Each week throughout the 2020-21 season, Sportsmail brings 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 fixtures and also in recent weeks.
It was the Premier League weekend that saw Manchester City’s winning run ended at 21 games by an inspired Manchester United performance at the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea continued their fine start under Thomas Tuchel with a win over Everton, while Liverpool’s dramatic slump in home form went on as they were stunned by Fulham.
Gareth Bale again shone as Tottenham beat Crystal Palace and West Ham maintained their push for the top four with victory over Leeds.
And Arsenal were architects of their own downfall at Burnley, while the relegation battle intensified with Newcastle United held to a draw by West Brom prior to Fulham’s win at Anfield.
There were many excellent individual performances once again in the top flight – but which players from last week’s list will drop out and who will come out on top this time around?
10. Harrison Reed (Fulham, new entry)
Fulham have seemingly come back from the dead in recent weeks. They were being written off as relegation certainties but a run of positive results now sees them level on points with Brighton either side of the drop line.
Sunday’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield was their best result yet and you could see how their confidence is flowing as the possibility of a great escape grows by the week.
Midfielder Harrison Reed, an ever-present during their recent good run, was once again integral with his relentless work rate to keep Liverpool’s stars quiet.
Afterwards, Reed said that Fulham ‘wanted it more’ on the day and it was hard to disagree.
Harrison Reed keeps tabs on Liverpool dangerman Mohamed Salah during Fulham’s win
9. Harry Kane (Tottenham, new entry)
Kane is something of a Power Rankings stalwart but he had been absent for a little while as Tottenham’s season took a bit of a dip.
However, the England captain comes roaring back into the top 10 after an outstanding performance in Spurs’ 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Not only did Kane score two goals, taking his tally to 16 in the Premier League and 24 overall for the season, he supplied the assists for both of Gareth Bale’s goals.
That took Kane’s assists contribution for the campaign to 16, which underlines just how much of a complete centre forward he now is.
Harry Kane celebrates scoring his second and Tottenham’s fourth goal against Crystal Palace
8. Richarlison (Everton, down three)
It wasn’t the Brazilian’s night as Everton lost 2-0 at Chelsea on Monday, with the Blues defence once again proving impregnable under Thomas Tuchel.
But Richarlison remains in our top 10 because of his fine scoring form in recent weeks. Prior to Everton’s fruitless visit to Stamford Bridge, he has scored in four consecutive games.
They were important strikes as well, winning Everton’s games with Southampton and West Brom as well as setting them on their way to a long overdue win at Anfield in the derby.
No doubt Richarlison will be back to scoring again when Everton host Burnley at the weekend.
It wasn’t Richarlison’s (right) night against Chelsea as his four-match scoring run ended
7. Andreas Christensen (Chelsea, new entry)
Chelsea’s new-found defensive strength under Tuchel simply cannot be ignored. That’s nine clean sheets from 11 matches in charge and still just the two goals conceded.
The switch to three central defenders accompanied by wing-backs has been significant but also how those defensive players have responded to the new manager.
Take Andreas Christensen, who has become a forgotten man under Frank Lampard but seized his opportunity in Tuchel’s Chelsea side after Thiago Silva suffered an injury.
Since then, he has been outstanding, drawing praise not only from his manager but far beyond. Indeed, it’s tricky at the moment to see how Silva wins his place back.
Andreas Christensen (left) has gone from forgotten man to permanent fixture for Chelsea
6. Luke Shaw (Manchester United, new entry)
Another defender enjoying a longer renaissance is Luke Shaw at Manchester United. The left-back has been excellent for most of the season and especially of late.
Having had his confidence shattered by Jose Mourinho and having suffered more than his fair share of injury misery, his return to prominence in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team has been pleasing to see.
His performance in Sunday’s derby win over Manchester City, capped by a goal he both created and finished, was quite possibly his best display in a red shirt yet.
At this rate, Shaw will be lining up on the left side of defence for England at this summer’s Euros.
Luke Shaw (left) capped a brilliant performance against Manchester City with this goal
5. Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City, down two)
It wasn’t Man City’s weekend as their 21-match winning run in all competitions was ended by their neighbours.
Ilkay Gundogan wasn’t able to get his usual grip on the midfield battle or get into too many scoring positions but he remains in our list despite the defeat because his form has been outstanding for a long time now.
He recently topped our Power Rankings but that star quality has slipped a little bit.
City, though, are still marching on to the Premier League title regardless of Sunday’s result and Gundogan has a claim to be their player of the season.
Ilkay Gundogan on the ball during Manchester City’s loss to rivals United in Sunday’s derby
4. John Stones (Manchester City, down three)
The same can be said of Stones, who like the rest of the City defence, found themselves under far more pressure on Sunday than in the vast majority of their games.
United employed a high and energetic press and City found it very difficult to play out from the back.
Therefore, it wasn’t Stones’ best display of the season but that absolutely should not detract from his sparkling form for pretty much all of the campaign.
After all, Stones was No 1 in our list off the back of City’s win over West Ham last week, a game in which he scored, and that can be held up as one of countless fine performances.
It was a derby to forget for City and John Stones, who has been excellent all season
3. Gareth Bale (Tottenham, up four)
Tottenham fans are thrilled that the real Gareth Bale has finally showed up and is producing the kind of magic seen during his first spell with the club.
Another two goals for the Welshman helped see of Crystal Palace for a third straight league win that reignited their top four hopes.
Having scored twice and set up another against Burnley last week, Bale again combined brilliantly with Kane on Sunday and the whole situation is looking a whole lot brighter just a couple of weeks after Jose Mourinho’s days as manager appeared numbered.
A strong end to the season from here and this Real Madrid loanee could be back at Spurs for good.
Gareth Bale celebrates the first of his two goals in Tottenham’s win over Crystal Palace
2. Jesse Lingard (West Ham, non-mover)
Jesse Lingard’s resurgence since joining West Ham has been astonishing. He looks a player reborn after two years of strife and struggle at Manchester United.
He was once again impressive as the Hammers beat Leeds United 2-0 on Monday night to keep in touch with the Champions League places.
Sure, his penalty was a poor one but Lingard anticipated Ilian Meslier’s save well and tucked away the rebound. That’s his fourth goal since beginning his loan to add to two assists.
You can see from everything Lingard does at the moment that his confidence is full to the brim.
Jesse Lingard celebrates his goal for West Ham in their Monday night win over Leeds United
1. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, up three)
He’s been pretty much an ever-present in the Power Rankings all season and Bruno Fernandes returns to the top spot after Manchester United’s derby win.
It was Fernandes who kept his composure to score the second-minute penalty that set United on their way to another win over City at the Etihad Stadium.
After drawing blanks in three consecutive games, it was just the start United needed and Fernandes put in a good shift thereafter as he always does.
It was his 23rd goal of the season to add to 13 assists and his claim for the Player of the Year accolades grows even stronger.
Bruno Fernandes celebrates with a knee slide after scoring an early penalty on Sunday
