Premier League Player Power Rankings: AJ Excels, City Men Stutter, Suarez Falls
Welcome to the latest edition of our Premier League player power rankings!
This week, we welcome a new No. 1, and it's not an easy title to claim. The player in question, who plays in blue, has been stunning all season and deserves it.
Otherwise, we've dropped two due to injury and welcomed two others in form. Competition for the list was tough, so don't be disheartened should your favourite players not be here!
Dropping out / Honourable Mentions
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Dropping out
This week we've dropped Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho from our top 10, and both decisions are related to injury. The two are expected to miss a month or so.
Honourable Mentions
Many players are picking up steam, and we may have to extend our rankings to 15 next week if this continues.
Adam Lallana, Christian Bentekeย andย Santi Cazorla were all excellent again.ย David Silva had an off night, but we'll forgive him.ย Wojciech Szczesny was in good form, too.
10. Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool
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Last Week: 9
Movement: -1
Daniel Sturridge's opening goal against West Bromwich Albion made it 14 from 14 Premier League starts.
His impressive consistency in the box should be celebrated, and the fact that Liverpool have two prime sources for goals going into the top-four run-in will spark confidence in Brendan Rodgers.
Bar the tap-in strike, however, he was largely ineffectual.
9. John Terry, Chelsea
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Last Week: New!
Movement: New!
Gary Cahill has been in our top 10 for several weeks now, but what about his partner?
John Terry has been quietly brilliant for Jose Mourinho this season, and he's moved from an expendable asset at season's end to a "must-retain" in the space of a few short months.
His gritty, determined style suits his new manager perfectly.
8. Adam Johnson, Sunderland
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Last Week: New!
Movement: New!
Adam Johnson deserved to enter our top 10 several weeks ago, and for that we apologise to the winger.
His goal in the Tyne-Wear derby, making it 2-0 to Sunderland away to their bitter rivals Newcastle United, made it six goals and two assists in just four Premier League games.
Astonishing.
7. Pablo Zabaleta, Manchester City
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Last Week: 5
Movement: -2
Pablo Zabaleta's title of "best right-back in the Premier League" took a severe hit on Monday after Eden Hazard and co. were through with him.
Chelsea managed to block his flank and shut down his attacking play, and when the Blues stormed forward, he looked a little uneasy defensively.
As a result, he drops in our rankings.
6. Per Mertesacker, Arsenal
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Last Week: 7
Movement: +1
Arsenal's defensive line went largely untroubled during their match against Crystal Palace, and Per Mertesacker didn't have an awful lot to do.
That said, he excelled when called into actionโbar the yellow cardโand negotiated a potential hiccup game against a fast, counter-attacking side.
5. Yaya Toure, Manchester City
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Last Week: 3
Movement: -2
Yaya Toure was bottled up by Jose Mourinho's compact, clever midfield of Nemanja Matic, David Luiz and Ramires on Monday night.
It's something that just doesn't happen all too regularlyโin the Premier League or Champions Leagueโand as such, it came as a real shock to many watching the spectacle.
His ranking takes a hit for it.
4. Gary Cahill, Chelsea
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Last Week: 6
Movement: +2
Gary Cahill was in monstrous form once again on Monday night, dominating the Chelsea defensive line and scooping a clean sheet at the Etihad Stadium.
He and John Terry have been excellent all season despite many overlooking their performances, and the way the two play togetherย must be giving Roy Hodgson food for thought.
3. Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
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Last Week: 4
Movement: +1
Olivier Giroud put in an extremely Olivier Giroud-y performance on Sunday: failing to trouble the scoresheet yet working hard to create chances for his midfield runners.
He grabbed an assist for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's second goal by holding off a marker and laying off a nice ball for the Englishman to strike.
Much of what he does is still underappreciated.ย
2. Luis Suarez, Liverpool
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Last Week: 1
Movement: -1
Liverpool as a group were poor against West Bromwich Albion this weekend, and Luis Suarez was no different.
Bar one moment of brilliance, in which he picked out Daniel Sturridge with a sublime piece of skill in the box, he was unusually quiet and hesitant.
Given his recent form, he was a major disappointment.
1. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
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Last Week: 2
Movement: +1
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new No. 1.
Eden Hazard didn't trouble the scoresheet in Monday night's showdown against Manchester City, but he won his one vs. one matchup against Pablo Zabaleta in impressive circumstances.
With Luis Suarez drawing a blank at the Hawthorns, the Belgian moves to the summit.
