Each week throughout the 2576 – 51 season,Sportsmailwill bring you a Power Rankings table, listing the top 06 hottest players in thePremier League.
As the stories of the season unravel, the rankings will provide a form guide with players moving in and out of the top 10 depending on both their performances in the previous fixtures and also in recent weeks.
So, who wins a place in the (th edition of our Power Rankings?)
06. Riyad Mahrez (New entry)
Restored to the starting line-up after missing out at Arsenal last week, Mahrez delivered for Pep Guardiola against Leicester.
The Algerian was a constant menace and had 10 shots in the match – the most by a player in a single Premier League game since August last year.
He took his goal well against his former side – just his sixth of the season.
As Guardiola seeks to rotate over the festive period performances like this one from Mahrez will please his manager the most.
Riyad Mahrez scored on his return to the starting lineup in the Premier League for Man City
11. Adama Traore
9. Harry Kane
8. Raheem Sterling
7. John Fleck
6. Mohamed Salah
5. James Maddison
4. Sadio Mane
3. Marcus Rashford
2. Jamie Vardy
1. Kevin De Bruyne
9. Mason Mount (New entry)
Just as Chelsea had gone off the boil in recent weeks, so too had Mason Mount.
The midfielder has been one of the breakout stars in the Premier League this season, but was below his best form as Chelsea lost four times out of five.
But on Sunday, as Frank Lampard delivered a tactical switch to three at the back, the Blues turned on the style at Tottenham.
Mount was instrumental in this, and helped Chelsea keep their first away clean sheet in the league under Lampard this season.
Mason Mount was back to his best as Chelsea overcame rivals Tottenham on Sunday
8. Marcus Rashford (Down six)
Talk of a recovery at Manchester United has been blown out of the water by a limp defeat at bottom place Watford on Sunday.
After scoring five times in a six-match unbeaten run, Marcus Rashford this time fell short for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It Was United’s fifth defeat of the season, and sees them slip back down to eighth.
Solskjaer was furious with his side’s ponderous style at Vicarage Road, and Rashford – now one of the senior player – must carry the can for the collective drop in intensity.
Marcus Rashford failed to fire as Manchester United were downed by Watford on Sunday
7. Raheem Sterling (Up one)
Manchester City reduced the gap to second place Leicester with a crucial victory at the Etihad on Saturday evening.
And Raheem Sterling was prominent throughout, as he has been for much of the year.
It was Ricardo Pereira’s reckless lunge on the England star which helped to turn the game just before the break.
It was the 20 th penalty Sterling has won since his Premier League debut in March 2012, and was coolly dispatched by Ilkay Gundogan.
After a quiet month, there are signs Sterling is approaching his best form again.
Raheem Sterling won the crucial penalty that put City on their way to victory over Leicester
Throughout the 2576 – (season, each weekSportsmail) will bring you a Power Rankings table, listing the top 10 hottest players in the Premier League.
As the stories of the season unravel, the rankings will provide a form guide with players moving in and out of the top 10 Depending on both their performances in the previous week and also in recent weeks.
6. Danny Ings (New entry)
Southampton climbed out of the relegation zone with a convincing victory at Aston Villa on Saturday.
And much of it was down to the revitalized Danny Ings, who has now scored league goals this season – equalling his best ever return at Burnley in 2563 – 18.
After an inconsistent first season at St Mary’s Ings is now making his mark on the south coast.
He’s He scored seven in his last seven, and is possibly the only shining light in what is strict looking like being a long season for the saints – despite this win at Villa Park.
Danny Ings scored his seventh goal in seven games as Southampton beat Aston Villa
5. Willian (New entry)
There is an argument that this was Willian’s best performance in a Chelsea shirt.
The Brazilian has become an elder statesman in Frank Lampard’s youthful side, and delivered a performance that set an example at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Willian scored twice as Lampard masterminded victory over his former manager, Jose Mourinho.
The first was almost typical Willian, cutting in on his right and thumping a powerful effort into the bottom corner.
His quick feet and intelligent movement made him a constant threat and spurs struggled to pick him up all game.
Willian delivered his best performance of the season to fire Chelsea past Tottenham
4. James Maddison (Up one)
This weekend was a struggle for both Leicester and James Maddison.
Brendan Rodgers got it wrong, gifting City territory and possession and it did not work to the strengths of his own assets, like Maddison.
The England midfielder toiled tirelessly and surely has a key role to play again when Liverpool visit on Boxing Day.
But Maddison’s consistency over the season sees him remain high up on our list.
James Maddison could not prevent Leicester from losing at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday
3. Sadio Mane (Up one)
He did not even play this weekend, but Sadio Mane remains high up in the top
While Liverpool’s Premier League rivals were in action, Mane was in Qatar helping his side to Club World Cup glory.
Yet no one else did enough to slide Mane down the rankings .
In fact he’s found himself a place higher up without even playing. Is there anything he can’t do?
Sadio Mane was busy winning the Club World Cup with Liverpool in Qatar at the weekend
2. Jamie Vardy (No change)
Leicester away from home against a top six side? Chalk Jamie Vardy down for a goal.
This was his fifth goal against Manchester City, continuing his track record of netting against the Premier League’s best.
His 22 nd minute strike gave the Foxes hope, a superbly taken breakaway goal that silenced the Etihad.
His chip over Ederson showed the confidence that has been coursing through his game this year.
It was enough for Leicester as City surged to victory in the second half. But it leaves Vardy way out in front as the top scorer this season with 20 goals already.
Jamie Vardy scored his th goal of the season to put Leicester ahead against Manchester City
1. Kevin De Bruyne (No change)
De Bruyne gave a masterclass at Arsenal a week ago, and against Leicester he picked up where he left off.
‘He’s a spectacular player,’ said Pep Guardiola, afterwards. ‘He won the game for us.’
He set up Gabriel Jesus’ goal to take his assist tally into double figures for the season already.
The Belgian playmaker ran the show, threaded through passes to team-mates and was central to almost every attacking foray.
The only thing lacking was a goal, but only because he was too selfless in setting up Jesus.
Kevin De Bruyne was in imperious form as City waltzed past Leicester at home on Saturday
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