Premier League Player Rankings: Toure Down, Mahrez Up, Bellerin in
Welcome to another season of Premier League player rankings, where we make it our mission to quantify the form of the division's best performers and rank them in order of how well they're playing right now.
The rankings are formed based on players' last six games, with slightly more emphasis placed on their most recent outing. Only Premier League performances are counted, and, typically, one-week wonders do not find their way in by default.
We look beyond the statistical measures and into the performance, reviewing tape and gauging impact. It's not just goals, assists and heroic clearances that impress; it's about how a player contributes to the tactical plan at hand and what impact he has over a 90-minute period.
With five games in the bag, this ranking is truly starting to take shape, with teams and players in good form being rewarded with assets featured in the top 20. We have three new faces and therefore three drop-outs and a new No. 1, so get stuck in.
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 / Honourable Mentions
1 of 21
Dropping Out
Marc Albrighton, Leicester City
Bafetimbi Gomis, Swansea City
Jordan Amavi, Aston Villa
Honourable Mentions
Ross Barkley, Everton
Santi Cazorla, Arsenal
Allan Nyom, Watford
Wes Hoolahan, Norwich City
20. Jack Butland, Stoke City
2 of 21
Last Week: New!
Change: New!
If it were not for Jack Butland, Stoke City could have lost very heavily to Arsenal on Saturday. Although he did eventually concede twice, he put in a stunning display that very much affirms a cracking start to the season for the young Bristolian.
Against both the Gunners, and against Norwich City a few weeks ago, he's turned into a one-man wall.
Teams are finding it very difficult to bypass his enormous frame and cat-like reflexes; he's developing at such a rapid rate even Stoke manager Mark Hughes will be surprised.
19. Daley Blind, Manchester United
3 of 21
Last Week: New!
Change: New!
When it became apparent that Daley Blind would start the 2015-16 campaign at centre-back, Manchester United fans' eyebrows arched the world over. The Dutchman isn't the biggest, isn't the strongest and has really only played CB in a back three, which is wildly different to playing it in a back four.
But after five games of evidence, you have to give it to Louis van Gaal: It was a smart move. Blind's tactical awareness and excellent positioning is ensuring he's a success there, and he hasn't been isolated by big forwards (Christian Benteke, Rudy Gestede) at all.
Against Liverpool he made two goal-line blocks and scored the opener. A brilliant evening's work.
18. Chris Smalling, Manchester United
4 of 21
Last Week: 18
Change: None
Chris Smalling put in a pretty decent performance against Liverpool—nothing to write home about, but nothing to look down upon—but does hang around at the bottom of our ranking due to three others being turfed out.
The former Fulham man, who has largely been in great form this entire year, handled Christian Benteke aerially as well as he ever has done, knocking him off balance and jostling him to prevent him gaining rhythm.
17. Eliaquim Mangala, Manchester City
5 of 21
Last Week: 13
Change: -4
Eliaquim Mangala's first slip-up has arrived, and the big question now is whether Manuel Pellegrini will stick or twist with the Frenchman. Remember: €40 million (£29.1 million) man Nicolas Otamendi is waiting in the wings.
Mangala was shown up in space for Crystal Palace's quick players, and in the first half he committed one horrendous pass out from the back that went straight to the opposition, who created a clear-cut chance within seconds.
16. Hector Bellerin, Arsenal
6 of 21
Last Week: New!
Change: New!
Hector Bellerin missed Arsenal's first game of the season and it showed. The gap in quality between himself and Mathieu Debuchy is sizable, and the Gunners feel the Spaniard's absences when they crop up.
But Bellerin has played four of the last four, and he's largely been very good in each.
Against Crystal Palace he dealt with Alan Pardew's speedy wingers well, and in the last three he's helped procure three clean sheets.
The Stoke City game proved his worth pushing forward and penetrating from the wide-right position.
15. Bacary Sagna, Manchester City
7 of 21
Last Week: 16
Change: +1
Bacary Sagna had his first iffy game of the season defensively, which is perhaps understandable given Manchester City were facing Crystal Palace's direct, fast wingers.
He had some issues tracking at the back post and looked understandably concerned by the pace of Bakary Sako, Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie, but in the end he ground out a clean sheet, and that, in simplistic terms, is all that will matter to Manuel Pellegrini.
14. Callum Wilson, AFC Bournemouth
8 of 21
Last Week: 14
Change: None
AFC Bournemouth put in their first really "off" performance of the Premier League season so far on Saturday, and a lack of midfield creativity and dominance meant Callum Wilson was feeding off scraps.
He still did pretty well considering—he hit the post, pressed well, ran the channels well and generally spooked the Norwich City back line—but couldn't find the scoresheet and wasn't given the opportunities to be a consistent terror.
13. Andre Ayew, Swansea City
9 of 21
Last Week: 12
Change: -1
Heading into the international break, Andre Ayew's excellent start was a premium topic on football fans' agendas. Many were adding him into their fantasy teams and marvelling over his great displays so far.
It was only natural, then, that he'd hit a bump at the very next opportunity. Try as he might, he didn't manage to change the game against Watford despite putting in a committed, tenacious display. His team-mates lacked the energy he had and couldn't help.
Ayew's been worth every penny of his rather expensive deal so far, and while he wasn't able to impact on the scoresheet at Vicarage Road, his value became clear in his pressing, marking and tackling instead.
When your big summer signing has this many strings to his bow, you can feel safe you made the right investment call.
12. Jonjo Shelvey, Swansea City
10 of 21
Last Week: 8
Change: -4
Jonjo Shelvey has had a whirlwind few weeks, upping his form ahead of the international break and earning an overdue England call-up. He participated, enjoyed game time and came back to Swansea City a name many were talking about.
That increases pressure, and unfortunately he didn't live up to his own new standards against Watford.
A few wayward passes caught the eye, but he wasn't able to influence the game. He was visibly frustrated, and the harder he tried to take control, the worse it got.
11. Jefferson Montero, Swansea City
11 of 21
Last Week: 5
Change: -6
Jefferson Montero missed last week due to injury and returned via the bench this week at Watford.
He replaced Wayne Routledge in the 60th minute but could not spark a turnaround for Swansea.
10. Fernandinho, Manchester City
12 of 21
Last Week: 15
Change: +5
Fernandinho is in absolutely imperious form; five games in and the Brazilian has made it clear this is a bounce-back season for him and he's taking it rather seriously.
He was strong against a physical Crystal Palace midfield, mopping up plenty of loose balls and covering for Yaya Toure when he had his...so-so moments.
Not the goal threat he has been in recent weeks, but still an excellent, energetic, clamping performance.
9. Matteo Darmian, Manchester United
13 of 21
Last Week: 9
Change: None
Matteo Darmian turned in an excellent showing once again, helping Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-1 on Saturday and re-affirm their superiority over a bitter rival.
The Italian put in a typically balanced display, defending his flank well and attacking with efficiency and intent.
In a week where several other right-backs played rather well, Darmian impressed enough to make our Team of the Week.
8. Jamie Vardy, Leicester City
14 of 21
Last Week: 10
Change: +2
Jamie Vardy scored the equalising goal as he helped Leicester City come from behind to beat Aston Villa on Sunday, knocking a good cross from the right home as he pipped Micah Richards to the ball.
The Englishman keeps on working and keeps on running, and despite a frustrating first half, he continued to utilise great movement and simply waited for the inevitable supply from Riyad Mahrez.
7. Angelo Ogbonna, West Ham
15 of 21
Last Week: 7
Change: None
Angelo Ogbonna was enjoying what London24.com described as his "best Hammers display" so far...until his hamstring went and he crumpled as a result.
That will be frustrating for Slaven Bilic, who has benefitted from a stable central-defensive duo in Ogbonna and Winston Reid to start the season. The full-backs may have been shuffled a lot, but the core duo has remained the same.
Still, there's good news: "It doesn't look like a big [injury]; maybe just one week off," Bilic told London24.com.
6. Aleksandar Kolarov, Manchester City
16 of 21
Last Week: 4
Change: -2
Aleksandar Kolarov cooled off a little this weekend, and while a drop-off felt inevitable given his blistering start, Selhurst Park is hardly the time to experience it.
"[He was] not his usual attacking force without [Raheem] Sterling, and he had to dig deep to stem the flow of the game down his flank," the Manchester Evening News detailed in their player ratings. They're spot on; Kolarov struggled to contain Crystal Palace's wingers and he barely featured in attack.
He moves down a little as a result, though it's important to remember his previous four appearances were all stunning.
5. Dimitri Payet, West Ham
17 of 21
Last Week: 11
Change: +6
Dimitri Payet turned in his second-successive sublime performance, reminding us all how good he is on the counter-attack, but also displaying just how useful he can be when space is tight.
Great work from Mark Noble freed the Frenchman on the edge of the box in the first half, and he curled a delightful effort into the top corner.
Then, in the second period, he finished off a great transition move by Victor Moses to kill off the game.
4. Yaya Toure, Manchester City
18 of 21
Last Week: 2
Change: -2
Yaya Toure dipped below his recent standards this weekend, with Crystal Palace bringing a physical edge to their game and disrupting his attempts to dominate.
Any shots he took seemed snapped at, and while he did see a fair bit of the ball, it was in deeper areas and he couldn't orchestrate play higher up—that was largely left to Samir Nasri, who eventually forced the late winner.
3. Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
19 of 21
Last Week: 3
Change: None
Vincent Kompany continued his superb start to the season by bottling up two very different Crystal Palace strikers and keeping a clean sheet. It was his toughest challenge of the season yet, but he came out on top.
Alan Pardew started with the electric Yannick Bolasie up front, but Kompany read his movements well and dominated the physical contest.
Dwight Gayle, a more traditional speedy No. 9, came on in the second half but could only muster one chance, which he fired wide.
2. David Silva, Manchester City
20 of 21
Last Week: 1
Change: -1
David Silva missed Manchester City's win over Crystal Palace with an injury. He moves down despite being unable to defend his crown.
1. Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
21 of 21
Last Week: 6
Change: +5
Riyad Mahrez shoots to the top of the player rankings, regaining the spot he held after the first two weeks of play.
Plus-five is one hell of a move, but he deserves it after his wrecking-ball performance against Aston Villa on Sunday.
At two goals down, the Foxes looked buried after Jack Grealish and Carles Gil goals. But Mahrez began tearing through Tim Sherwood's defence, completed a monstrous 12 dribbles, per WhoScored.com, and assisted two late goals to help grind out three points.
