Phil Foden dazzles with a derby double for Man City, Bukayo Saka continues his red-hot form for Arsenal, while Aston Villa’s talisman Ollie Watkins scores yet again… but who takes top spot in this week’s POWER RANKINGS?
Last weekend saw yet more ecstacy and heartbreak at both ends of the Premier League table, with wins for all the top five teams and defeats for the bottom five.
You’d have to be living under a rock to have missed the major talking point: Arsenal won big, again. A 6-0 demolition of Sheffield United did the trick, and three Gunners are in our Power Rankings following the latest round of matches.
Manchester City came from behind to defy a Marcus Rashford beauty and beat Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad, in no small thanks to Phil Foden‘s brilliance.
Elsewhere, Liverpool stayed top after a 99th-minute Darwin Nunez winner, Aston Villa were jubilant after a late show involving Lucas Digne, and Timo Werner helped Spurs stay in the top-four hunt.
Last week, it was Bukayo Saka in top spot. So, does he keep his place, or does somebody else sneak in?
Bukayo Saka has been top for three weeks in a row and put in another stunning display, but can he retain top spot?
10. Timo Werner (new entry)
Perhaps this goal is all Werner needs to take the weight off his shoulders and go on a good run.
After missing a golden chance, Werner made amends by scoring the equaliser in a 3-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
It has taken the German six games to find the net after joining on loan from RB Leipzig in January but there is a sense he has been doing the right things.
‘I’m very happy for him,’ said Son Heung-min. ‘Timo is working really hard. I wish he had scored in the first half to make the game a little bit easier but he was very happy to score his first for Spurs. He deserved it and there are many more to come.’
Timo Werner scored his first Spurs goal and showed the form he is capable of up front for them
9. Alexis Mac Allister (new entry)
The Argentine’s creative prowess came to the fore during Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest as he set up Darwin Nunez’s last-gasp winner.
Playing with more freedom than his usual number six position, Mac Allister created six chances – the most he has managed in any Liverpool game so far.
He now has a goal and three assists in his last three league games as he stars in a more advanced role. Against Forest, Gomez took the number six spot.
Former Liverpool star Neil Mellor raved about the midfielder afterwards, saying: ‘Mac Allister was absolutely outstanding, he created six chances, he ran the most and he has that bit of class about him, that awareness, as we saw for the brilliant ball for the goal.’
Alexis Mac Allister set up six chances for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest – his season high
8. Anthony Gordon (new entry)
The winger bagged a goal in Newcastle’s 3-0 win over Wolves and was instrumental in their first with a driving dribble up the pitch.
Gordon has a couple of goals in his last three games now and is showing the kind of form the Magpies need from him.
Newcastle had been winless in four at St. James’ Park, so helping them to get that winning feeling back in the stands will be pivotal for them.
His self-belief and confidence on the ball against Wolves was evident for all to see – and he had the end product to boot.
Anthony Gordon scored and was instrumental in another goal as Newcastle beat Wolves
7. Jarrod Bowen (down three)
West Ham’s hero only slips down the rankings because of other people’s brilliance.
Following his hat-trick against Brentford, Bowen helped the Hammers to a second straight win, a 3-1 victory at Everton.
Bowen intercepted a wayward James Garner pass before finding Edson Alvarez for West Ham’s third at Goodison Park.
After something of a dry spell, he is finding his feet at the right time again to be in contention for a Euros spot.
Jarrod Bowen set up West Ham’s third goal at Everton but slips following last week’s hat-trick
6. Alphonse Areola (new entry)
An easy inclusion Areola was crucial in West Ham’s 3-1 win over Everton, including denying a gilt-edged chance for Beto in open play before saving his penalty.
He had to stay alert all game as the Toffees had 22 shots, but they could only find the net once. Areola made nine saves in total.
The goalkeeper was named man of the match for keeping David Moyes’ side in the game before their two-goal stoppage time plunder.
Alphonse Areola made nine saves to keep West Ham in the game before their late winners
5. Declan Rice (down two)
A goal and an assist during Arsenal’s 6-0 rout away at Sheffield United keeps Rice in the top half of the power rankings.
He was intent on scoring from the start, having a shot blocked in a frantic opening couple of minutes.
His deflected pass to Martin Odegaard put the ball on a plate for Arsenal’s first and he was on hand for Arsenal’s fifth with a first-time finish.
We’re getting into territory where any of the remaining players have a strong case to finish top, but Rice is spurned on this occasion.
It’s little wonder two other Arsenal names still need to feature. That’s seven consecutive league wins with a combined score of 31-3.
They’re doing so well that when Rice scored their fifth, he held up four fingers because he’d lost count of their tally!
Declan Rice lost count as he scored Arsenal’s fifth goal against Sheffield United, having set up their first
4. Kai Havertz (up two)
Once a figure of mockery, Havertz has become a serious driver in Arsenal’s push for the Premier League title.
Against Sheffield United, he produced a goal and assist to once again prove his worth.
He’s now on three goals and two assists in their last three league games.
Everything that was going wrong for him, the passes and dribbles, are suddenly going his way, and he’s playing with supreme confidence.
Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal and is silencing his critics with a stunning spell of form
3. Ollie Watkins (down one)
You’re an unfortunate man if you score two goals and slip down a place, but that’s the tough reality of the power rankings.
Watkins struck twice in the first half at Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road cauldron to help Aston Villa to a 3-2 victory.
His fellow England hopefuls must be exasperated. Watkins is second only to Erling Haaland in the Premier League’s scoring charts and has five goals in his last three games.
Villa’s next league game is at home to Tottenham and if he can magic up some goals again, Unai Emery’s clan will be looking at an eight-point gap over them.
Ollie Watkins netted twice for Aston Villa and only Erling Haaland is scoring more in the league
2. Bukayo Saka (down one)
Don’t be fooled by the lack of goals or assists against Sheffield United – Bukayo Saka was still outstanding.
His combination of speed and control dazzled Mail Sport’s Dominic King, who handed him a nine in our player ratings.
With 16 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, Saka brings the best of both worlds and is proving why he should be considered world-class week in, week out.
If Arsenal do win the title, it will be in large part thanks to him, but this week’s chief of the rankings will be doing his best to stop that…
Saka was one of Arsenal’s most influential players despite not getting on the scoresheet
1. Phil Foden (up four)
The king of the Manchester derby.
Foden was the city’s most loved and most hated man on Sunday with a second-half double, his first goal being a stunner from outside the box in a 3-1 win.
His vision, skill, and guile are a sight to behold.
In pure numbers, he’s backing that soft power up.
Phil Foden won the Manchester derby with two goals and has now scored 18 in all competitions
He now has 18 goals for the season – his best-ever tally – as well as 10 assists. City have an absolute gem on their hands.
Having him, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva in your creative arsenal should be criminal.
