Premier League Player Rankings: Ander Herrera Rises, N'Golo Kante Falls
The Premier League player rankings return to written form for 2017.
This year we're running a rolling, weekly top 50, detailing the finest performers in the division after every round of games.
As you'd expect, this edition is pretty heavy on Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur players...although Dele Alli hasn't done enough yet to make up for a poor start to the season.
Ranking Criteria
- It's a season-long ranking based on performances over the entire campaign—no longer does it take into account a 4-6 week period of form (like previous editions did). Therefore, whoever is No. 1 is effectively our choice for Player of the Season should the campaign finish this week.
- Only Premier League form is considered—no Champions League, no domestic cups and certainly no international football!
- We pore over hours of film to accurately grade the players on a weekly basis. All teams are covered properly and experts are sought out for advice as and when required.
- Performing well on a consistent basis is key. Players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Alli, who have endured very poor patches spanning months this season, have a lot of work to do in order to set the record straight.
46-50.
1 of 18
50. Ragnar Klavan, Liverpool
Klavan's stepped in for Joel Matip and performed with consistency. He's less error-prone than Dejan Lovren and more commanding in the air.
49. Harry Arter, AFC Bournemouth
All-action, all-energy performances are the norm with Arter. He presses and works to get the ball back and then uses it wisely. He's a manager's dream.
48. Marcos Rojo, Manchester United
Aside from one ridiculous, two-footed challenge, Rojo's been surprisingly solid since stepping into United's defensive line. It's been a shock to most.
47. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United
Ibrahimovic's current form has been stellar, but you can't forgot that two-month black hole in which he played extremely poorly. It's why he's so low here.
46. Junior Stanislas, AFC Bournemouth
Eddie Howe really trusts Stanislas, who has become a key player despite the likes of Max Gradel costing far more money. He's repaying that trust with goals and assists.
41-45.
2 of 18
45. Jack Wilshere, AFC Bournemouth
Credit to Wilshere, who has bitten the bullet, gone out on loan and strung together a series of impressive performances. He's playing every week and playing well.
44. Jordan Pickford, Sunderland
Pickford is currently injured, and although Vito Mannone did superbly in his place against Liverpool, that level of performance likely won't last. The 22-year-old has been busy, but he thrives on having to save the day.
43. Georginio Wijnaldum, Liverpool
Wijnaldum was a little flat in the last fixture but a match-winner in the one before. He's not scoring as often as he did while at Newcastle United, but he is keeping the Reds' midfield ticking nicely.
42. Marcos Alonso, Chelsea
Alonso had a bit of a nightmare against Kyle Walker and drops down the rankings as a result. Still, one bad game in 10 isn't something to be upset about.
41. Tom Heaton, Burnley
He hasn't been as astoundingly good as we know he can be of late, but Heaton is still solid and key to Burnley's very stubborn approach to football.
36-40.
3 of 18
40. Sebastian Prodl, Watford
Watford have been so poor recently even Prodl has looked ruffled. He's been hesitant and timid in his challenges, and it's caused his team problems.
39. Ben Foster, West Bromwich Albion
Foster has performed heroics at times this season. He frequently makes excellent stops at key moments, with games such as the one against Arsenal quite common.
38. Claudio Yacob, West Bromwich Albion
Yacob has been the centrepiece to an unlikely Europa League push for West Brom, though it's understandable if you weren't aware—he's an unfashionable player playing for an unfashionable club.
37. David Luiz, Chelsea
Luiz's strong and dependable performances this season have been revelatory, but he struggled against Tottenham Hotspur, and his stock takes a deserved hit as a result.
36. Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
A lower rank than you'd expect for a man with nine Premier League assists, but De Bruyne has disappeared from far too many games for comfort lately.
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31-35.
4 of 18
35. Heung-Min Son, Tottenham Hotspur
Son played well in a great team performance against Watford, but he was then spared for the Chelsea clash. He's not as important to this team now Alli and Harry Kane are firing.
34. Nathaniel Clyne, Liverpool
Widely viewed as the most consistent player Liverpool employ, Clyne has picked up where he left off last season: slightly limited in attack (particularly when crossing) but dependable in defence.
33. Juan Mata, Manchester United
Mata may have been used infrequently over the Christmas and New Year period, but boy is he effective. He scores and assists at key moments.
32. Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
Koscielny limped off against AFC Bournemouth as Arsenal fans' hearts rose to their mouths. He's the most important player in the back line; Arsene Wenger can't afford to lose him.
31. Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea
Azpilicueta's sheen of invincibility took a hit at White Hart Lane as Chelsea's defence caved in. He really struggled with Alli in the air, reinforcing the key issue with playing someone so short at centre-back.
26-30.
5 of 18
30. Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham Hotspur
Vertonghen looked a little mistake-prone against Chelsea but helped see out a clean sheet and a victory regardless.
29. Lee Grant, Stoke City
An absolute revelation in goal for Stoke City, Grant has made key saves in almost every game since usurping Shay Given in the pecking order.
28. James Milner, Liverpool
Milner was surprisingly solid at left-back against Manchester City, and some of his passing to release runners was absolutely brilliant.
27. Paul Pogba, Manchester United
He may have started the season poorly, but Pogba's last six weeks' worth of performances have bordered on stunning. You have to admire the turnaround.
26. Nordin Amrabat, Watford
Amrabat has departed Watford for the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco, and Walter Mazzarri will really, really miss him. Put simply: He has been their best attacking player.
21-25.
6 of 18
25. Roberto Firmino, Liverpool
Firmino has been a little up and down since moving to the left flank, and so he remains just outside the top 20. You can't fault his work rate and energy, though, and it was on full display against Manchester City.
24. David Silva, Manchester City
Silva changed the game in City's favour when he came on against Burnley—despite the fact his team had a man fewer.
23. Adam Forshaw, Middlesbrough
He's no longer in the top 20, but Forshaw's consistency has him on course for a very good season overall.
22. Oriol Romeu, Southampton
Romeu did his best to put out multiple fires at Goodison Park, but ultimately, he and his midfield succumbed to Everton's energy.
21. Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace
He has now travelled to Gabon to play for Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations 2017, but Zaha signed off with a goal against Swansea City.
16-20.
7 of 18
20. Idrissa Gueye, Everton
Gueye put in a poor showing against Hull City last Friday but perked up considerably against Southampton.
19. Victor Wanyama, Tottenham Hotspur
Wanyama put in an astonishingly good performance against Chelsea on Wednesday as Tottenham became the team to break Antonio Conte's win streak. The Kenyan was key to the approach.
18. Antonio Valencia, Manchester United
Valencia has put together an under-the-radar steady season, with the Ecuadorian providing defensive grit and an attacking outlet from right-back.
17. Victor Moses, Chelsea
Moses might be on the cusp of a rough patch. He played quite poorly against Tottenham Hotspur as Danny Rose dominated his flank, and he played everyone onside for the opener.
16. Virgil van Dijk, Southampton
Sent off against West Brom in a game where he actually played quite well, Van Dijk was then forced to watch Maya Yoshida flail in his place at Goodison Park.
11-15.
8 of 18
15. Jonny Evans, West Bromwich Albion
Evans limped off against Hull City with what looked like a recurrence of a recent calf injury. Tony Pulis will hope it's minor, as the Northern Irishman has been stellar.
14. Pedro, Chelsea
Pedro tried, tried and tried some more against Tottenham, but it didn't quite pan out for him. The Spaniard ended up in an auxiliary left-wing-back role.
13. Adam Lallana, Liverpool
Lallana has been directly involved in 14 goals this season (seven goals, seven assists), but he disappointed against Sunderland. The 28-year-old looked knackered.
12. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
His goal haul is exceptional, but Alexis blows hot and cold far too often. He has as many frustrating games as excellent ones.
11. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City
Whether the boo-boys like it or not, Sterling has been City's best player this season—even if he does trip himself up occasionally (literally).
10. Kyle Walker, Tottenham Hotspur
9 of 18
Last Round: 13th
Movement: +3
Kyle Walker was suspended for Tottenham Hotspur's win over Watford, and the timing of the ban actually worked out superbly. Kieran Trippier took care of the Hornets and was integral to a 4-1 win, allowing Walker some extra rest ahead of the key clash with Chelsea.
Against Antonio Conte's men, Walker was superb. Energetic and direct, he attacked Alonso head on and got in behind several times. Staying wide to the touchline, he helped Spurs build play on that flank and free up space for Christian Eriksen to drop into and cross from.
9. N'Golo Kante, Chelsea
10 of 18
Last Round: 4th
Movement: -5
N'Golo Kante has looked strangely human over the past two rounds, struggling to assert his authority in a see-saw game against Stoke City then actually losing the midfield battle against Tottenham Hotspur.
That latter issue is something very rarely seen, so if you're a Kante hater, bottle and savour it, as you likely won't see it again for some time. Usually such a commanding, physical presence, he was regularly upstaged by Mousa Dembele and Wanyama.
8. Joel Matip, Liverpool
11 of 18
Last Round: 8th
Movement: -
Joel Matip has not been named in Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations squad, per BBC Sport. He will continue his recovery from injury in the north-west.
7. Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hotspur
12 of 18
Last Round: 12th
Movement: +5
While Alli has been rightly stealing the headlines following a phenomenal four-game, seven-goal blitz, the return of Toby Alderweireld from injury cannot be overlooked when considering Tottenham's spark into life.
The Belgian is a top-three Premier League centre-back, and his presence was sorely missed throughout November. In these last two games, against Watford and Chelsea, he's underlined how and why he's so effective.
A leader, an organiser, a long-range passer and a last-ditch tackler all rolled into one.
6. Joe Allen, Stoke City
13 of 18
Last Round: 5th
Movement: -1
Joe Allen's form is on the slide. Stoke City are a little up and down, and that hasn't helped the midfield man, and it doesn't feel like the 3-4-3 formation Mark Hughes is currently using suits him that well.
His ability to break beyond the midfield line and attack space—a move that yielded several goals earlier in the season—cannot be used as often now, and it resulted in a reasonably subdued performance against Watford (at least compared to his own high standards).
5. Sadio Mane, Liverpool
14 of 18
Last Round: 7th
Movement: +2
Sadio Mane's nine goals and four assists from 19 games represents incredible value, and he signed off in style against Sunderland by tapping home late in the second half before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Admittedly, it wasn't his finest outing—Liverpool as a team looked quite flat following Jurgen Klopp's strange decision to play most of the same players who beat Manchester City on New Year's Eve—but you can't fault his production; he just keeps on delivering.
4. Danny Rose, Tottenham Hotspur
15 of 18
Last Round: 9th
Movement: +5
Rose is in the midst of a red-hot patch of form, and it's allowing Tottenham Hotspur to dominate the left flank in every game they play.
Faced with the prospect of containing Victor Moses on Wednesday, Rose put in a brilliant—if perhaps a touch too full-blooded—showing that left his opponent spinning. Both defensively and offensively, he pulled his weight, surging forward with intent and tracking back studiously.
Is he the best left-back in the Premier League?
3. Ander Herrera, Manchester United
16 of 18
Last Round: 6th
Movement: +3
It's astonishing that it has taken this long for Ander Herrera to become an undisputed key player for Manchester United, isn't it?
Over the Christmas and new year period, he was in predictably fine fettle, giving the Red Devils a consistently energetic presence in midfield that used the ball well and recovered it frequently.
Many of United's rapid counter-attacks begin with Herrera nicking the ball off an opponent.
2. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
17 of 18
Last Round: 2nd
Movement: -
Eden Hazard's nine Premier League goals so far this season is a brilliant haul, and one hallmark of his play this term has been his tendency to find the net in crucial matches against the better sides—he's no flat-track bully.
Sadly for Chelsea, this trait did not rear its head on Wednesday as they fell short at White Hart Lane. Hazard produced a few lovely dribbles and jinking runs, but he generally struggled to influence the game as space was reduced to a premium. He also spurned one very good chance.
1. Diego Costa, Chelsea
18 of 18
Last Round: 1
Movement: -
Up until Wednesday evening, there had been something incredibly appealing about the way Diego Costa was playing his football. We knew he was a bruiser, an aggressor, but even he might have been surprised at just how physically dominant he has been over the last two months.
His performance against Stoke City was quintessential Costa: He ran the channels, kept the defence moving, created space and/or chances for his midfielders and, eventually, capped things off with an extremely hard-fought goal. Dumping Bruno Martins Indi to the floor is no mean feat, and the finish wasn't bad either.
Against Tottenham Hotspur, though, things unravelled a little. He tried very hard to make things happen, but he was constantly caught offside and ended up running into the corner or shouting at Pedro too frequently for comfort. It weakens his stock, but it's not enough to knock him off the top spot.
All statistics via WhoScored.com
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