Power Ranking the EPL Brazilians

The third week of the Premier League has seen a distinct lack of samba flair, with just five Brazilians taking to the field due to Chelsea's absence from the fixtures list after their UEFA Super Cup defeat.

But despite missing David Luiz, Oscar, Willian and Ramires, there were still several noteworthy performances at the weekend.

As usual, the rankings will be based on individual performances in each round of the Premier League, focusing on the last game these Brazilians played rather than their form so far this season.

Now, let us examine the five Brazilians that have made up the top five this week. 

5: Paulinho

Tottenham's raft of marquee signings failed to impress against fierce rivals Arsenal as they crumbled to a 1-0 defeat thanks to a Olivier Giroud strike.

Costing a cool £17 million from Brazilian outfit Corinthians, Paulinho has impressed in his early days at White Hart Lane.

But the Selecao star was another of Spurs' under-performers on the day as Andre Villas-Boas' midfield failed to click against a slick Gunners side.

Deployed ahead of Etienne Capoue and alongside Mousa Dembele, Paulinho struggled to maintain his influence on the game against Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.

Tottenham supporters will certainly be hoping that their newly bought stars can gel quickly and iron out the issues raised so far in their campaign.

4: Sandro

Tottenham's run of good form was abruptly brought to a halt after they crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of North London rivals Arsenal.

Olivier Giroud's instinctive strike was enough to secure all three points for the Gunners despite the rebuilding programme put in place by Andre Villas-Boas this summer.

Coping with the loss of Real Madrid-bound Gareth Bale, Spurs failed to live up to their billing and Sandro was thrown into the mix after Etienne Capoue was stretchered off with an ankle injury.

The Brazilian showed signs of a lack of match-fitness returning from a lengthy layoff, completing just 50 percent of his passes.

But Sandro's return will have delighted Villas-Boas, who now has to reshuffle his midfield with Capoue sidelined for up to four weeks according to the club's website.

3: Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho endured a quiet game for the second week running as Liverpool cemented their place at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

A Daniel Sturridge header in the third minute of a heated clash ensured that David Moyes' woeful record at Anfield continues for another year, having failed to win at the historic ground so far in his career.

The Brazilian showed glimpses of his undoubted ability with several delicious turns and flicks in the first half, but withdrew into his shell in the second as the game took on a more physical nature.

But due to the tactics Liverpool employed in order to slow the game down once they took the lead, it was only natural that those with defensive duties came to the fore with the attackers feeding on scraps.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will have concerns over Coutinho's ability to perform in the biggest games, but with Liverpool sitting at the top of the table, such worries can wait for another day.

2: Fernandinho

Fernandinho's Manchester City struggled to get going against a plucky Hull City side but eventually took a 2-0 win at the Eastlands.

Alvaro Negredo made an instant impact coming on for the ineffectual Edin Dzeko by burying a header before Yaya Toure's sublime free-kick made it two.

The Brazilian lined up alongside Toure in City's usual double pivot but the duo failed to make inroads against their opponents.

Steve Bruce's men were excellent on the counterattack and Fernandinho failed to impress in his defensive duties, or indeed in his contribution to the attack.

Citizens boss Manuel Pellegrini will be concerned at their struggle to impose themselves on the opposing team, with Toure and Fernandinho seemingly at the heart of the problem.

1: Lucas Leiva

Lucas Leiva may have his critics but he was one of the better performers in Liverpool's 1-0 win over rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

A fan favourite at Anfield, his return from injury has seen some very subpar performances in a red shirt last season and looked set to continue in the current campaign with a nightmarish performance versus Aston Villa.

But the Brazilian recaptured a bit of form against David Moyes' side by helping them hold out against an onslaught in the second half.

Winning 80 percent of his tackles and making six interceptions over the game, it was an all-action performance in front of the defence from the former Gremio star.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will no doubt be delighted at the superb defensive performance, and Lucas' defensive work was a vital component in securing all three points.