Man City star tops Premier League form rankings for first time ever

Manchester City showed their neighbourhood rivals how to deal with struggling sides in midweek, as Pep Guardiola's side thrashed West Brom 5-0 before Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to bottom side Sheffield United.

Those results led to yet another change of leadership, with City now a point above United with a game in hand. City's surge towards top of the table has unsurprisingly been recognised by the WhoScored algorithm. It's fair to say Guardiola's side are well-represented in our updated Player Form Ratings.

Before we dive into the top-10, first a reminder of how it all 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) Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) - 7.48 form rating

Easily criticised for his rash-style of playing, Granit Xhaka has quietly put in a string of solid performanes to help Arsenal move back into contention for a European finish. Xhaka has scored and assisted in his last six league outings and, notably, avoided a yellow card in that time. He has finished three of those matches with a pass success rate above 90%.

9) Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 7.57 form rating

Harry Kane endured a night to forget as Tottenham lost 3-1 at home to Liverpool, forced off at half-time after suffering injuries to both ankles. Kane also thought he'd assisted Son Heung-Min (again) to give Tottenham the lead only for the strike to be chalked off for a tight offside. Such a frustrating night has seen Kane drop from top spot in the form rankings to ninth. Set for a spell on the sidelines, we may not see Kane in the top-10 for a while now.

8) Ruben Dias (Manchester City) - 7.59 form rating

Manchester City supporters have been calling for Ruben Dias to be in the top-10 for weeks now and they finally get their wish. Dias has made a Virgil van Dijk-like impact on this City side, helping turn Pep Guardiola's side into the best defensive side in the league. City have only conceded one goal across their last six league games, with Dias playing a lead role in that run. Dias has completed more than 90% of his passes in all of those matches, while averaging 3.5 tackles and interceptions combined per game and 3.2 clearances per game.

7) Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 7.63 form rating

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish is one of two non-movers in our top-10, consolidating his place at seventh in our form ratings. He has at least re-taken the lead in our overall standings as a result of Harry Kane's nightmare night on Thursday. Grealish was again in top form in midweek and was left bewildered as Villa somehow lost 3-2 to Burnley. The England international did score, to go with two previous assists across his last six. In that time, Grealish has managed 3.8 key passes pg and 2.7 dribbles pg.

6) Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 7.73 form rating

Paul Pogba's form rating has increased from last week but he remains in sixth spot. The Manchester United midfielder has really sparked into form in the last month after a slow start to the campaign. Pogba couldn't inspire United to avoid defeat against Sheffield United but his all-round game was again spot-on. A return of five successful dribbles in midweek is Pogba's personal best in a Premier League game this season and across his last six outings he has notably weighed in with 2.3 tackles per game. The Frenchman has two goals in that time.

5) Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.85 form rating

Kevin De Bruyne drops three places in our form rating in what will be his last appearance before no longer qualifying for the rankings. Out potentially until March, City did at least cope fine without him in midweek with a 5-0 win over West Brom. Nevertheless, across his last six Premier League appearances he has played a direct hand in five goals (one goal, four assists).

4) Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 7.89 form rating

Arguably one of the biggest surprise packages in the Premier League this season has been Joao Cancelo. He didn't get a look-in last term but has been one of the best players in the division in 2020/21. Cancelo played a direct hand in two of City's goals in their thumping victory over West Brom, including a stunning long range effort for his first ever Premier League goal. Across Cancelo's last six appearances, he averages 1.8 key passes pg, 2.3 dribbles pg, 1.8 tackles pg and is generally popping up all over the pitch rather than his starting right-back position.

3) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) - 7.91 form rating

After a slight drop in our form rankings last week, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka has shot up two places into third after helping himself to another goal in midweek. Saka's effort against Southampton now means the England international has scored in four of his last six league games. The Arsenal teenager also has two assists in that time to make it six goal involvements in his last six.

2) Tomas Soucek (West Ham) - 8.00 form rating

Tomas Soucek continues to go from strength-to-strength for West Ham after netting a brace in a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace in midweek to move up seven places into second in our top-10. Soucek has scored four goals in his last six matches and averages 6.7 aerial duels won pg and 3.5 tackles and interceptions combined pg in that time. He has been a fine addition by David Moyes and has played an instrumental role in their surprise top-four challenge.

1) Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) - 8.10 form rating

Perhaps unsurprising given his remarkable goalscoring form of late, but Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan is not only the most in-form player in the Premier League at the moment but ranks second in Europe's top five leagues. Gundogan netted a brace in midweek and has scored in three straight matches. The Germany international has scored six goals in his last six league outings and his astonishing goalscoring form has come at the perfect time with Gabriel Jesus out of form and Sergio Aguero still unavailable.