Premier League Player Rankings After April 11-13 Fixtures: Coutinho Shines
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.
Wins for Arsenal and Manchester United allow both sides' sets of form players to continue to rise in our rankings, while there are three new entries thanks to some strong play on the periphery.
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.
Dropouts
1 of 21
Nemanja Matic, Chelsea: Struggled at Loftus Road under pressure and really isn't at his top level at the moment.
Jordan Henderson, Liverpool: The fizzle in his game has gone a little flat. Done nothing wrong, but not outstanding.
Bafetimbi Gomis, Swansea City: A difficult game against Everton ended early as he was removed from the fray.
20. Esteban Cambiasso, Leicester City
2 of 21
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
Many thought Leicester City were dead and buried in this Premier League relegation race, but two wins on the spin has breathed life into Nigel Pearson's charges.
Esteban Cambiasso has really come to the fore of late with some important showings in midfield, and he's been able to guide his team-mates through two frenetic, one-goal wins to set the club up with a chance of achieving survival.
It pays to have an experienced head in there when it comes to the crunch.
19. Matt Phillips, Queens Park Rangers
3 of 21
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
If Queens Park Rangers are to escape relegation from the Premier League, it may well be by Matt Phillips' hand rather than Charlie Austin's.
The former Blackpool winger had a night to remember last week at Villa Park, torching Kieran Richardson for a goal and two assists, and on Sunday, he had Cesar Azpilicueta on toast as his side narrowly lost to Chelsea.
Why didn't Harry Redknapp play him more often?
18. Ashley Young, Manchester United
4 of 21
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
This has been a season of real redemption for Ashley Young.
After starting the campaign at left-back due to an injury crisis, he battled ailments himself before returning and settling into a place in the side in his natural position: the wing. Over the past month or so, he has firmly locked £63 million man Angel Di Maria out of the lineup, excelling in each game by sending in crosses for Marouane Fellaini and linking with Daley Blind.
This is a contract year for Young, and he's doing everything he can to ensure Louis van Gaal gives him another one.
17. Simon Mignolet, Liverpool
5 of 21
Last Week: 17
Differential: None
Simon Mignolet spent much of Monday evening twiddling this thumbs, such was the dominance displayed by his team, but he did spring into action for a glorious 15-minute period and made two excellent saves to preserve the lead.
The Belgian now has 12 clean sheets for the season, per StatBunker.com—one more than Fraser Forster and Ben Foster, who are both done for the year with knee injuries. Compatriot Thibaut Courtois has 10... can he catch his international colleague?
16. Daley Blind, Manchester United
6 of 21
Last Week: 19
Differential: +3
Daley Blind put in a strong performance once again on Sunday afternoon, helping his side turn Manchester red by winning the derby.
Bar one blip early on, as he allowed Jesus Navas to wriggle free for a one-on-one, he was solid and composed at the back and energetic going forward. He's a player with an incredibly high footballing IQ, and he makes the right decisions in overlapping and creating space for others.
15. Ki Sung-Yueng, Swansea City
7 of 21
Last Week: 13
Differential: -3
Ki Sung-yueng showed some nice skill during Swansea City's draw with Everton on Saturday and was able to construct several attacks for his team-mates from outside the box.
He's been scoring a lot of late, so it was perhaps a surprise to see the South Korean not getting into too many shooting positions, but it was still a strong game overall.
14. Christian Benteke, Aston Villa
8 of 21
Last Week: 18
Differential: +4
Make it eight goals in six games for Christian Benteke, who has truly come alive since Tim Sherwood's arrival at Villa Park.
He dominated against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday; his glancing header won the game, in off the post from the edge of the box, and he stood a magnet for long balls, helping his side create attacks through him.
The Belgian slotted one perfectly weighted pass in for Fabian Delph to miss a one-on-one, showcasing his immense technique and awareness, too.
13. Ander Herrera, Manchester United
9 of 21
Last Week: 15
Differential: +2
Ander Herrera put together another tidy game on Sunday and provided the left-wing cross for Ashley Young to net Manchester United's first in the north-west derby.
He wasn't found by team-mates in shooting positions, as much of the onus fell on Marouane Fellaini in the box, but he recycled the ball and looked very positive in midfield. A very good display.
12. Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
10 of 21
Last Week: 11
Differential: -1
Branislav Ivanovic had an OK game against Queens Park Rangers, but then that shouldn't be a surprise, as Karl Henry was played on the left wing in Chris Ramsey's defensive move.
The Serbian got forward on the overlap fairly well at times to provide an option but wasn't tested defensively very often, as QPR opted to attack the opposite flank.
11. Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton
11 of 21
Last Week: 8
Differential: -3
Nathaniel Clyne was rested (or dropped?) for Southampton's 2-0 win over Hull City. Things appear to be boiling over on the south coast, with Manchester United and Chelsea showing interest amid the player's claims he wants to play UEFA Champions League football, per Sky Sports.
10. Santi Cazorla, Arsenal
12 of 21
Last Week: 9
Differential: -1
Another game in which Santi Cazorla impressed to a reasonable degree but didn't shine. It's not his fault, but there are star attractions in Arsenal's team right now, and he simply isn't one them.
That doesn't mean he's not playing a wonderfully tidy game—his recycling of the ball is still excellent, and he keeps an eye on his defensive duties—but Mesut Ozil, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey are stealing the limelight.
9. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
13 of 21
Last Week: 5
Differential: -4
Last week, Harry Kane struggled, and he wasn't much better this time around against Aston Villa. Once again, the buildup play was awful, with Tottenham Hotspur seemingly struggling to get in gear now that it's apparent there's little to play for.
Ron Vlaar and Nathan Baker marshaled him in the air, and the latter only allowed him to slip from grasp once on the deck—only for Kane to fire just over the bar. He did show some nice passing when dropping in and serving others, but it was another 6/10 day.
8. Glenn Murray, Crystal Palace
14 of 21
Last Week: 14
Differential: +6
The Glenn Murray train rolls on! It's a truly frightening sight.
He's a big, strong, traditional target man, and he causes havoc for defenders. It doesn't matter if it's John O'Shea, Vincent Kompany or Winston Reid; he will get the better of you in the air.
On Saturday, he scored one and assisted two of Yannick Bolasie's three. Another superb haul.
7. David Silva, Manchester City
15 of 21
Last Week: 7
Differential: None
Unlike many of his Manchester City team-mates, David Silva at least showed flashes of his usual self in the Manchester derby.
He set up Sergio Aguero's first goal after a brilliant reverse pass from James Milner, feeding the ball across the box for the Argentinian to tap home, and he did his best, initially, to get his team going in the final third.
6. Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
16 of 21
Last Week: 6
Differential: None
Olivier Giroud had more of an unsung impact as Arsenal beat Burnley this weekend; he didn't manage to get himself on the scoresheet, but he did dominate in the air and give his side an important dimension to their play.
He won five aerial duels, per WhoScored.com—more than twice the amount Jason Shackell managed and one less than the monstrous Michael Duff. The Gunners looked a weaker force once he was withdrawn in the second half.
5. Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
17 of 21
Last Week: 10
Differential: +5
Philippe Coutinho put in a world-class performance during Liverpool's win over Newcastle United on Monday night, stealing the show with his outrageous tricks and fleet-footed skills.
The Magpies defensive line had absolutely no idea how to deal with him, drawn to him like a moth to a flame, and that opened up space for his Reds colleagues to deal the damage in a 2-0 victory.
4. David De Gea, Manchester United
18 of 21
Last Week: 4
Differential: None
David De Gea has seen his role change a little in recent weeks; with Manchester United graduating to an acceptable level of team performance, he's no longer called upon to single-handedly save points.
He made a crucial stop early on against Jesus Navas one-on-one but let in two goals, as Sergio Aguero netted in each half. Not his best, but not his worst.
3. Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
19 of 21
Last Week: 2
Differential: -1
Mesut Ozil had another good afternoon against Burnley, but it wasn't strong enough to stave off the challenge of a midfield colleague, and he therefore drops a place.
The German enjoyed linking some good attacks together and, roaming from his central midfield position, did well to create matchups on the flanks and play good balls into the mixer. Even his attempted shots turn into assists; the man was born to create.
2. Francis Coquelin, Arsenal
20 of 21
Last Week: 3
Differential: +1
Francis Coquelin enjoyed another disruptive, positive game in Arsenal's engine room, coming away from the clash with Burnley with 11 interceptions, per WhoScored.com.
It's an astonishing tally given his side enjoyed 65 percent of possession; that Danny Ings and Sam Vokes were so quiet up front is testament to the blocking and screening the Frenchman carried out.
1. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
21 of 21
Last Week: 1
Differential: None
Still top, still dominating. Eden Hazard didn't have his finest game against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday—who in Jose Mourinho's squad did?—but came up with a game-winning moment late on to seal a win.
He collected Rob Green's miscued goal-kick, surged down the left and played Cesc Fabregas in for Chelsea's first shot on target of the game. It went in, and the Blues won 1-0.
The killer touch.
