EPL 100: Ranking of Premier League's Best Players After Matchday 25
Few things brighten up a bleak January midweek than a round of Premier League fixtures, and that's exactly what was delivered to our screens over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday.
We have updated our lists to take into account the latest gameweek 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
David De Gea's clean sheet may have been wiped out in just 11 seconds at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, but don't mistake that for him playing poorly.
In truth, Manchester United were well bested all evening, and it was only the Spaniard's first-class reaction saves and brave claims that kept the score down.
Ederson Moraes' latest clean sheet takes him up to 12 for the season, and while Nick Pope didn't manage one of his own, he did save a Joselu penalty to help Burnley earn a point against Newcastle United.
Biggest rise: Asmir Begovic (+2)
Biggest fall: Petr Cech (-2)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | David De Gea (Stay) | Manchester United |
| 2 | Ederson (+1) | Manchester City |
| 3 | Thibaut Courtois (+1) | Chelsea |
| 4 | Kasper Schmeichel (+1) | Leicester City |
| 5 | Nick Pope (-1) | Burnley |
| 6 | Lukasz Fabianski (Stay) | Swansea City |
| 7 | Asmir Begovic (+2) | Bournemouth |
| 8 | Jordan Pickford (-1) | Everton |
| 9 | Hugo Lloris (New!) | Tottenham |
| 10 | Petr Cech (-2) | Arsenal |
Right-Backs/Right Wing-Backs
2 of 7
Victor Moses moves up a spot without even playing this week, and there are two reasons for this.
First, by not playing he is immune from the omnishambles that was Chelsea's defensive performance on Wednesday, and second, Antonio Valencia's thoroughly sub-par showing necessitates a drop.
The biggest mover is Kieran Trippier, whose field day against Ashley Young and Manchester United's left flank earns him a rise of four.
Biggest rise: Kieran Trippier (+4)
Biggest fall: Multiple (-1)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Kyle Walker (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Victor Moses (+1) | Chelsea |
| 3 | Antonio Valencia (-1) | Manchester United |
| 4 | Joe Gomez (+1) | Liverpool |
| 5 | Kiko Femenia (-1) | Watford |
| 6 | Kieran Trippier (+4) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 7 | Hector Bellerin (-1) | Arsenal |
| 8 | Cedric Soares (-1) | Southampton |
| 9 | Matthew Lowton (-1) | Burnley |
| 10 | Craig Dawson (-1) | West Bromwich Albion |
Left-Backs/Left Wing-Backs
3 of 7
The big news this week is that Andrew Robertson has finally played enough games to enter the rankings, and he does so in sixth place. His performance against Huddersfield Town was, well, typical Robertson: combative, full of crosses and committed to defending. He's a human blur at times.
Ashley Young and Marcos Alonso both move down after poor showings, clearing the way for a resurgent Ben Davies to take second. He's really enjoying himself in Danny Rose's absence.
Biggest rise: Ben Davies (+2)
Biggest fall: Arthur Masuaku (-2)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Fabian Delph (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Ben Davies (+2) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 3 | Marcos Alonso (-1) | Chelsea |
| 4 | Ashley Young (-1) | Manchester United |
| 5 | Ryan Bertrand (Stay) | Southampton |
| 6 | Andrew Robertson (New!) | Liverpool |
| 7 | Sead Kolasinac (-1) | Arsenal |
| 8 | Stephen Ward (-1) | Burnley |
| 9 | Ben Chilwell (Stay) | Leicester City |
| 10 | Arthur Masuaku (-2) | West Ham United |
Centre-Backs
4 of 7
It's another week packed full of changes in the centre-back section, with Manchester United and Chelsea's defensive failures creating big movements and, finally, a new number one.
Chelsea fell apart at the seams against AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday night, and Cesar Azpilicueta was as much a part of that as anyone. He picked a bad time to mess up, too, as Jan Vertonghen put in yet another stellar performance and now has enough stock to steal his throne.
Phil Jones and Chris Smalling move down after enduring a horror night at Wembley, while Jamaal Lascelles' goalscoring heroics pave his path upward.
Biggest rise: Multiple (+4)
Biggest fall: Shkodran Mustafi (-3)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Jan Vertonghen (+1) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 2 | Cesar Azpilicueta (-1) | Chelsea |
| 3 | Andreas Christensen (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 4 | John Stones (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 5 | Nicolas Otamendi (+1) | Manchester City |
| 6 | Ben Mee (-1) | Burnley |
| 7 | James Tarkowski (+1) | Burnley |
| 8 | Phil Jones (-1) | Manchester United |
| 9 | Davinson Sanchez (+2) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 10 | Jamaal Lascelles (+4) | Newcastle United |
| 11 | Antonio Rudiger (-2) | Chelsea |
| 12 | Nacho Monreal (-2) | Arsenal |
| 13 | Harry Maguire (Stay) | Leicester City |
| 14 | Chris Smalling (-2) | Manchester United |
| 15 | Christopher Schindler (Stay) | Huddersfield Town |
| 16 | Christian Kabasele (+4) | Watford |
| 17 | Lewis Dunk (+2) | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 18 | James Tomkins (-1) | Crystal Palace |
| 19 | Shkodran Mustafi (-3) | Arsenal |
| 20 | Jonny Evans (-1) | West Bromwich Albion |
Defensive Midfielders/Central Midfielders
5 of 7
David Silva's early exit from Manchester City's victory over West Bromwich Albion does nothing to threaten his command of this section. He's so far ahead.
Paul Pogba's poor performance at Wembley moves him down one, with the goalscoring Fernandinho taking advantage both on the pitch and in these rankings.
Emre Can is this week's big mover after a masterful performance against Huddersfield Town, while Vicente Iborra, Aaron Ramsey and Mario Lemina are all either out of favour or out of form.
Biggest rise: Emre Can (+6)
Biggest fall: Vicente Iborra (-4)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | David Silva (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Fernandinho (+1) | Manchester City |
| 3 | N'Golo Kante (-1) | Chelsea |
| 4 | Paul Pogba (Stay) | Manchester United |
| 5 | Abdoulaye Doucoure (+1) | Watford |
| 6 | Nemanja Matic (-1) | Manchester United |
| 7 | ||
| 8 | Jack Cork (+1) | Burnley |
| 9 | Cesc Fabregas (-1) | Chelsea |
| 10 | Emre Can (+6) | Liverpool |
| 11 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Stay) | Liverpool |
| 12 | Eric Dier (+1) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 13 | Aaron Ramsey (-3) | Arsenal |
| 14 | Wilfred Ndidi (+1) | Leicester City |
| 15 | Mario Lemina (-3) | Southampton |
| 16 | Mousa Dembele (+3) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 17 | Georginio Wijnaldum (Stay) | Liverpool |
| 18 | Vicente Iborra (-4) | Leicester City |
| 19 | Mikel Merino (-1) | Newcastle United |
| 20 | Aaron Mooy (Stay) | Huddersfield Town |
Attacking Midfielders/Wingers
6 of 7
Another week, another magnificent showing from Kevin De Bruyne. He's No. 1 and there's nothing anyone can do to change that.
Below him there is at least another change up of places, with Eden Hazard dropping back below Mohamed Salah as they both rotate around Raheem Sterling in third. Leroy Sane's injured and so can't fight his corner at the moment, but we won't forget how brilliant he's been this term in a hurry.
Biggest rise: Heung-Min Son (+3)
Biggest fall: Multiple (-2)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Kevin De Bruyne (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 2 | Mohamed Salah (+2) | Liverpool |
| 3 | Raheem Sterling (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 4 | Eden Hazard (-2) | Chelsea |
| 5 | Leroy Sane (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 6 | Christian Eriksen (+1) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 7 | Riyad Mahrez (-1) | Leicester City |
| 8 | Mesut Ozil (Stay) | Arsenal |
| 9 | Sadio Mane (+2) | Liverpool |
| 10 | Jesse Lingard (Stay) | Manchester United |
| 11 | Anthony Martial (-2) | Manchester United |
| 12 | Heung-Min Son (+3) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 13 | Alexis Sanchez (-1) | Manchester United |
| 14 | Juan Mata (-1) | Manchester United |
| 15 | Marc Albrighton (-1) | Leicester City |
| 16 | Marcus Rashford (Stay) | Manchester United |
| 17 | Dele Alli (+2) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 18 | JB Gudmundsson (+1) | Burnley |
| 19 | Willian (New!) | Chelsea |
| 20 | Richarlison (-1) | Watford |
Strikers
7 of 7
Despite scoring against West Bromwich Albion, Sergio Aguero drops from second to third in our rankings. Those wondering why need only look at Roberto Firmino's performance against Huddersfield Town; Aguero's was good, but Firmino's was better.
Alexandre Lacazette's response to the fact Arsenal have just signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seemed worryingly lethargic, and Jamie Vardy's 11th of the season keeps him in a good spot just inside the top five.
Biggest rise: Roberto Firmino (+2)
Biggest fall: Multiple (-1)
| Rank | Player | Club |
| 1 | Harry Kane (Stay) | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 2 | Roberto Firmino (+2) | Liverpool |
| 3 | Sergio Aguero (-1) | Manchester City |
| 4 | Romelu Lukaku (-1) | Manchester United |
| 5 | Jamie Vardy (Stay) | Leicester City |
| 6 | Alvaro Morata (Stay) | Chelsea |
| 7 | Gabriel Jesus (Stay) | Manchester City |
| 8 | Wilfried Zaha (+1) | Crystal Palace |
| 9 | Alexandre Lacazette (-1) | Arsenal |
| 10 | Marko Arnautovic (Stay) | West Ham United |
All statistics via WhoScored.com
