Man City ace De Bruyne back on top of Premier League player form rankings
While some sides brought in the new year with a bang, for others, like Chelsea and Liverpool, it was a start to forget.
Some surprise results have led to some interesting changes in our first Premier League player form guide of 2021.
Before we delve into the top 10, a reminder of how it works. As always, our power rankings are based on a six-game period, weighted chronologically with the most recent outing carrying greater significance and so on.
Each player must have played in two of the last three and six of the last eight available Premier League matches for their side. Moreover, only league ratings are considered.
10) Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 7.49 form rating
Raheem Sterling was unfortunate not to get in on the act in Manchester City's 3-1 thrashing of Chelsea at the weekend after seeing his effort cannon back into play off the post for Kevin De Bruyne to finish. Nevertheless, Sterling has moved up into 10th place in our form rankings thanks to four goals and assists in his last six league outings for Pep Guardiola's side.
9) Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - 7.55 form rating
Down five places from last week, Marcus Rashford is now clinging on to his place in the top-10 after drawing a blank in Manchester United's 2-1 home win over Aston Villa. It wasn't for a lack of trying with four shots, but he failed to find a way past Emiliano Martinez. Across his last six Premier League appearances, the 23-year-old has scored four goals.
8) Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa) - 7.57 form rating
Into the top-10 for the first time, Aston Villa summer signing Bertrand Traore notched his third goal in four matches in defeat to Manchester United last time out. The 25-year-old also has one assist in that time to make it four goal involvements in his last four.
7) Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 7.57 form rating
Bruno Fernandes scored his 11th league goal of the season as Manchester United moved level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table with victory over Aston Villa. Nevertheless, Fernandes falls two places in our top-10. His form rating has only decreased 0.02 from last week and he has seven goals and assists across his last six, but drops in the standings due to the rise of others.
6) Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Fulham) - 7.63 form rating
Fulham's game with Burnley was postponed over the weekeend for the second time in a row, so Andre-Frank Zambgo Anguissa remains unchanged from last week. He has, nonetheless, dropped three places in our form rankings. Across Anguissa's last six Premier League appearances, he averages 3.3 dribbles pg and 7.5 tackles and interceptions combined pg.
5) Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) - 7.65 form rating
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan makes his first appearance of the season in our top-10 after continuing his surprising goal rush in a 3-1 win away to Chelsea at the weekend. Gundogan showed great skill and power for his goal to make it three in his last four appearances, one more than he scored in 31 games in the competition last season.
4) Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 7.65 form rating
Harry Kane rockets back into the top-10 and places fourth after becoming the first player in Europe's top five leagues to reach double figures for both goals and assists this season. Kane scored and assisted in Tottenham's 3-0 win over Leeds at the weekend, as Jose Mourinho's side moved back into the top four. It ended a three-game streak without a goal or an assist, but across his last six Premier League appearances the Engalnd captain has played a direct hand in five goals.
3) Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 7.69 form rating
Jack Grealish showed his quality at Old Trafford to admirers Manchester United but couldn't inspire boyhood club Aston Villa to a share of the points. Grealish did set-up Villa's only goal but has now lost top spot in our form ranking and drops two places to third. Across his last six Premier League appearances, Grealish has two assists and averages 4.8 key passes pg, 2.5 successful dribbles pg and 5.5 fouls won pg.
2) Tomas Soucek (West Ham) - 7.71 form rating
A fantasy football manager's dream, Tomas Soucek is up four places in our form guide into second place after scoring the winner in West Hams' 1-0 win over Everton last time out. Soucek has now scored three goals in his last six Premier League appearances to reach a career-high ranking in our form guide. Moreover, the 25-year-old averages 5.8 aerial duels won per game in that time.
1) Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.75 form rating
Beating Tomas Soucek to top spot in our player form rankings, however, is Manchester City midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne, who is back in first for the second time this season. De Bruyne scored against former club Chelsea at the weekend and should have really had another to his collection. Across De Bruyne's last six Premier League matches, he has played a direct hand in five goals and averages 3.5 shots pg and 3.2 key passes pg.
