Premier League player rankings: Kane soaring towards the top

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Tottenham's Harry Kane. (Mark Kerton/AP)

Welcome to the Premier League player power rankings after Matchday 21. Following each weekend of play in the English Premier League, Sportsnet will rank the top 20 players for the 2018-19 season. Regardless of reputation, everyone starts from scratch at Matchday 1, and will steadily move up, down, or out of the rankings as the games progress.

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1. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 1)

Arsenal may have gotten the early goal but van Dijk was excellent once again and made Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang look a shadow of himself.

The Dutchman looked assured once again against City, but one moment could come back to bite him if Liverpool don’t win the title. As Manchester City probed around the edge of the box on the left side, van Dijk cleared the danger as the ball approached Sergio Aguero. Seconds later, he switched back to his regular position and allowed Dejan Lovren to switch onto him, which is when Aguero pounced for the opening goal.

It wasn’t the ultimate winner, but the impact on the title race is undeniable.

2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal (Previous matchday: 2)

Looked jaded against Arsenal and wasn’t terrific against Fulham either despite scoring a goal. He remains the top scorer in the Premier League but is tied with Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah lurks just behind them as well.

3. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City (Previous matchday: 5)

Two assists over the two games against Southampton and Liverpool but he will be most proud of the manner in which he attacked Andrew Robertson.

It was an enthralling battle between winger and full-back that went back and forth but Sterling will say he won it with his assist to Leroy Sané for the winner.

4. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 3)

Earned and scored a penalty in Liverpool’s thumping win over Arsenal and was a constant threat down that right flank where the Gunners’ defenders were begging for mercy.

Against City, it was perhaps the ultimate sign of request that Pep Guardiola decided to move his defensive stalwart Aymeric Laporte from centre-back to left-back to help cope with the threat of Salah.

The Egyptian steadily drifted towards the middle and threaded a perfect through-ball to Sadio Mané for what should have given Liverpool the lead. The best teams have focused much of their defensive plans on shutting down the Egyptian and City is one of the few to do so and get their desired result.

5. Eden Hazard, Chelsea (Previous matchday: 4)

A narrow victory over Crystal Palace, a disappointing draw against Southampton, and the signing of Christian Pulisic leave many wondering whether we are into the final half-season of Hazard’s Chelsea career.

The more Chelsea struggle, the more he will believe he needs to go elsewhere to win the biggest trophies both individually and from a team standpoint. Did little to impress on the field and fatigue could have quite possibly been a factor.

6. Harry Kane, Tottenham (Previous matchday: 8)

Tottenham suffered a shocking loss to Wolverhampton but it was through no fault of their captain. He scored a spectacular effort with his left foot that he seems more and more confident of showcasing of late.

The Spurs bounced back against Cardiff in some style and Kane continued on his merry way with a goal and assist. As hot as he’s been of late, it would be unfair to say he’s had a better season than Hazard just yet.

7. Aymeric Laporte, Manchester City (Previous matchday: 7)

He performed as you’d expect against Southampton but deserves all the plaudits for his excellent performance at left-back.

The Frenchman was so good in snuffing out the threat of Salah on the wing that Jurgen Klopp brought on Fabinho and moved Salah central to open up more room for him. Without Fernandinho and Laporte, it’s scary to think of where their defence might actually rank.

8. Andrew Robertson, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 11)

The working class hero continues to play his part on both ends of the field and has only grown in stature the busier the fixture list has become. Squared perfectly for Firmino to level the match against City from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross.

He really seems tireless and that work rate allows him to own that left flank week in and week out, or as has been the case of late in the Premier League, every few days.

9. Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal (Previous matchday: 6)

It’s hard to comprehend what Unai Emery is doing with the Frenchman’s minutes. Unable to field his best defenders, one would have thought the preference would be to make sure he at least fielded his best available players against league-leaders, Liverpool. Somehow, Lacazette got lost in the shuffle and sat on the bench, coming on only after the match was well decided in the opposition’s favour.

With that rest, one would have thought he’d be in for 90 minutes against Fulham and that Aubameyang would have earned himself some time off, but instead it was Lacazette who, despite scoring, was subbed off as the Gabonese striker played the full 90.

He last played 90 minutes on Nov. 11, puzzling to say the least.

10. Sadio Mané, Liverpool (Previous matchday: 9)

Was ever-present against Arsenal, but while many will focus on how close City were to conceding an own goal to Liverpool, Mané should have found the back of the net instead of the left post when put through 1-on-1 by Salah.

He didn’t have a massive impact on the ball but he was a key part of the pressing Liverpool engaged in throughout the match.

11. David Silva, Manchester City (Previous matchday: 10)

It was good to see him get back amongst the goals against Southampton but the real test was always going to come against Liverpool.

In the biggest match of the season, Silva had an incredible opportunity but shockingly seemed a deer in the headlights as he looked to set up a right-footed shot with a left footed touch instead of the other way around after Sterling teed him up in the box.

He had a couple of other wayward moments as well and certainly wasn’t at his best.

12. Ryan Fraser, Bournemouth (Previous matchday: 13)

After getting some rest against Manchester United, Fraser was back to his best against Watford with a goal and an assist.

It’s sad to think that his size actually impacts his transfer value, as his work rate, speed, and strength on the ball should surely be an asset to some top club.

13. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City (Previous matchday: 16)

Goal against Southampton and then a left-footed blast into the top corner that could have massive implications at the top of the league as Manchester City continue their pursuit of Liverpool atop the table. In a match between the top two, to come up with a goal like that gets you back up the rankings in a hurry.

It should come as no surprise, though, since scoring in big games is just what Aguero does.

14. Son Heung-min, Tottenham (Previous matchday: 14)

This’ll be as high as we see Son on these player rankings for the next little while. He’s off to the United Arab Emirates for the Asia Cup to represent South Korea. Shame, really, as it’s hard to pick a more in-form player in the league right now.

15. Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham (Previous matchday: 12)

Stunning loss to Wolves where the entire back-line deserves to be held accountable while also acknowledging their lack of depth in that area during such a busy period only piles that much more pressure on the Belgian.

16. Callum Wilson, Bournemouth (Previous matchday: 17)

Has lacked sharpness since returning from a hamstring injury but was a probing threat against Watford. How long before he’s wearing Chelsea blue, though?

17. Ricardo Pereira, Leicester City (Previous matchday: N/A)

It was a shock loss to Cardiff City on the 29th, blame this ridiculously busy fixture period. Three wins in 10 days against Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton and two of them coming away is nothing to sneeze at, though.

Pereira is in top-form at the moment and has been a major reason for Leicester City’s resurgence.

18. Richarlison, Everton (Previous matchday: 15)

Disappointing goalless losses to both Leicester City and Brighton mean the Brazilian must drop.

Despite being used as a substitute on Boxing Day to rest up, he failed to inspire his side in the final third and is now in danger of dropping out of these rankings.

19. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crystal Palace (Previous matchday: N/A)

It speaks to the quality of the Premier League that this is Wan-Bissaka’s first appearance. He’s been terrific all season and should be another player who bigger clubs will be whispering about over the transfer window or perhaps next summer.

Can be a bit rash from time to time but you expect that from a 21-year-old still learning the game.

20. Harry Maguire, Leicester City (Previous matchday: N/A)

Take away a 2-0 loss to Tottenham and the Foxes have conceded just three goals in their last five matches. You don’t do without your main man in the middle providing stability and Maguire has done just that over the past few weeks.

The England centre-back has found better form as the team appears to finally adapt to Claude Puel’s strategy and that has seen them rise to seventh in the table in a hurry.

Honourable mentions:

Sol Bamba (Cardiff City). Mathew Ryan (Brighton & Hove Albion). Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson (Liverpool). Dele Alli (Tottenham). Paul Pogba (Manchester United). Fernandinho, Ederson (Manchester City).

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