Premier League Player Rankings: Coquelin Falls, Young Enters, Silva Rises
Welcome to the final 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.
Ashley Young is the only new entry this week as we tie things up for the season, but there is a new No. 1 and some serious movement due to Chelsea's abysmal 3-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.
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 demonstrating consistently strong form).
Take a look to see if you agree with our selections, and if you feel like we've missed anyone, let us know in the comments section below.
Please note: Ranking includes all matches up to May 19.
20. Willian, Chelsea
1 of 20
Last Week: 17
Differential: -3
Willian was not in the Chelsea squad that lost 3-0 to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night, but the Premier League title is, of course, already secure.
19. Santi Cazorla, Arsenal
2 of 20
Last Week: 14
Differential: -5
Santi Cazorla endured a difficult afternoon at Old Trafford; it was a genuine surprise he wasn't substituted earlier than the 73rd minute in the second half in favour of a more effective option.
Usually a slick controller of games, he struggled in midfield as Manchester United dominated in certain portions. Once the Spaniard had left the fray The Gunners were able to force an equaliser less than 10 minutes later.
18. Federico Fernandez, Swansea City
3 of 20
Last Week: 18
Differential: None
Swansea City's defence actually played pretty well on Sunday despite conceding four goals, which is a rather odd thing to say, but it's true.
The problem is they caught Manchester City in one of those moods, where David Silva and Co. took over in midfield and Yaya Toure decided to return to his rampaging, roaming best.
Federico Fernandez did what he could to block shots, and had one brilliant header palmed over by a Joe Hart Save of the Season contender.
17. Ashley Young, Manchester United
4 of 20
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
Welcome back to the rankings, Ashley Young! After a short spell outside the top-20, one of Manchester United's best players this season makes a return at the death.
He provided the assist for Ander Herrera's strike, giving The Red Devils the lead against Arsenal on Sunday, and continued to strain every sinew for the good of the team. Last week he dragged his colleagues through a rough game at Selhurst Park, and this week his defining, direct impact was again obvious on the scoreline.
Replaced: Jack Grealish, Aston Villa
16. Fabian Delph, Aston Villa
5 of 20
Last Week: 16
Differential: None
Fabian Delph completed the most passes of anyone in the Premier League this weekend with 84, per Squawka, but it mattered not. His side, Aston Villa, lost 6-1 to Southampton.
He, individually, looked good in patches, linking a few nice attacks and using the left side of Villa's formation well, but as the tide turned he could do nothing to stop it. The entire team fell apart as early as the 12th minute, and from there it was clear a loss was on the cards.
15. Robert Huth, Leicester City
6 of 20
Last Week: 20
Differential: +5
Another game, another strong performance—in every sense of the word—from Robert Huth. Leicester City's clean-sheet draw against Sunderland this weekend, in conjunction with other results, ensured their mathematical safety in the division.
That's one hell of an achievement given where they were in the table, and Huth's role is this survival bid cannot be understated. Sunderland didn't manage a single shot on target, per WhoScored.com, as the Foxes' line—led by Huth—blocked and chopped away at anything that came close.
14. Simon Mignolet, Liverpool
7 of 20
Last Week: 13
Differential: -1
Liverpool endured a difficult afternoon on the whole, losing to Crystal Palace again, but Simon Mignolet won't be accused of turning in a poor performance.
He saved a penalty in the second half (although Glenn Murray netted the rebound) and generally did his best to limit the damage. He misread Jason Puncheon's free-kick completely early in the second half, although the strike was so unorthodox it's doubtful any goalkeeper would have got there.
13. Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
8 of 20
Last Week: 11
Differential: -2
Branislav Ivanovic really struggled on Monday night as Chelsea were over-run by West Bromwich Albion. Cesc Fabregas' petulant red card left them short of men and the defence as a unit buckled eventually.
Ivanovic had a tough time up against Chris Brunt with almost no protection, and multiple Baggies midfielders were able to interchange outside the box and free up space for shots or passes.
12. Ki Sung-Yueng, Swansea City
9 of 20
Last Week: 12
Differential: None
Ki Sung-Yueng missed the game against Manchester City due to injury. Per Sky Sports, the South Korean is set to have surgery on his knee, curing an issue that has lasted two years.
11. Marc Albrighton, Leicester City
10 of 20
Last Week: 15
Differential: +4
At a certain point during Leicester City's 0-0 draw with Sunderland, it felt as though both teams realised the result would suit both of them and each side eased off a little.
Marc Albrighton, a flying presence from wing-back in recent weeks, was a little more muted than usual as a result, but did produce a complete display in both defending and attacking for 60 minutes.
Due to poor form from those above him in the rankings, the former Villa man receives a hike.
10. John Terry, Chelsea
11 of 20
Last Week: 9
Differential: -1
Well, this was something of a comedown from the last few weeks of brilliance by John Terry.
A 10-man Chelsea side toiled against an energised West Bromwich Albion counterpart and leaked three goals. Granted, there's an end-of-season feel to the Blues play and team selections, but to lose 3-0 is never acceptable for the west London side—particularly when you've been crowned champions already.
9. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
12 of 20
Last Week: 8
Differential: -1
Eden Hazard got himself on the ball plenty on Monday night, but couldn't produce anything creative or promising due to him being out-numbered by the opposition.
Cesc Fabregas' early sending off left Chelsea a man light in midfield and his absence proved a killer blow, as Hazard, Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Nemanja Matic had options to pass to when 30 yards from goal.
8. Esteban Cambiasso, Leicester City
13 of 20
Last Week: 10
Differential: +2
Esteban Cambiasso did his job on Saturday, breaking up play and keeping things simple for a Leicester City side who only needed a point to confirm safety in the Premier League.
He totaled five tackles and won 100 percent of his duels, per WhoScored.com, bettering Lee Cattermole and Co. in the midfield battleground with consummate ease.
7. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
14 of 20
Last Week: 7
Differential: None
It's amazing that Sergio Aguero didn't get himself on the scoresheet during Manchester City's 4-2 win over Swansea City on Sunday. You could tell he was desperate to, but it didn't quite come off for him.
He did play well, though, and turned provider for James Milner's second goal in two games. Play this game 10 times over, and Aguero scores in eight of them.
6. Christian Benteke, Aston Villa
15 of 20
Last Week: 6
Differential: None
We can only imagine Christian Benteke's aghast expression as he watched his Aston Villa side lose the plot defensively and concede the fastest-ever Premier League hat-trick to Sadio Mane and Southampton on Saturday.
What is a striker to do?
He did respond with a brilliant headed finish, Villa's only goal of the game in a 6-1 defeat, but there will be a "what if?" question in his mind as, before the flurry of goals, he missed a one vs. one chance that could have changed everything.
5. Francis Coquelin, Arsenal
16 of 20
Last Week: 1
Differential: -4
Not Francis Coquelin's finest game. Arsenal were over-run a little in defensive midfield and the Frenchman was unable to clamp down on Manchester United's quick passes and moves early on.
He endured a rough ride with the Old Trafford crowd—somehow avoiding a booking despite clocking up five fouls—but things did get a little better for his team as a whole when Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott entered the fray in the second half.
*Coquelin's Arsenal play Sunderland on Wednesday evening in their game in-hand.
4. David De Gea, Manchester United
17 of 20
Last Week: 5
Differential: +1
Incessant transfer rumours, most recently purported by the Daily Star, are linking David de Gea with Real Madrid. Fans of Manchester United are fearing that the wave the goalkeeper offered as he left Old Trafford injured on Sunday may be a wave goodbye.
He kept a clean sheet until he had to be replaced by Victor Valdes, but the truth is he was largely untroubled. Arsenal didn't even manage a single shot on target in the first half, per WhoScored.com.
3. Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
18 of 20
Last Week: 3
Differential: None
Mesut Ozil created a few good chances on Sunday against Manchester United, but none of his team-mates could finish them off or read his intentions.
The game goes down as an indictment of Olivier Giroud's big-game ability (or lack thereof) rather than an issue with Ozil, who put together another tidy, if a little unspectacular, performance.
*Ozil's Arsenal play Sunderland on Wednesday evening in their game in-hand.
2. Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
19 of 20
Last Week: 2
Differential: None
Once again, Philippe Coutinho was the best of a bad bunch on Saturday as Liverpool, embarrassingly, lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace in Steven Gerrard's Anfield farewell.
He showed some nice link-up skills early on with Adam Lallana as the Reds took the lead in the first half, but faded badly in the second and could not stop Jason Puncheon and Co. taking over and dominating.
1. David Silva, Manchester City
20 of 20
Last Week: 4
Differential: +3
David Silva was fantastic on Sunday; he's ending the season with a real flourish, it must be said.
He picked up two assists against Swansea City, taking his tally to seven for the season, laying on chances for Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony to finish with aplomb.
In a match where four or five players truly dazzled, Silva was a contender for Man of the Match and moves top of our rankings as a result.
