Premier League Player Rankings After Week 5: Chelsea's Dominance Continues
Welcome to the fifth edition of our Premier League player rankings, continuing for another season in its mission to quantify the form of England's top-tier players.
We pick the Top 20 players on the basis of form and performances in league games only. After five weeks of games, form is really starting to take shape—even if the results remain as unpredictable as ever—making the job of picking out consistent individual performers slightly more straightforward.
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 below.
Honourable Mentions/Dropping Out
1 of 21
Dropping Out
Steven Naismith (Everton)
Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham)
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)
Aly Cissokho (Aston Villa)
Alan Hutton (Aston Villa)
Honourable Mentions
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Victor Moses (Stoke City)
Mohamed Diame (Hull City)
Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace)
20. Philippe Senderos, Aston Villa
2 of 21
Last Week: 8
Differential: -12
The four minutes of madness that resulted in three goals conceded and an eventual 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend may have cost his Aston Villa team-mates Aly Cissokho and Alan Hutton their place in these rankings, but Philippe Senderos hangs on by the skin of his teeth thanks to his performances during the first four weeks of the season.
The Swiss endured a difficult afternoon against Arsenal, but the memory of that defensive display against Liverpool at Anfield just about keeps the balance tipped in his favour.
19. Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal
3 of 21
Last Week: 20
Differential: +1
Aaron Ramsey did not grab the headlines this weekend, as once again the players further ahead of him on the pitch—in Saturday's case, Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil—did the significant damage in the win over Aston Villa. But Ramsey was once again a confident presence in midfield, continuing a good start to the season that has not had the additional goalscoring flourish in recent weeks.
Still, it is early days, and Ramsey remains a key cog for the Gunners.
18. Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton
4 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Southampton have kept three clean sheets in their opening five games, an impressive defensive record—especially considering the losses of Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers in the summer—that has contributed to their rise to second in the table.
The departure of Chambers has allowed Nathaniel Clyne to make the right-back position his own this season, and that security has enabled the promising full-back to continue to elevate his performances. Against Swansea at the weekend, he was once again a solid performer, helping his side defensively but also linking up the attacking play when required.
Is an England call-up on the horizon?
17. Angel Di Maria, Manchester United
5 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
It is only his relative lack of game time that prevents Angel Di Maria from being far higher in this list, with the Argentine missing United's opening two games of the season.
After the cautious debut against Burnley and then the virtuoso home display against the abject QPR, the Argentine was once again imperious as Manchester United took a 3-1 lead against Leicester City on Sunday—scoring a sumptuous lob to briefly make the scoreline 2-0 in United's favour.
The eventual capitulation was, of course, remarkable, and Di Maria must take his share of the blame (even if he was substituted long before the defeat was confirmed). But he remains a shining light from the early part of this season for United, and it is surely only a matter of time before he rises even higher in this list.
16. Raheem Sterling, Liverpool
6 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Liverpool may have struggled immensely in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to West Ham, but Raheem Sterling was the one bright(ish) spot as he got his third league goal of this fledgling campaign.
If he continues this form, the 19-year-old is on course to hit 20 goals for the entire season—an almost unprecedented feat for a teenager, especially one not considered to be an out-and-out striker.
He and Liverpool might need Daniel Sturridge back to resolve their attacking issues, but Sterling has nevertheless started the season brilliantly.
15. Dusan Tadic, Southampton
7 of 21
Last Week: 16
Differential: +1
Dusan Tadic is one of the poster boys for Ronald Koeman's start to this season, an example that the Dutchman bought better than anyone anticipated when tasked with rebuilding Southampton's squad in the summer.
Tadic was relatively quiet in the 1-0 win over Swansea on Saturday, but he has nevertheless enjoyed a great start to the season.
14. Ryan Shawcross, Stoke City
8 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Stoke's start to the season has not been great—the victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium apart—but Ryan Shawcross remains Mr. Consistent at the back for Mark Hughes' side.
A draw against QPR will have given the Potters little cause for optimism, but with Shawcross to rely on at the back, they will surely remain hopeful that things will turn around eventually.
13. Jason Shackell, Burnley
9 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Burnley showed all their battling qualities as they eked out a 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Saturday, a slightly disappointing result in context, but one that nevertheless underlined a resolve the team seem to have found at Turf Moor since the culture shock of Chelsea's visit on the opening weekend.
The defence has done its bit, with Jason Shackell the standout performer among a unit of determined players. If Sean Dyche can just find a few goals at the other end, Burnley's prospects will improve considerably.
12. Eric Dier, Tottenham
10 of 21
Last Week: 12
Differential: -
With Eric Dier's prolific goalscoring start to the season seemingly in the rear-view mirror, fans are now beginning to see him for what he is: a prodigiously talented and gifted athlete, but one who still has a lot to learn about defending (and playing full-back) at this level.
Dier was reasonable against West Brom on Sunday, but a home defeat to a team many expect to be embroiled in a relegation battle at the end of the season does not speak well of Spurs' current form. Dier, like his side, started with a flourish but seems to have cooled off.
11. Lee Cattermole, Sunderland
11 of 21
Last Week: 17
Differential: +6
The "Cattermole for England" calls have grown since the start of the season. The fact Liam Bridcutt—of whom Gus Poyet has always been a big fan—remains on the bench only serves to highlight how well the combative midfielder has started this season.
Cattermole seems to have cut out the disciplinary problems that always plagued him from his game, and he has consequently developed a greater consistency. Sunderland have problems in attack and defence, but they appear to have a settled option in the heart of their side.
10. Gylfi Sigurdsson, Swansea
12 of 21
Last Week: 6
Differential: -4
A home defeat to Southampton means a fall in the rankings for Gylfi Sigurdsson, who nevertheless appears to be enjoying his return to the Liberty Stadium.
The former Spurs man was unable to find a way past the obdurate Saints defence at the weekend, but nevertheless he—along with fellow midfielder Ki Sung-yueng—has been a pivotal part of the Swans' impressive start to the new season.
9. Graziano Pelle, Southampton
13 of 21
Last Week: 15
Differential: +6
Like a poor man's Diego Costa, Graziano Pelle continues to lead the line well as his side continue to build on their solid start to the season. Like Costa, there was no goal for Pelle at the weekend, but the Italian remains one of the most impressive new strikers in the Premier League this season.
8. Leonardo Ulloa, Leicester City
14 of 21
Last Week: 19
Differential: +11
Leonardo Ulloa leapfrogs Pelle after his two-goal performance in Leicester City's impressive 5-3 win over Manchester United at the weekend. With one goal coming from his head and another from his foot (OK, so it was a penalty, but he still had to convert it), Ulloa continued the fine form that has made the £8 million Nigel Pearson spent on him look like a bargain.
The second-top scorer in the league behind Diego Costa, if Ulloa can come close to sustaining his early-season form, the Foxes will surely fare very well this season.
7. Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
15 of 21
Last Week: 7
Differential: -
Brace yourself for a Chelsea-heavy finish to these rankings. Branislav Ivanovic is the first, the Serbian putting in another solid display on Sunday against Manchester City—even it was not quite as eye-catching as some he has already put in this term.
Ivanovic already has two goals this season, and his form is a key reason why summer signing Filipe Luis cannot be shoehorned into the side by Jose Mourinho at present.
6. Nemanja Matic, Chelsea
16 of 21
Last Week: 9
Differential: +3
Just ahead of Ivanovic is Nemanja Matic, who edges in front of his team-mate after a solid afternoon's work in the heart of the midfield battle at the Etihad Stadium.
It is not hard to see why Chelsea re-signed their former player in January; Matic is big, rangy, good in the tackle and on the ball. He adds just as much to Mourinho's side as Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, albeit in a less obvious manner.
Still, his performance against City highlighted his importance in the biggest fixtures.
5. Fraser Forster, Southampton
17 of 21
Last Week: 5
Differential: -
Fraser Forster remains fifth in these rankings after another solid game and clean sheet as Southampton moved up into second in the table with an away win at Swansea.
Forster has not made too many spectacular saves so far in his time in England, but he has done everything required of him in a confident, unfussy manner. If he continues like this, talk of him supplanting Joe Hart as England's No. 1 will grow louder and louder.
4. Diego Costa, Chelsea
18 of 21
Last Week: 2
Differential: -2
The Premier League's top goalscorer drops down slightly after his first goalless display of the season, in which he was unable to impose himself against Manchester City's imposing central defenders.
The Spain international did have an impact on the game—helping Pablo Zabaleta get sent off and playing his part in the build-up to the opening goal—but he was not as dominant as he has been so far this season, something of a disappointment considering he was brought in for such occasions.
A blip, nothing more, but nevertheless he slips a touch.
3. Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
19 of 21
Last Week: 3
Differential: -
Cesc Fabregas was slightly more influential than Costa against City, but in truth, this was a game in which the Chelsea defenders and defensive midfielders came to the fore.
In a twist from his role in the early part of the season, Fabregas played to a more defensive game plan Sunday, only getting a real opportunity to unleash his creative talent when he was moved into the No. 10 position following a spate of substitutions.
He was not quite able to drive Chelsea to three points, but he remains one of the standout performers of the Premier League season so far.
2. Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton
20 of 21
Last Week: 1
Differential: -1
Morgan Schneiderlin falls off the top spot in these rankings, despite again playing his part as Southampton continued their good start with a victory over Swansea City.
The defensive midfielder seems to have gone from strength to strength following his involvement at the World Cup with France—the international recognition seemingly giving him an additional confidence and assurance that has only added to the quality of his performances.
One of the few jewels not to leave Southampton this summer, it will be interesting to see if a big club comes calling with a serious offer when the January transfer window opens.
1. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
21 of 21
Last Week: 4
Differential: +3
Eden Hazard moves into the top spot after an important contribution against Manchester City on Sunday. Big games require big players to make the difference, and the Belgian did just that with a sublime low cross that allowed Andre Schurrle to break the deadlock.
It should have been the moment of inspiration that decided the game, but Schurrle undid his good work in the final minutes by failing to track his runner and allowing City the chance to equalise through Frank Lampard.
Nevertheless, Hazard continued his brilliant start to the campaign. His statistics are not as gaudy as Fabregas' and Costa's (he has just one goal and one assist to his name so far), but in every game he has demonstrated his world-class ability.
Where Costa and Fabregas stuttered ever so slightly against City, Hazard continued to impose himself. For that reason, he moves into the top spot in these rankings.
