Premier League Player Rankings After Weekend of October 18-20: Cesc, Tadic Shine
Welcome to the eighth 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. Southampton and Chelsea—two clubs who supply close to half of our players—won again so not much has changed, though there are a few big movers thanks to some great individual showings.
The rankings are formed based on the player's last four games, with slightly more emphasis placed on the most recent outing. Only Premier League performances are counted, and one-week wonders do not find their way in by default (see: David de Gea in Week 7).
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.
Dropping out / Honourable Mentions
1 of 21
Dropping Out
Leonardo Ulloa—the fast start can be considered well and truly over.
Nacer Chadli—pressed well and worked hard, but wasn't quite the same after missing Belgium's action with a hip issue.
Honourable Mentions
David Silva
Ryan Shawcross
Raheem Sterling
Abel Hernandez
20. Lee Cattermole, Sunderland
2 of 21
Last Week: 10
Differential: -10
Oh, Lee.
It's not all your fault—the defensive line behind you, and in particular Santiago Vergini, were exceptionally poor—but Sunderland as a unit were sliced open at will by Southampton on Saturday.
Cattermole picked up a customary yellow card, failed to clamp down and control the midfield and struggled to string anything together offensively.
19. Gylfi Sigurdsson, Swansea City
3 of 21
Last Week: 15
Differential: -4
Gylfi Sigurdsson blew cold once again, failing to impact the game as Swansea City were downed 2-1 by Stoke City on Sunday.
He nearly dropped out of the rankings last week but was saved by an incredible showing; now, he's teetering on the brink again in a similar fashion to the Swans' semblance of Premier League form.
18. Michael Dawson, Hull City
4 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Michael Dawson is enjoying himself as a Hull City player, as Steve Bruce is allowing him to play the style of football he excels at.
Whether it's in a back three or a back four, Dawson is performing superbly, and his battling, gritty style came to the fore as the Tigers held out for a point at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
17. Victor Moses, Stoke City
5 of 21
Last Week: 17
Differential: -
Victor Moses is at the centre of a storm right now, as after taking a bit of a tumble in the penalty box to win vs. Swansea City on Sunday, Garry Monk said he should be punished "for diving, for cheating," per BBC Sport.
From the referee's point of view and position it seemed a spot-kick, but replays show the decision was...soft, to say the least.
Regardless, Moses was a threat on the flank once again. He's finding his feet.
16. Saido Berahino, West Bromwich Albion
6 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Get him in the England squad!
Saido Berahino scored his sixth goal of the season as West Bromwich Albion drew with Manchester United on Monday night. His finish—a delightful, curling effort—caused The Hawthorns to erupt like a volcano.
He's a natural striker, adept at running between centre-backs and finding the pressure points in defenders. In short, a nightmare for opposition players to track.
15. Angel Di Maria, Manchester United
7 of 21
Last Week: 13
Differential: -2
Angel Di Maria didn't have his finest game as Manchester United drew away from home.
The system Louis van Gaal used—a flatter 4-3-3 with the Argentinian out on the left wing—wasted his special, vertical dribbling talents somewhat, and he was reduced to slinging crosses into the box in hope of someone connecting.
It didn't happen for him.
14. Oscar, Chelsea
8 of 21
Last Week: 20
Differential: +6
Is it the Cesc Fabregas factor, or is Oscar truly "back"?
It's difficult to say, but what we can quantify is eight very strong performances from the Brazilian, who is bouncing back handsomely from a disappointing summer with Brazil at the World Cup.
He lost his way prior to the tournament and struggled for form, but came good for Luiz Felipe Scolari—it's just a shame he's one of the few that did. He's carried that into the Premier League, much to the fans' relief, and playing superbly.
13. Diafra Sakho, West Ham United
9 of 21
Last Week: 16
Differential: +3
Diafra Sakho continued his exceptional streak of scoring in every start he gets, making it six in six for West Ham United and five from five in the Premier League.
He's developed a wonderful habit of hitting the far- and near-post areas for crosses, and he's taking advantage of the stellar supply Sam Allardyce has lined up for him with some simple finishes.
12. Stewart Downing, West Ham United
10 of 21
Last Week: 14
Differential: +2
Stewart Downing played an influential role in defeating Burnley on Saturday, spraying passes left and right from the tip of Sam Allardyce's midfield diamond.
He epitomises and embodies the new style West Ham are trialling, and he's also key to the performances, making a definitive impact in the final third every week.
He hit the post with a lovely effort at Turf Moor.
11. Fraser Forster, Southampton
11 of 21
Last Week: 8
Differential: -3
Fraser Forster got himself into a bit of a sticky situation this week, rushing out one vs. one with Steven Fletcher and appearing to chop the striker down.
Fletcher had poked the ball around him, but he was never catching it, so perhaps that's the rationale the referee took in not awarding a penalty (and a subsequent, necessary red card).
Barring those five seconds, he had little to do and kept another clean sheet.
10. Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur
12 of 21
Last Week: 9
Differential: -1
Hugo Lloris conceded four this week, but still managed to shower himself in praise by saving a Sergio Aguero penalty with his trailing leg.
He was generally very solid, making eight saves and collecting two crosses, per WhoScored. When you factor in that two of the goals he let in were penalties Aguero didn't miss, it's fair to say he had as good a game as an opposition 'keeper can have at the Etihad Stadium.
9. Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
13 of 21
Last Week: 4
Differential: -5
In pre-season we were talking about how Branislav Ivanovic would deal with a reduced/less significant role. Once the season had started and he'd kept his place, we were questioning how long his reign would last.
Now, with Cesar Azpilicueta sent off against Crystal Palace, Ivanovic has the chance to retain his role as Filipe Luis comes in on the left. If the two perform, they'll be the first-choice pair for the foreseeable future; the Serbian just doesn't know when to relent!
This week he was troubled by Yannick Bolasie, and the sheer quality of those around him sees his rank dip a little violently.
8. Diego Costa, Chelsea
14 of 21
Last Week: 2
Differential: -6
Jose Mourinho's been going on about Diego Costa's hamstring for months now, per the Press Association, via the Daily Mail, and the Spaniard took a rest when Chelsea visited Crystal Palace this weekend.
It makes him difficult to place—on the one hand, he shouldn't be penalised for being injured; on the other, those around him necessitate a move.
He's also a doubt for next week's big tussle with Manchester United.
7. Graziano Pelle, Southampton
15 of 21
Last Week: 7
Differential: -
Graziano Pelle missed out on our Team of the Week this week, but that doesn't mean he didn't perform.
In fact, he came within a whisker of a hat-trick as Southampton crushed Sunderland with ease at St. Mary's Stadium. The Italian converted two of his chances laid up on a plate by Dusan Tadic and Co., and may well have given John O'Shea a tougher go than Thomas Muller did midweek.
Pelle is up to six goals in eight starts in the Premier League, per WhoScored.
6. Nemanja Matic, Chelsea
16 of 21
Last Week: 6
Differential: -
Nemanja Matic had another stellar game in the engine room against Crystal Palace, dominating physically and always looking to play the positive, forward pass.
He wasn't weaving through challenges despite being able to, and he steadied the ship after the Cesar Azpilicueta red card. A wonderful presence to have in physically gruelling games.
5. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
17 of 21
Last Week: 3
Differential: -2
We say the same thing about Eden Hazard every week. It's not because we're lazy—it's because he does almost exactly the same things.
He's a dribbling monster, completing five of seven this weekend, per WhoScored, but again failed to make that definitive impact you'd like in a close game.
We want Hazard to reach Cristiano Ronaldo's level, but he doesn't look like doing it any time soon.
4. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
18 of 21
Last Week: 11
Differential: +7
Our third big, big positive mover this week is Sergio Aguero—and for all the right reasons, too.
The Argentinian wizard scored four goals against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon, and he even had time to botch a penalty and miss the chance to make it five.
He's unplayable when he's fit and in the mood, and the manner in which he squeezes shots into the corner from tight angles is sublime.
3. Dusan Tadic, Southampton
19 of 21
Last Week: 12
Differential: +9
How high can a player rise from one week to the next?
Coming off a week in which he wasn't able to free himself from the shackles of Danny Rose, Dusan Tadic tore Sunderland's defence to shreds, registering four assists and a goal on Saturday.
The Serbian now has seven for the season, per WhoScored, and stands level with Cesc Fabregas.
2. Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton
20 of 21
Last Week: 5
Differential: +3
Southampton's front men will take all the plaudits after an 8-0 victory and perhaps rightly so, with Dusan Tadic gaining national attention following his creative display.
But Morgan Schneiderlin was, of course, instrumental in putting together a dominant final 30 minutes for Saints, allowing his forwards to shine.
It was easy in the end, but the first 60 were more closely contested than many will credit for. Schneiderlin won the battle.
1. Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
21 of 21
Last Week: 1
Differential: None
Jose Mourinho labelled Cesc Fabregas' goal against Crystal Palace a "scandal," per BBC Sport, in reference to how beautiful the build-up play was.
It was the Spaniard's first Premier League goal of the season, adding it to his seven assists, and he looked suitably delighted to break his duck.
With yet another great game under his belt, there's no danger of the former Barcelona man slipping off the throne.
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