Premier League Player Rankings After March 21-22 Fixtures: Giroud Soars
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.
Liverpool lost, forcing several of their form players down the ranking, and several Chelsea players emerged from the weekend having lost ground too. We have three new entries and a host of honourable mentions as the season really heats up.
The rankings are formed based on 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. (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 section below.
Dropping Out
1 of 21
Dropping Out
Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris has been sliding for weeks and exited in the fourth minute against Leicester City.
John Terry, Chelsea: Terry clung on near the bottom for a while, but the Blues were a mess at the back this weekend.
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal: Sanchez is out of sorts at the moment after a brilliant half-season.
Honourable Mentions (Plenty of players in form at the moment)
Fabian Delph, Aston Villa
Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
Sadio Mane, Southampton
Juan Mata, Manchester United
Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur
Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace
Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton
Daley Blind, Manchester United
20. Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool
2 of 21
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
It might seem an odd time to bring a central defender into the top 20 given his side lost 2-1 at the weekend, but Mamadou Sakho was once again fantastic at the heart of Liverpool's defence.
Not only is he robust and solid defensively, but he has gained confidence and begun passing between the lines to initiate attacks. He may look awkward, but he rarely gives the ball away; appearances can be deceiving.
He returned from injury against Swansea City last Monday and looked supreme there, too.
19. Ander Herrera, Manchester United
3 of 21
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
Ander Herrera is enjoying a true late-season renaissance; having been locked out of the side earlier in the campaign in puzzling circumstances, he's blossomed after being given a role in an injury-plagued midfield.
In particular, his connection and understanding with Juan Mata—who can consider himself unfortunate to only make our honourable mentions list—has allowed Manchester United to become potent on the right side. The Spaniard's scything pass into the his countryman for the opener at Anfield this weekend was sublime.
18. Glenn Murray, Crystal Palace
4 of 21
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
Glenn Murray has had a very eventful last three Premier League games:
- Against West Ham United: two goals and a red card.
- Against Queens Park Rangers: the focal point in a glistening attack; an unsung performance.
- Against Stoke City: a goal (penalty) and an assist for Wilfried Zaha.
There were plenty of Championship sides sniffing around him in January, but Alan Pardew gave him a new contract and his backing as the central striker. He's repaid the faith by keeping them in the league.
17. Ki Sung-Yueng, Swansea City
5 of 21
Last Week: 20
Differential: +3
Ki Sung-yueng enjoyed himself on the Villa Park pitch on Saturday, spreading the play and passing with ease as Swansea City dominated Aston Villa in the middle of the park.
The midfield diamond, in which Ki rotated between the deepest and left-hand roles, held an advantage of four men to two and enjoyed complete superiority. The only surprise was that it took the Swans 86 minutes to find the breakthrough!
16. Emre Can, Liverpool
6 of 21
Last Week: 12
Differential: -4
After six weeks in the sun and Emre Can reaching the top 10 in our rankings, it's time for him to slide after another so-so performance. He struggled against Swansea City last Monday night and failed to keep Manchester United contained on Sunday.
In particular, he looked to be playing all of the United attackers onside for the second goal—Juan Mata's outrageous scissor kick—and got beaten by Daley Blind with frequency.
15. Simon Mignolet, Liverpool
7 of 21
Last Week: 15
Differential: None
Liverpool fans will feel Simon Mignolet should have done better for both of Manchester United's goals this weekend, but in reality, the attacking quality was just too good.
The Belgian shot-stopper twisted his ankle under a challenge from Wayne Rooney early, but did well to play on, though, and he made a few good saves throughout to keep his 10 men close.
His penalty save at the end was impressive and stops him from dropping.
14. Jordan Henderson, Liverpool
8 of 21
Last Week: 14
Differential: None
Jordan Henderson's first loss as captain of Liverpool will sting, but the fault doesn't lie with him.
The Englishman did whatever he was asked to do in midfield as Brendan Rodgers continually switched things around, trying to create a numerical advantage following Steven Gerrard's sending off.
Lots of running and effort, but no finesse this week.
13. Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
9 of 21
Last Week: 11
Differential: -2
Signs of life from Cesc Fabregas! But still not an entire game of football.
His assist for Diego Costa's goal was classic Cesc, threading a beautiful pass into the channel, splitting the full-back and centre-back and allowing his big, bruising striker to do the rest.
He went missing once Hull City ramped up the pressure and equalised, but at least shone early on.
12. Nemanja Matic, Chelsea
10 of 21
Last Week: 9
Differential: -3
When the flow of the game represents a tidal wave against you, you need a world-class midfielder to put his foot on the ball and sort things out. Up until February, Nemanja Matic carried the load; now, it doesn't seem to be the case.
With two goals in seven minutes at the KC Stadium, Chelsea should have been home and dry—this is a Jose Mourinho side, is it not? But they were swamped in midfield afterward and scraped a win. Matic, along with the other midfielders bar Eden Hazard, fall under the microscope here.
11. Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
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Last Week: 17
Differential: +6
Olivier Giroud drew level with Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal's top Premier League goalscorer for the season on Saturday after netting a brace. They're both on 13.
He's absolutely on fire and trending the right way in our rankings. The big question, after yet another opportunistic and clinical showing, is can he challenge Harry Kane and Diego Costa for the Premier League Golden Boot? He's six behind with eight to play...
10. Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
12 of 21
Last Week: 6
Differential: -4
Sunday was rough for Branislav Ivanovic, and for the second consecutive week, he moves down in the ranking.
He was partially at fault for the Abel Hernandez tap-in due to a poor pass back to Thibaut Courtois (though, let's be honest—if that was anyone's fault, it was the goalkeeper's) and got raided on his side for the goal preceding it.
Usually defensively sound and strong, he just let Andrew Robertson waltz straight through him and cross.
9. David Silva, Manchester City
13 of 21
Last Week: 13
Differential: +4
David Silva was very, very unfortunate to miss out on our Premier League Team of the Week this week. His performance against West Bromwich Albion, albeit against 10 men, was excellent.
He scored one of the goals in a 3-0 rout and impressed throughout with his immense creativity and dribbling skills. As WBA sat deeper and deeper, Silva embraced the challenge of breaking them down.
Back into the top 10.
8. Santi Cazorla, Arsenal
14 of 21
Last Week: 8
Differential: None
Santi Cazorla looked just a teensy bit leggy on Saturday during Arsenal's win over Newcastle United. That win over Monaco in midweek drained everybody, but the Spaniard looks perhaps the most afflicted by fatigue.
He was rested ahead of the game in France with Arsene Wenger perhaps sensing the damage the fixture pile-up has done, but still managed to claim an assist off the bench then and bagged another here.
Even when tired, he's an unstoppable force.
7. Francis Coquelin, Arsenal
15 of 21
Last Week: 10
Differential: +3
Francis Coquelin played a stellar 45 minutes and a tired 45 minutes this weekend. As HITC's Vincent Ralph argues, he's played so many games of late he's perhaps cooling off a little bit physically. It doesn't help that he seems to at least partially re-break his nose every week either.
Statistically he was still very strong, posting six tackles and showing surprising aerial prowess for a man his size once again, per WhoScored.com. It's increasingly likely he is at last half the answer in holding midfield for the Gunners.
6. Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
16 of 21
Last Week: 4
Differential: -2
Mesut Ozil missed Arsenal's win over Newcastle United at the weekend due to illness. Oddly enough, he was spotted later that day at a nightclub in Berlin, per Nicholas Godden of the MailOnline.
5. Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton
17 of 21
Last Week: 5
Differential: +1
Nathaniel Clyne was an outlet and a threat offensively on the right side, as per usual, for Southampton this weekend but was barely tested defensively by a timid Burnley.
It was his mis-hit cross/shot that forced the opener, and it was good to see him making a telling impact in the final third again. Recently, he's offered plenty but produced a little less than desired.
Clean sheets, too, are always pleasing.
4. Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
18 of 21
Last Week: 3
Differential: -1
Philippe Coutinho produced one moment of magic to spark a goal on Sunday. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to help Liverpool overcome archrivals Manchester United.
Steven Gerrard's sending off hurt the midfield, and Coutinho was forced to drop deeper and exhaust himself with one-and-a-half person's workload, but did slalom past three players late on to set up Daniel Sturridge's goal.
3. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
19 of 21
Last Week: 7
Differential: +4
Hat-trick hero Harry Kane headlined our Premier League Team of the Week after his star showing and moves up considerably here.
The three-goal haul took the soon-to-be England international onto 19 league goals for the season—19!—and level with Diego Costa at the top of the standings. Can he beat the Spaniard and Sergio Aguero lying just below (on 17) to the Golden Boot?
2. David De Gea, Manchester United
20 of 21
Last Week: 2
Differential: None
There will be those who suggest David De Gea should have done better for Daniel Sturridge's goal—after all, no goalkeeper should be beaten at his near post.
But the strike merely showed De Gea had done his homework. Sturridge always takes a few touches, cuts inside on his left and fires, so for him to hit it first-time and right-footed was a shock to everyone—even Sturridge! (maybe).
He had an eventful game to say the least, but fulfilled the role of sweeper-keeper well.
1. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
21 of 21
Last Week: 1
Differential: None
Eden Hazard remains atop our form rankings after yet another excellent showing. He scored the opener at the KC Stadium, holding off two markers before rifling home a scorcher into the top corner.
As the midfield battle turned against his side and Hull City levelled, the Belgian was the one who sparked all the attacks and instigated strong moves in the second half, searching for a winner.
It finally came via Loic Remy's boot, but the chaos Hazard caused just outside the box was key.
