Inspired by the NBA’s weekly Power Rankings, in which all 30 teams are judged on current performance, overall strength, and a hint of potential rather than just the cold, hard standings, we’ve brought the concept to the Premier League.
Over there, respected analysts and former players debate the finer details. Here on Football365, the task instead falls to one 30-year-old Scottish bloke who is unashamedly determined to find a way to put Bukayo Saka top every Tuesday.
This list blends a player’s overall ability with their present form, though what they’re delivering right now takes precedence. It’s the definitive (ish) ranking of the best 30 performers in the Premier League this season, sprinkled with a touch of footballing common sense rather than relying purely on spreadsheets and xG charts, though they do matter.
One rule: injuries mean immediate exile. That’s why there’s no Cole Palmer for the moment, and why Gabriel Magalhaes and Antoine Semenyo, who would absolutely have been in the top five, are nowhere to be seen.
Let the outrage begin…
20) Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
29) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
28) Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)
27) Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
26) Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)
25) Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
24) Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
23) Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)
22) Thiago (Brentford)
21) Phil Foden (Manchester City)
20) Jordan Pickford (Everton)
We need more goalkeepers in this sort of thing. Pickford once again showed against Manchester United just how far ahead of his England peers he is. What a player.
READ: Who is the best Prem goalkeeper this season? Pickford rises as Lammens falls
19) Ebere Eze (Arsenal)
This guy will be feeling like a million bucks right now. A North London Derby hat-trick? That’s insane.
18) Reece James (Chelsea)
We’re reluctant to drop ‘the I word’ around him, but it is wonderful to see James playing consistently again. He’s arguably the most well-rounded right-back in the world when fit and flying.
17) Danny Welbeck (Brighton)
The guy is aging like a fine wine. His finish against Brentford, which sparked a comeback victory, was just sublime.
16) Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United)
Mbeumo had an amazing October as United flew up the Premier League table, registering a goal involvement in all three games, including a brace against Brighton in Ruben Amorim’s best day as head coach – excluding an unnecessarily nervous ending.
15) Joao Palhinha (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jamie Carragher missed the point in his criticism of Palhinha; the Portuguese midfielder has been an outstanding signing for Spurs.
14) Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
You may know him as Maya Jama’s boyfriend, but we know him as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Completely ignoring how rattled he was by the Irish fans, he’s almost back to his very best and has been incredibly consistent this term.
13) Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)
Zubimendi has slotted in seamlessly and is gradually becoming one of Arsenal’s most important players.
12) Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
It would be bold to say Fernandez is beginning to justify his £100m+ transfer fee, but he’s certainly much improved and looks like one of the Premier League’s leading central midfielders.
11) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Saka hasn’t quite got going this season, but he’s been nowhere near rubbish. He’s one of England and Arsenal’s world-class talents and when he’s fit, both of those teams have a chance against anyone.
10) Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
The Manchester United captain has been a key player in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, moving into a deeper role to help those new expensive forwards settle in well. It might be time to pass over the penalty duties, though…
9) Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City)
The best goalkeeper in the world (arguably) has enjoyed a pretty comfortable start to life in the Premier League. But every goal he concedes, he seems to have a big problem with…
8) Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s best player this season. Maybe Liverpool’s only consistent performer this season. Not a right-back.
7) Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
New Manager Bounce successfully navigated, Palace kept their sixth clean sheet of the season at Wolves on Saturday.
6) Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
England seem to have finally found the perfect No.6 to help unlock Declan Rice’s attacking strengths. His defensive contributions in the win at Liverpool might have been the most important moment of the afternoon for Forest.
5) Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)
The signing of the season. Comfortably.
4) Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)
Caicedo might actually be justifying the £100m+ Chelsea spent on him. He’s certainly playing the best football of his career and he was pretty darn impressive for Brighton.
3) Jeremy Doku (Manchester City)
If you invested your stocks in this guy pre-season, you’d be feeling very smug right about now. Doku has been electric for City. Bloody electric.
2) Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Set-piece merchant.
1) Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
The Nordic Robot is the best player in the Premier League and it’s not even up for debate – unless you’re Wayne Rooney. Haaland already has 14 goals this season. He’s just a bloody goal machine.
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