Premier League Player Rankings After Feb. 7-11 Fixtures: Kane and Ivanovic Rise
Welcome to the latest edition of our 2014-15 Premier League player rankings, continuing for another season in its mission to quantify the form of England's top-tier players.
This week's something of a bonus round as we take into account both the weekend's action and the round of midweek games that occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday. With two games to judge for every player, there are some big changes. You've been warned!
The rankings are formed based on the players' last four games, with slightly more emphasis placed on their most recent outings.
Only Premier League performances are counted, and one-week wonders do not find their way in by default. (See: David De Gea did not qualify in Week 7 for one great showing but now has after consistently strong form.)
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
Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham: This week has not been Spurs' finest defensive hour.
Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal: Nor has it been Arsenal's, in truth. Koscielny struggled in the derby.
On the Radar
Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool
Carles Gil, Aston Villa
Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
Francis Coquelin, Arsenal
Kurt Zouma, Chelsea
James Milner, Manchester City
20. Willian, Chelsea
2 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
This is how you respond to your side signing a new £26 million player.
Willian's place in the Chelsea XI is under threat due to the presence of the newly acquired Juan Cuadrado, and he's responded with some magnificent showings. He created a goal against Aston Villa on Saturday and scored the winner against Everton to cap a brilliant showing.
The Brazilian is well worth his induction into the top 20.
19. Graziano Pelle, Southampton
3 of 21
Last Week: 13
Differential: -6
The Southampton attack continues to run through Graziano Pelle, but he needs to pick up a few more goals sooner rather than later.
He was strong against Queens Park Rangers and allowed his team-mates to play off him and dominate, but he found no joy against a stubborn 10-man West Ham United team.
He's the focal point, and sometimes people forget he doesn't need to score to play well, but a goal at some point would help his own frustrations simmer down.
18. Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
4 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Readers called for the introduction of Mesut Ozil last week, but it was perhaps a little too soon following his return. After two more strong games, though, the German is worthy of a place in the top 20.
He scored a delightful hooked volley in the north London derby and ripped Leicester City to shreds four days later, combining guile, long-range shooting and creative ability to almost single-handedly break down the defensive structure at hand.
17. Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur
5 of 21
Last Week: 14
Differential: -3
Christian Eriksen was not an influential factor in either of the two most recent games played and in fact was substituted against Liverpool in the second half in search of a more effective option.
In the north London derby, it was Harry Kane and Ryan Mason that shone, not the Danish wizard, and the former once again stole the show at Anfield. Even Erik Lamela, who is notoriously up and down, played better this week.
16. John Terry, Chelsea
6 of 21
Last Week: 18
Differential: +2
John Terry continues to perform no matter who his partner is. On Saturday, it was Gary Cahill, and on Wednesday, it was Kurt Zouma, but whoever plays, they strike up an excellent accord and produce a solid display.
We're now at the point where perhaps Zouma suits Terry more so than Cahill, and the Frenchman will continue to eat into his minutes and perhaps replace him full-time by the end of the season. Terry, though, is the safest player on the teamsheet, it seems.
15. Danny Ings, Burnley
7 of 21
Last Week: 20
Differential: +5
Danny Ings was fantastic on Sunday against West Bromwich Albion, carving their defensive structure apart with some delightful first-half play. A goal and an assist for Ashley Barnes was the least he deserved.
Burnley then went on to play very well at Old Trafford on Wednesday but, somehow, lose by a two-goal margin. Ings had Manchester United fans looking longingly at his performance and wondering why their strikers couldn't replicate it.
14. David Silva, Manchester City
8 of 21
Last Week: 17
Differential: +3
David Silva was excellent against Stoke City on Wednesday, saving him from dropping out of our top 20. Every Manchester City player underwhelmed against Hull City last weekend, but the Spaniard's twinkle-toed performance at the Britannia Stadium was truly a sight to behold.
He won't claim the column inches his colleagues James Milner, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero will, but his creative display and impact in ripping the Potters' defence to pieces should not be overlooked.
13. Stewart Downing, West Ham United
9 of 21
Last Week: 10
Differential: -3
West Ham looked fantastic against Manchester United, but oddly enough, Stewart Downing wasn't at the heart of all things good. Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho, in addition to Cheikhou Kouyate surging forward from the back, were the main attacking factors.
At St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday, Downing worked exceptionally hard to win a point, putting in a heroic defensive effort after the Hammers' goalkeeper had been sent off.
12. Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur
10 of 21
Last Week: 11
Differential: -1
Hugo Lloris produced a number of eye-catching saves in the north London derby to keep Arsenal at bay but should have done better at Anfield on Tuesday evening—particularly for one shot that looked like a save in his books.
We're used to seeing uber-consistency from the Frenchman as sides become frustrated as to how to beat him; mistakes, or let-offs, are not common in his game.
11. Emre Can, Liverpool
11 of 21
Last Week: 15
Differential: +4
Emre Can continues his remarkable form and continues to win the hearts of the Liverpool fans. Despite not being a centre-back by trade, he's excelling in Brendan Rodgers' three-man defence.
He was a driving force against both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, surging from deep and chipping the ball into dangerous areas for his forwards to feed off.
A national call-up beckons for the German, surely?
10. Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
12 of 21
Last Week: 8
Differential: -2
Philippe Coutinho turned in his first disappointing performance this year during Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby.
He was hauled off early in the second half, and to be truthful, he looked tired. Starting against Tottenham Hotspur just four days later, Jordon Ibe, Daniel Sturridge and Lazar Markovic stole the headlines despite the Brazilian playing 90 minutes.
The incredible run comes to a halt, and Coutinho drops.
9. Santi Cazorla. Arsenal
13 of 21
Last Week: 7
Differential: -2
Santi Cazorla really struggled against Tottenham Hotspur, failing to inspire his side as we've become accustomed to this season.
He played better against Leicester City, but that wasn't exactly difficult: The Foxes didn't turn up for the first 45 minutes and couldn't recover from a two-goal deficit in the second.
As a result, the Spaniard drops.
8. Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton
14 of 21
Last Week: 9
Differential: +1
Two games, two clean sheets for Nathaniel Clyne.
In a month where many praised Southampton's choice to purchase Ryan Bertrand outright and once again mentioned his great season in correlation to an England call-up, Clyne reminded us that he is the best full-back on the south coast.
7. Harry Kane, Tottenham
15 of 21
Last Week: 12
Differential: +5
Harry Kane saved the day once again. It's becoming a rather familiar story.
His two goals in the north London derby allowed Tottenham Hotspur to claim a priceless victory over archrivals Arsenal and temporarily leapfrog them into the Premier League top four. One strike in particular—the header—was a truly remarkable feat.
He bagged a goal and an assist in the loss to Liverpool midweek, unable to turn the tide for his team, but shining individually again.
6. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
16 of 21
Last Week: 4
Differential: -2
In December 2014, Arsene Wenger admitted to the Daily Mail that Alexis Sanchez was "in the red zone," but that he didn't know quite know what the Chilean could handle.
Well, here's our answer.
The former Barcelona man missed the weekend loss to Tottenham Hotspur but at least returned against Leicester City midweek. He played a muted role.
5. Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
17 of 21
Last Week: 3
Differential: -2
Cesc Fabregas finally appears to getting past his minor injury setback. He missed the win over Aston Villa but made a cameo return against Everton on Wednesday.
The Spaniard falls, but he'll have a chance to surge back up the rankings next week.
4. Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
18 of 21
Last Week: 6
Differential: +2
Branislav Ivanovic was man of the match against Aston Villa, stifling the Midlands club, shutting down Scott Sinclair with ease and scoring the winner with a magnificent finish.
He followed that up with a clean sheet against Everton on Wednesday, coming up against Steven Naismith and besting him with relative ease. He didn't escape the game without controversy; the Mirror's John Cross tackles the "headbutt" issue in full here.
Regardless, Iva is in magnificent form.
3. David De Gea, Manchester United
19 of 21
Last Week: 5
Differential: +2
Manchester United's in-form goalkeeper David De Gea was kept rather busy at Upton Park on Sunday, flying to the rescue on more than one occasion to keep West Ham at bay.
He could do nothing for Cheikhou Kouyate's goal—the strike was deflected heavily on its way past the Spaniard's paws—but shone particularly in the first half with some eye-catching stops.
De Gea then put in a superhuman showing against Burnley to ensure United claimed three points at home.
2. Nemanja Matic, Chelsea
20 of 21
Last Week: 2
Differential: None
Nemanja Matic banished memories of being given the runaround by Fabian Delph in Chelsea's visit to Villa Park last season, instead turning in an assured, combative showing.
The Serb broke up play superbly and helped the Blues dominate the midfield battle in patches. His impact in breaking up play in the second half was key to staving off what looked like becoming a Villa comeback.
Then, against Everton, he shone again. Standard.
1. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
21 of 21
Last Week: 1
Differential: None
Eden Hazard set Chelsea on their way to a hard-fought victory over Aston Villa on Saturday by guiding home an exquisite finish after some truly slick buildup play.
The Belgian winger wasn't at his dazzling best despite Alan Hutton affording him all the room in the world to work with but produced a game-changing moment when required all the same.
Against Everton, he was truly in the mood, too, dribbling majestically and causing the defence no end of issues.
