EPL 100: Ranking of Premier League's Best Players After Matchday 23
Manchester City have finally been struck down, with Liverpool the team rising to the challenge of ending their season-long unbeaten streak. They did it in dramatic, thrilling circumstances, and the result has had quite an effect on this week's edition of the Premier League player rankings.
We have updated our lists to take into account the latest two gameweeks of action. They are divided into seven position groups and based solely on performances in the Premier League in 2017-18.
To be eligible, a player must have taken part in at least half the games his team has played.
Goalkeepers
1 of 7
It's amazing how quickly things can change in football.
Last week it felt like Ederson Moraes was on the verge of usurping David De Gea at the top of the goalkeeper rankings; now he's dropped to third following his clanger against Liverpool, and Thibaut Courtois' consistency and run of clean sheets is rewarded with a bump.
Petr Cech's own error drops him two places, while Kasper Schmeichel's strong performance at Stamford Bridge lifts him by the same number.
Biggest rise: Kasper Schmeichel (+2)
Biggest fall: Petr Cech (-2)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | David De Gea (Stay) | Manchester United |
| 2 | Thibaut Courtois (+1) | Chelsea |
| 3 | Ederson Moraes (-1) | Manchester City |
| 4 | Nick Pope (Stay) | Burnley |
| 5 | Kasper Schmeichel (+2) | Leicester City |
| 6 | Jordan Pickford (-1) | Everton |
| 7 | Lukasz Fabianski (+2) | Swansea City |
| 8 | Petr Cech (-2) | Arsenal |
| 9 | Rob Elliot (-1) | Newcastle United |
| 10 | Asmir Begovic (New!) | Bournemouth |
Right-Backs/Right Wing-Backs
2 of 7
There is still little going on in the right-backs section due to injuries and benchings.
Joe Gomez's error for Manchester City's first goal sees him drop below Kiko Femenia despite the fact the latter didn't play. Hector Bellerin scored, but you have to balance his goal against Arsenal's rocky defending, so he only moves up one.
DeAndre Yedlin was excellent against Swansea City and is in the midst of a sneaky-good season.
Biggest rise: Multiple (+1)
Biggest fall: Multiple (-1)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Kyle Walker (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Antonio Valencia (Stay) | Manchester United |
| 3 | Victor Moses (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 4 | Kiko Femenia (+1) | Watford |
| 5 | Joe Gomez (-1) | Liverpool |
| 6 | Hector Bellerin (+1) | Arsenal |
| 7 | Matthew Lowton (-1) | Burnley |
| 8 | Cedric Soares (+1) | Southampton |
| 9 | DeAndre Yedlin (New!) | Newcastle United |
| 10 | Kieran Trippier (Stay) | Tottenham Hotspur |
Left-Backs/Left Wing-Backs
3 of 7
Fabian Delph will be sidelined for "a while," according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (h/t ESPN FC's Ben Dinnery), which is a massive problem. Danilo just doesn't provide the same balance from left-back, nor can he fulfil the dual role the former Aston Villa man has managed so well.
As with the right-backs, there's little movement here, but take note of Arthur Masuaku's entry. He's surprised many with a scintillating run of form at left-wing-back for West Ham United manager David Moyes.
Biggest rise: Arthur Masuaku (New!)
Biggest fall: Chris Lowe (-1)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Fabian Delph (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Marcos Alonso (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 3 | Sead Kolasinac (Stay) | Arsenal |
| 4 | Ashley Young (Stay) | Manchester United |
| 5 | Ben Davies (Stay) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 6 | Stephen Ward (Stay) | Burnley |
| 7 | Ryan Bertrand (Stay) | Southampton |
| 8 | Arthur Masuaku (New!) | West Ham United |
| 9 | Chris Lowe (-1) | Huddersfield Town |
| 10 | Alberto Moreno (Stay) | Liverpool |
Centre-Backs
4 of 7
Chelsea's run of goalless draws is bad news for their forwards when it comes to these rankings, but the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen don't suffer. Clean sheets are a currency they're happy to deal in.
Jan Vertonghen has been a pillar of consistency at the back for Tottenham this season and he's now into the top three, while John Stones' poor showing at Anfield sees him drop two places.
James Tomkins has been fantastic for Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson and was out of the team during their poor run at the start of the season, so his stock is actually intact. He joins us in 16th.
Biggest rise: Jan Vertonghen (+4)
Biggest fall: Lewis Dunk (-4)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Cesar Azpilicueta (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 2 | Andreas Christensen (+1) | Chelsea |
| 3 | Jan Vertonghen (+4) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 4 | John Stones (-2) | Manchester City |
| 5 | Ben Mee (Stay) | Burnley |
| 6 | Nicolas Otamendi (-2) | Manchester City |
| 7 | James Tarkowski (-2) | Burnley |
| 8 | Antonio Rudiger (+1) | Chelsea |
| 9 | Jamaal Lascelles (Stay) | Newcastle United |
| 10 | Davinson Sanchez (Stay) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 11 | Phil Jones (+2) | Manchester United |
| 12 | Nacho Monreal (Stay) | Arsenal |
| 13 | Christopher Schindler (-2) | Huddersfield Town |
| 14 | Harry Maguire (+2) | Leicester City |
| 15 | Chris Smalling (+2) | Manchester United |
| 16 | James Tomkins (New!) | Crystal Palace |
| 17 | Shkodran Mustafi (-2) | Arsenal |
| 18 | Lewis Dunk (-4) | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 19 | Christian Kabasele (+1) | Watford |
| 20 | Zanka (-2) | Huddersfield Town |
Defensive Midfielders/Central Midfielders
5 of 7
Three big performers, three big movers:
- Paul Pogba shone on Monday night and nips into second, directly replacing Philippe Coutinho, who has joined Barcelona.
- Abdoulaye Doucoure may have handballed his way to an equaliser against Southampton, but regardless of that, his performance was dominant.
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain powered through midfield against Manchester City superbly, netting one, assisting another and impressing everyone.
Biggest rise: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (+8)
Biggest fall: Aaron Mooy (-4)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | David Silva (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Paul Pogba (+3) | Manchester United |
| 3 | N'Golo Kante (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 4 | Fernandinho (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 5 | Nemanja Matic (+1) | Manchester United |
| 6 | Steven Defour (+1) | Burnley |
| 7 | Abdoulaye Doucoure (+4) | Watford |
| 8 | Cesc Fabregas (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 9 | Jack Cork (Stay) | Burnley |
| 10 | Aaron Ramsey (Stay) | Arsenal |
| 11 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (+8) | Liverpool |
| 12 | Vicente Iborra (Stay) | Leicester City |
| 13 | Eric Dier (+4) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 14 | Mario Lemina (+2) | Southampton |
| 15 | Emre Can (New!) | Liverpool |
| 16 | Mikel Merino (-3) | Newcastle United |
| 17 | Georginio Wijnaldum (Stay) | Liverpool |
| 18 | Aaron Mooy (-4) | Huddersfield Town |
| 19 | Wilfred Ndidi (Stay) | Leicester City |
| 20 | Mousa Dembele (New!) | Tottenham Hotspur |
Attacking Midfielders/Wingers
6 of 7
Those top seven just won't move; they're so entrenched in their positions, it would take something spectacularly good (or bad) to shift them around at this point.
Just below the top seven, though, is a frenzy of action. Jesse Lingard is unlucky to move down but you have to respect that Sadio Mane showing against Manchester City, while Anthony Martial, Heung-Min Son and Manuel Lanzini all shone against their respective opponents.
Biggest rise: Sadio Mane (+3)
Biggest fall: Marcus Rashford (-3)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Kevin De Bruyne (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Mohamed Salah (Stay) | Liverpool |
| 3 | Raheem Sterling (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 4 | Eden Hazard (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 5 | Leroy Sane (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 6 | Christian Eriksen (Stay) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 7 | Riyad Mahrez (Stay) | Leicester City |
| 8 | Sadio Mane (+3) | Liverpool |
| 9 | Mesut Ozil (Stay) | Arsenal |
| 10 | Jesse Lingard (-2) | Manchester United |
| 11 | Alexis Sanchez (-1) | Arsenal |
| 12 | Anthony Martial (+2) | Manchester United |
| 13 | Juan Mata (-1) | Manchester United |
| 14 | Heung-Min Son (+2) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 15 | Marc Albrighton (Stay) | Leicester City |
| 16 | Marcus Rashford (-3) | Manchester United |
| 17 | Dele Alli (+2) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 18 | JB Gudmundsson (-1) | Burnley |
| 19 | Richarlison (-1) | Watford |
| 20 | Manuel Lanzini (New!) | West Ham United |
Strikers
7 of 7
Harry Kane has already hit 20 for the season, with his brace against Everton ensuring he reached the landmark in just 22 appearances. No prizes for guessing he's top here.
Roberto Firmino was similarly excellent and keeps his No. 2 spot, but below that there's plenty to dig into.
Romelu Lukaku was great against Stoke City, Sergio Aguero less so against Liverpool; Alvaro Morata's slump is getting pretty worrying; while Alexandre Lacazette hit 10-plus hours without a goal but isn't playing badly.
Marko Arnautovic's beast-like performances up top of late land him an entry at No. 10.
Biggest rise: Romelu Lukaku (+2)
Biggest fall: Multiple (-1)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Harry Kane (Stay) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 2 | Roberto Firmino (Stay) | Liverpool |
| 3 | Romelu Lukaku (+2) | Manchester United |
| 4 | Sergio Aguero (-1) | Manchester City |
| 5 | Alvaro Morata (-1) | Chelsea |
| 6 | Gabriel Jesus (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 7 | Jamie Vardy (+1) | Leicester City |
| 8 | Alexandre Lacazette (-1) | Arsenal |
| 9 | Wilfried Zaha (Stay) | Crystal Palace |
| 10 | Marko Arnautovic (New!) | West Ham United |
All statistics via WhoScored.com
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