. The massive contract he signed earlier this year—£60,000-per-week until 2021, per the Daily Mail—creates expectation.
Well, so far so good. He delivered a leader's performance at the heart of West Ham's defence as they shocked Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium on the opening day, clearing crosses, blocking shots and making key tackles.
There was one block in particular, on Theo Walcott, that stopped what looked like a guaranteed goal, bailing Adrian out and keeping the club's sheet clean.
9. Jordan Amavi, Aston Villa
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Aston Villa fans will be tempering their excitement over Jordan Amavi for the time being, as despite the fact he excelled in the club's opener, we've been here before.
Never has a player peaked so aggressively in his first game then fallen so heavily as Antonio Luna—a star at The Emirates on the opening day two seasons ago, now playing for Eibar after a failed loan at Spezia. He too was a left-back who excited on his debut, so caution is the name of the game here.
But Amavi looks a different animal, and he's an establish prospect. He defended his flank superbly against Bournemouth for 45 minutes, then stepped forward and began tearing forward on the left side. He's as quick as they come and has great control to match.
8. Ciaran Clark, Aston Villa
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Ahead of the new season, Ciaran Clark penned a new five-year contract with Aston Villa, quashing whispers he might be moved on by Tim Sherwood or poached by a rival.
He celebrated that renewal with a brilliant performance on the opening day, taking a commanding role in defence and responding superbly to the immense pressure Bournemouth exerted in the first 45 minutes.
He was the coolest man on the pitch, easing out of danger, chesting down balls to start passages of play and winning duels everywhere. It was near enough a mistake-less game from the Irishman.
7. Marc Albrighton, Leicester City
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Marc Albrighton emerged as a key player for Leicester City late last season, buccaneering forward from right-wing-back and devastating teams in the wide areas. His crossing skills and directness helped spearhead a remarkable escape from relegation.
He's started the season in that same penetrative fashion; he's retained a role in Claudio Ranieri's XI, this time starting as a true winger, and continued to wreak havoc. A goal and two assists on the opening day represent a fantastic early return from the former Aston Villa man.
6. Yaya Toure, Manchester City
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Yaya Toure is back, and that's bad news for defences and midfields everywhere. "We spoke a lot before the season and I am sure we are going to see the same Yaya we saw a couple of seasons ago," Manuel Pellegrini told the Guardian on Monday evening.
He and David Silva can share claim of the first of the three goals City scored against West Bromwich Albion, but the second was all Yaya. A rocket, right into the top corner from distance, announces his return to form and focus.
At the end of 2013-14 Yaya finished with 20 league goals, undoubtedly pushing his side toward the title. If he can manage that again, the Citizens will be true title contenders again, but we must wait for the real test: Chelsea next weekend.
5. Jefferson Montero, Swansea City
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It's one thing to rinse Calum Chambers, as Jefferson Montero did at the Liberty Stadium last December, but quite another to take Branislav Ivanovic—the Premier League's best right-back from 2014-15—apart at the seams.
The Ecuadorian is a traditional wide man, not oft-seen in contemporary football, and causes slower full-backs big problems. Ivanovic looked at a loss as to how to stop him, losing the battle both inside and out.
Montero had fitness issues last season, managing just 15 league starts. If he can put those problems behind him this campaign, he'll be a real asset to Garry Monk. His pace and deliveries will eventually find a way through, giving the Swans a nice direct alternative to their regular possession football.
4. Angelo Ogbonna, West Ham
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We sincerely hope Angelo Ogbonna's Tweet gaffe, in which the PR company for his account mistook The Emirates for Wembley Stadium, doesn't distract from a dream Premier League debut for the Italian.
He's looking to rebuild his career after stagnating at Juventus for three years, and with Slaven Bilic happy to trust him and give him the football he needs, east London seems the perfect place.
Ogbonna has easily ousted James Collins and James Tomkins for a spot alongside Winston Reid, and those new to his talents became very familiar with them on Sunday afternoon. He repelled every cross, shot and pass that came near him, clearing confidently and definitively.
3. Micah Richards, Aston Villa
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Micah Richards was sublime on Saturday, putting to bed any fears that he would take a little while to adapt to a consistent centre-back role. He's been in the wilderness for a year, hardly playing with Fiorentina—a fact that makes his fast start all the more impressive.
He was still able to utilise his great strength and power in the centre, winding the clock back to 2009, where he shone alongside Richard Dunne in a pairing for Manchester City. He headed everything clear, putting distance on his headers and out-muscling anyone who came close.
Barking orders and setting an example came naturally to him; he's really embraced the captain's role Tim Sherwood has awarded him.
2. David Silva, Manchester City
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"It was an unbelievable performance. He did not make any mistakes," Manuel Pellegrini enthused over David Silva after Manchester City's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Monday, per the Mirror.
The little Spaniard ducked and weaved through challenges and broke between WBA's lines with ease; every time they tried to take the ball off him, he'd slither away still in possession and create a chance.
He can lay a claim to the first goal, diverting Yaya Toure's effort from outside the box into the corner, and he set up numerous chances in and around the area as Joleon Lescott and Co. failed to shut him down.
1. Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
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Logically, the No. 1 spot in the opening salvo of Premier League player rankings must go to the best player of the weekend's action. That man is Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez.
Mahrez grabbed a brace as the Foxes dismantled Sunderland 4-2 at the King Power Stadium and was denied a hat-trick by the base of the post. His directness, positivity and mesmeric dribbling ability made him too hot to handle for either of The Black Cats' full-backs.
Claudio Ranieri will be hoping the Algerian can stay fit and focused this season after a turbulent campaign in 2014-15.
Unless noted, quotes were obtained firsthand.
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