Odegaard, Kane – who tops our Premier League Power Rankings this week?
De Bruyne and Odegaard continued their early-season form while Kane and Sterling were razor-sharp up front and Firmino dazzled… but who else is in this week’s Premier League POWER RANKINGS?
- Martin Odegaard and William Saliba did well as Arsenal won their fourth in a row
- Kevin De Bruyne impressed during Manchester City’s 4-2 win over Crystal Palace
- England duo Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling both bagged a brace this weekend
- Who else caught the eye from an individual perspective in the Premier League?
- Below Sportsmail runs through the ups and downs in this week’s Power Rankings
It was a dramatic weekend of Premier League football once again, with plenty of thrills, spills and late drama to keep fans entertained.
Where else to start than Liverpool equalling the biggest win in the division’s history with a 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth, while their title rivals Manchester City came from 2-0 down to beat Crystal Palace 4-2.
Graham Potter’s Brighton and a Harry Kane-inspired Tottenham also maintained their unbeaten starts with a win and clean sheet against Leeds and Nottingham Forest respectively.
While Manchester United edged past Southampton and Chelsea sneaked a narrow win against Leicester, Arsenal stay top after coming from behind against Fulham to win 2-1, but the pressure is on Aston Villa after West Ham handed them a third defeat in four games.
Brentford and Newcastle then rescued late 1-1 draws against Everton and Wolves respectively in what was a striking end to their matches.
But who caught the eye from an individual perspective? Here’s the latest top 10 of Sportsmail’s Premier League Power Rankings.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne was one of the players to impress in the Premier League this weekend – but where does the Belgian rank in this week’s Sportsmail Power Rankings?
10. Nick Pope (down three)
9. Wilfried Zaha (new entry)
8. Rodrigo (down five)
7. Lisandro Martinez (new entry)
6. Kevin De Bruyne (down four)
5. Martin Odegaard (new entry)
4. Che Adams (new entry)
3. Allan Saint-Maximin (new entry)
2. William Saliba (new entry)
1. Gabriel Jesus (stayed top)
10. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) – NEW ENTRY
Across the last year or so, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has often cut a disconsolate figure, his features curled up in a whine of complaint – at team-mates, at the referee, at perceived fouls, at himself.
Some have suggested he has struggled in the great shadow of Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, whose arrival switched United’s style of play from ‘attacking through Bruno’ to ‘just give Ronaldo the ball’.
But the 37-year-old superstar forward was dropped for the side’s reinvigorating 2-1 win against Liverpool and started on the bench again away at Southampton, eventually coming on in the 68th minute to help see out the game.
Bruno, meanwhile, started and played the full 90 minutes in his preferred ‘No 10’ position behind the striker, scoring the only goal of the game with a crisp volley from Diogo Dalot’s cross.
This could set the tone for for Fernandes – and, more widely, dictate how United look to attack this season.
9. William Saliba (Arsenal) – DOWN SEVEN
Four games into his Arsenal career and William Saliba already looks the future of their defence for the next decade.
The precocious 21-year-old, who has spent the last three seasons out on loan in France, returned to the Emirates this summer and has nailed down a spot in the heart of the Gunners’ backline.
Often described as a ‘Rolls-Royce’ defender for his smooth, unruffled performances and elegant ball skills, the Bondy-born Bentley was near-faultless again as Arsenal continued their perfect start – 12 points out of 12 – with a 2-1 win against Fulham.
Were it not for centre half partner Gabriel’s mistake leading to Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goal, he would have gained another clean sheet.
With just two years left on his contract, that’s got to be a priority order of business for manager Mikel Arteta.
William Saliba (left) continued the fine start to his Arsenal career against Fulham on Saturday
8. Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle) – DOWN FIVE
Love him or hate him, however you rate him, it’s hard not to watch Allan Saint-Maximin.
The blockbuster winger is often, and not unjustifiably, accused of being mercurial and inconsistent, with not enough end product.
But he was outstanding in Newcastle’s 3-3 draw against Man City, going on incredible mazy runs before feeding Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson to score, before winning the free-kick from which Kieran Trippier netted too.
On Sunday, Newcastle had been fairly quiet in front of goal – but when Hwang Hee-chan miscued a clearance and the ball dropped out of the sky, it was a half-chance at best.
That was before Saint-Maximin absolutely walloped it into the bottom corner. Great technique, great goal, great player. Last-minute scenes for Newcastle.
Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin scored a 90th-minute equaliser against Wolves with a volley
7. Harry Kane (Tottenham) – NEW ENTRY
August goal drought? What August goal drought?
Harry Kane starts seasons slowly, goes the theory. Well, after a double against Nottingham Forest, Kane has four goals in the first four games and Tottenham are third.
That could have been even more were it not for Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson’s brilliant save – what a signing he has been, by the way – but that failed spot-kick shouldn’t taint his overall performance.
The England captain was razor-sharp and although his first goal was not the cleanest strike and his second was very close to being ruled out for offside, they all count.
Harry Kane missed a penalty but still got on the scoresheet twice against Nottingham Forest
6. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) – NEW ENTRY
It hadn’t been an ideal start for Raheem Sterling at Chelsea. Lots of transfer uncertainty off the pitch after new owner Todd Boehly’s arrival and on the pitch it wasn’t much better either.
Scraping past relegation contenders Everton thanks to a penalty, throwing the result away in a 2-2 draw vs Tottenham, getting thrashed 3-0 by Leeds and then less than half an hour into Saturday’s match against Leicester, Conor Gallagher was sent off.
Sure, his first goal was deflected and there was a touch of fortune about it. But he got into the right position to shoot and ultimately score, and his second was much more like his Manchester City days.
A perceptive, well-timed run to the back post and a predatory close-range finish. Raheem’s up and running at Chelsea.
Kane’s fellow England star Raheem Sterling (above) also netted a double, this time for Chelsea
5. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) – UP ONE
Apparently, people had forgotten Kevin De Bruyne is a world-class football player. Last season for the Belgian was largely a tale of persistent injury worries and, ultimately, disappointment in the Champions League, Man City’s real holy grail.
A clearly jaded De Bruyne was taken off after 72 largely ineffective minutes against Real Madrid in the semi-final, and people were questioning where the all-conquering star of previous seasons had gone.
On May 11, with City under pressure to keep winning and deliver their fourth league title in five seasons – which they eventually did – he turned up trumps, scoring an astonishing four goals in a 5-1 demolition at Wolves.
And this season that form has continued. He’s played 87, 90, 90 and 88 minutes so far, looks to be in tip-top shape and is the playmaking and emotional heartbeat of City’s wonderful attack which, eventually, clicked to down Crystal Palace 4-2.
De Bruyne looks to be back to top form and controlled the game brilliantly vs Crystal Palace
4. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) – UP ONE
It’s a measure of how highly Arteta rates Martin Odegaard that he handed the youthful Norwegian the captain’s armband just a year after moving to Arsenal.
He is one of the first picks on the team-sheet and has no prospect of being replaced by Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira or another midfielder aiming for a starting spot.
Odegaard, 23, already has three league goals in just four games this season – almost half his total from the whole of last season in all competitions – and although his strike against Fulham was deflected, he is a key cog in Arsenal’s well-oiled machine.
It would not be a surprise to see him make the power rankings on several other occasions this season.
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard was a classy presence throughout the Gunners’ 2-1 win vs Fulham
3. Luis Diaz (Liverpool) – NEW ENTRY
Luis Diaz is going some way to replacing Sadio Mane at Anfield, which is one of the greatest compliments I can give the flying Colombian.
The 25-year-old winger moved to Liverpool around seven months ago, at time of writing, and is already integral to the team.
His all-action, high-octane style of play combines the energy and grit of a defensive midfielder or full-back with the silky skill of a winger and the finishing of an ice-cool striker.
What a nuisance he must be to play against. Poor Adam Smith and Chris Mepham will be having nightmares about Diaz.
2. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) – NEW ENTRY
Five goal involvements in 68 minutes for Roberto Firmino. That’s one every 13 minutes!
The beaming Brazilian striker was largely a bit-part player or rotation option for Liverpool last season, playing second fiddle to Diogo Jota up front and watching perhaps more natural wingers like Mo Salah and Sadio Mane preferred as a striker.
But when Firmino’s on form and on song, there are few better. He played against Bournemouth with a massive smile on his face, and with two goals and three assists in a 9-0 win, the 30-year-old had plenty of reason to show off his pearly whites.
He may not stay in the team, but manager Jurgen Klopp knows he still has the quality if and when he calls upon him.
Roberto Firmino scored twice and gave three assists in Liverpool’s 9-0 win over Bournemouth
1. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – NEW ENTRY
The kid’s a monster. Four Premier League games, six goals, the 22-year-old has hit the ground running all right at Manchester City.
At just £51million, he could prove one of the best value signings of all time.
He completely bullied Crystal Palace’s defence on Saturday, and five of them were unable to stop the rampaging Norwegian.
A terrifying prospect for opposition players. How the heck do you stop him?
Man City’s Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to help dismantle Crystal Palace 4-2 on Saturday
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