The 101 best players in the Premier League right now

Class is permanent

The new Premier League season is already throwing up some intriguing storylines with some established stars continuing to impress while promising youngsters and new arrivals make a name for themselves.

For this list we’ve had to go by previous achievements for some players who are new to the English top flight, but for now here’s our crack at subjectively ranking the cream of the crop.
101. Dwight McNeil (Burnley)

Burnley aren’t exactly famous for bringing through the next generation of talent, but McNeil has been a welcome exception.

The winger made his breakthrough last season and has now nailed down a place in Sean Dyche’s side at the age of 19, earning his first England Under-21 call-up in the process.
100. Matt Doherty (Wolves)

Doherty has been a survivor of the squad overhaul that has occurred at Wolves since Chinese investment group Fosun International rocked up in July 2016.

The right-wing-back has been a regular pick under Nuno Espirito Santo, playing a crucial role in their Championship promotion season before starring on their return to the Premier League.
98.= Lewis Dunk (Brighton)

Ambitious Dunk targeted an England call-up after Brighton’s promotion in 2017, and one year later that became a reality when he debuted for the national team in a friendly against the USA at Wembley.

International recognition was testament to a fine debut season in the Premier League, which resulted in links to clubs like Arsenal and Leicester over the summer. He promises to improve further under new boss Graham Potter.
98.= Shane Duffy (Brighton)

Dunk’s trusted defensive partner Duffy is often the man for a last-gasp intervention, while he made more clearances than anyone else in the Premier League last season – four of them coming off the line.

He also made the second-most blocks in the league, and proved himself to be a handful at the other end too: five goals for an ailing Brighton side made him their second-highest scorer in the league.
97. Emiliano Buendia (Norwich)

Norwich’s pocket-sized playmaker saved his best performance for the shock win over Manchester City in September after chipping in with 17 assists on the way to the Championship title last season.

“Play like this against lesser top-flight sides and he will be too hot to handle,” noted the Pinkun post-match.
96. Josh King (Bournemouth)

Not much was expected of King when he arrived at Bournemouth ahead of the 2016/17 season on a free transfer, after he'd failed to register a league appearance for Manchester United before a forgettable spell at Blackburn.

His 16-goal haul in his debut Premier League season was something of a surprise, then, and the Norwegian has continued to be a key player for Eddie Howe since then.
95. Tom Heaton (Aston Villa)

Burnley conceded 14 fewer goals with Heaton between the sticks instead of Joe Hart last season, as the goalkeeper helped Sean Dyche’s team clinch Premier League survival.

An £8m move to Aston Villa followed and history is on his side; the last time he featured for a newly-promoted team, in 2016/17, Heaton made the most saves in the league.
94. Nathan Redmond (Southampton)

Redmond featured in all of Southampton’s league games last season and remains one of their key players despite sometimes being accused of inconsistency.

Pep Guardiola is a fan, having praised the winger in 2017 before angrily complimenting him in a bizarre on-pitch exchange with the 25-year-old. “Last season he destroyed us here,” the Spaniard said. “I didn’t know him last season, I realised how good he is.”
93. Declan Rice (West Ham)

At 20 years of age, Rice has already established himself as a favourite of England boss Gareth Southgate thanks to his care of the ball in possession and an assuredness beyond his years.

The midfielder finished last season with a pass completion rate of over 86 per cent, while also averaging three tackles per game. Although he still has improvements to make, Rice has what it takes to be an excellent all-rounder.
92. Moise Kean (Everton)

Kean is yet to establish himself as a first-choice pick under Marco Silva but that should come in time for the 19-year-old, who the Toffees managed to bring in on a cut-price deal from Juventus in the summer.

But don’t just take our word for it. Jose Mourinho said he was “excited” to see Kean in the Premier League and a “little surprised” that the Italian champions had let him go.
91. Rui Patricio (Wolves)

Patricio missed just 90 minutes of football for Wolves last season, making a name for himself as one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers in the process.

The Portugal international took no time at all to adapt to English football and helped his new side to the fifth-best defensive record in the league last season – and a Europa League spot.
90. Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa)

Ming’s January deadline day arrival was instrumental in helping Aston Villa return to the Premier League last season and the defender impressed so much that the newly-promoted club paid £20m to make the move permanent.

Mings has done well on his return to the top flight, earning an England call-up, and has already established a strong partnership with new signing Bjorn Engels.
89. Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle)

Lascelles has consistently put in good performances since returning to the Premier League with Newcastle in 2017 but is yet to be recognised with an England call-up by Gareth Southgate.

His leadership helped the Magpies stay up last season and he is often called upon to unite a club that remains affected by off-field matters. Surely an England bow isn’t too far away?
88. Anthony Martial (Manchester United)

Martial is yet to fulfil his potential as he enters a fourth season with Manchester United, despite going on a scoring run of five games last term under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

It proved to be no more than another isolated patch of hot form in an otherwise underwhelming campaign, but the Frenchman has now been handed the No.9 shirt vacated by Romelu Lukaku as his manager shows faith in his ability to lead the line.
87. Mason Mount (Chelsea)

Frank Lampard’s midfield prodigy, who impressed under his guidance on loan at Derby last season, has begun the Premier League campaign in fine form.

Mount has met every challenge in his senior career with aplomb, winning Vitesse’s player of the year award in 2017/18, reaching the play-off final with Derby in 2018/19 and now already earning England caps in 2019/20.
86. Felipe Anderson (West Ham)

Anderson quickly justified his £36m price tag last season with some glorious displays that saw the Hammers faithful take to the Brazilian quickly.

The winger ended his first term in England with 10 goals and five assists and now, with Manuel Lanzini back to full fitness, we’re expecting to see some sexy football in east London this season.
85. Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City)

Zinchenko’s form had Benjamin Mendy warming the bench for a long while. The Ukrainian, originally an attacking midfielder, has drifted back towards his own goal since arriving at the Etihad for just £1.7m back in July 2016.

He’s a dangerous full-back, as the 22-year-old showed with five assists last season, and Zinchenko has a bright future ahead of him if he continues to improve the defensive side of his game.
84. Jonny Evans (Leicester)

In an age where Harry Maguire costs £80m, Evans is a rare example of good value for money, having arrived at Leicester from relegated West Brom last summer for £3.5m.

The 31-year-old has proven to be an astute acquisition and arguably had a better season than Maguire overall last term – although he now must prove that the Foxes can get even better without the England international.
83. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea)

Abraham emphatically answered the question of whether he or Olivier Giroud would lead the line for Chelsea this season with seven goals in his first five league games.

The 21-year-old struck 26 Championship goals while on loan at Aston Villa last term and the Blues’ transfer ban has handed him the chance he deserves to lead the line for the club he joined at under-8 level.
82. James Tarkowski (Burnley)

Tarkowski is the archetypal Burnley defender. Strong in the air, good on the ground and a handful in both boxes, he combines grit and guile to make him one of the best centre-backs in the division.

The England international has struck up a good understanding with similarly underrated Ben Mee and led the Premier League for blocks per game last season, as well as finishing in the top 10 for aerial duels won and clearances made.
81. Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham)

The Colombia international has started the 2019/20 campaign poorly after some bad individual errors, but that has been out of character after his previous performances in a Spurs shirt.

Dodgy displays against Aston Villa and Arsenal recently are likely to be a blip and Mauricio Pochettino should see the best from Sanchez again soon.
80. Martin Dubravka (Newcastle)

Dubravka has been imperious since joining Newcastle from Sparta Prague, initially on loan, in January 2018.

The towering goalkeeper – a former winger – has attracted the attention of some big clubs after showing his competence at playing out from the back, as well as leading the league for high claims during the 2018/19 campaign.
79. Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)

Eddie Howe took Fraser to Bournemouth while they were in League One, and the Scot was an inconsistent and irregular member of the Cherries squad until he exploded onto the scene last season.

He played in every game under Howe in 2018/19, scoring seven goals and providing 14 assists – leading to interest from Arsenal before he stayed put.
78. Willy Boly (Wolves)

Other than the odd five-goal humping against Chelsea, Wolves have made a name for themselves as one of the Premier League’s tougher sides since coming up in 2018.

Boly was arguably the cream of the crop as he helped the Molineux club to European qualification last term, chipping in with four goals as well as a string of impressive defensive performances.
77. John McGinn (Aston Villa)

McGinn didn’t need long to make an impact in the English top flight, scoring against Tottenham on the opening weekend, and he was at it again with a strike at Arsenal.

The Scotland international is a swiss army knife of a midfielder; technically gifted, tenacious and a fine passer who strings Villa’s moves together. A ridiculous bargain at £3m.
76. Nick Pope (Burnley)

Pope has made a superb return to the Burnley team after missing the entire 2018/19 season with a dislocated shoulder.

He had a breakout campaign in 2017/18, earning a place in England’s World Cup squad, and his form since recovering from injury has got him back in.
75. Danny Rose (Tottenham)

‘Exploring other opportunities’ as recently as July, it’s now hard to imagine Rose leaving Tottenham after starting all of their opening games to the new campaign.

He’ll be pushed for the starting left-back berth by Ben Davies and Ryan Sessegnon this season, but for now he’s Mauricio Pochettino’s go-to man.
74. James Milner (Liverpool)

Milner appears to have access to the fountain of youth, as he still plays with the same dynamism and energy aged 33 that he did when he was breaking through at Leeds.

The midfielder used to be reductively regarded as a hard worker and not much more, but that opinion has finally been revised and he’s excelled in a variety of roles under Jurgen Klopp – selfless and ultra-professional as ever.
73. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)

Pulisic has a big season ahead of him after his move to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund but shouldn’t be fazed by the task, having been the USA’s shining hope since his teen years.

Now 20, Pulisic has been ready for the Premier League for a while. “It has long been a dream to play in England,” he told FFT this summer (issue 303). “I had a gut feeling that Chelsea was the right choice. It’s pretty cool that Frank will be my coach – and Chelsea have a great squad.” He’s just made it better.
72. Michael Keane (Everton)

Although he initially struggled at Everton, Keane enjoyed a terrific 2018/19 campaign under Marco Silva.

The 26-year-old demonstrated great defensive nous as well as passing ability, which has helped him become a Gareth Southgate favourite – although the less said about that Kosovo game the better.
71. Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester)

Schmeichel has been a constant figure amid the chaos (good and bad) at Leicester over the last decade.

The Dane is now in his eighth season with the Foxes and in that time has worked under eight managers, been nominated for FIFA goalkeeper of the year, won the Premier League title and starred in the Champions League. His place has never been in doubt due to his remarkable consistency.
70. Lucas Moura (Tottenham)

A hero of Spurs’ Champions League run last season, Moura has saved his best performances for Europe despite finding the net 10 times in the league last season.

His second half hat-trick against Ajax to book Tottenham a place in the final was undoubtedly the highlight. “This was the most special and remarkable game of my life,” he told FFT this summer. “A hat-trick in the Champions League semi-final like that is God's gift. I’ll never forget it. It’s in my heart.”
69. Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal)

We don’t know yet just how good Pepe is, but the Ivorian was a standout performer in Ligue 1 last season and gave Kylian Mbappe a run for his money for the player of the season prize.

He’s already made a name for himself by becoming the first player to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in 50 games, and if Unai Emery can get the best out of the 24-year-old, Arsenal could have a star on their hands.
68. Jordan Pickford (Everton)

England’s No.1 hasn’t missed a second of Premier League football since joining Everton in 2017 and makes up for his (relative) lack of height with superb reflexes and jumping.

He’s also got a reputation for barking instructions at his defence and while Marco Silva has tried to calm him, the 25-year-old has shown no signs of stopping. “Calmness I’ve definitely thought about a lot, but I’ll still be doing all my shouting,” he told Sky Sports.
67. Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal)

Guendouzi broke through with Arsenal last season and has since been rewarded with a call-up to the France squad.

He's dynamic, creative and composed despite being just 20 years old and his talent was on display as he put in a man of the match performance against Tottenham in September.
66. Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham)

Who saw this coming? The Frenchman became a figure of fun after his £30m arrival in 2016 but has since transformed into one of the Premier League’s most effective midfielders under Mauricio Pochettino.

“You have to look forward, try to improve, keep fighting and one day the thing will change,” Sissoko said in an interview with the Guardian. “I never wanted to leave Spurs. I knew that I could have success here.”
65. Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford)

Doucoure’s talents are no secret to regular Premier League viewers, and he was again in demand over the summer as Everton tried a big deadline-day bid for the Frenchman.

That was unsurprisingly turned down, but the 26-year-old does harbour ambitions of playing at the highest level. “Playing in the Champions League is one of my dreams and a lot of the squad want to do it as well,” he said. “I think I can do it in the next few years.” We think so too.
64. Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham)

With Christian Eriksen’s days numbered at Spurs, Lo Celso is the future of their midfield and will have to take on the mantle of chief creator once the Dane departs.

The 23-year-old is more than capable of doing just that, as he showed at Real Betis last season where he scored 16 goals in all competitions. A cruel early-season injury has hampered his progress.
63. Teemu Pukki (Norwich)

The Pukki party isn’t stopping any time soon. After bagging 29 Championship goals to lead Norwich back to the top flight, the EFL Player of the Year carried that form into the new season.

The Finn may well be one of the best bargains in second-tier history, having joined last summer on a free transfer.
62. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)

Grealish has completed a remarkable transformation from fun-loving youngster to inspiring captain at Aston Villa.

The midfielder has relished his role of responsibility and his performances were key to Villa’s promotion last season. If he carries on like this, England caps should be around the corner.
61. Manuel Lanzini (West Ham)

Lanzini is back after an injury-ravaged campaign with a new four-year contract to his name and is determined to make up for lost time.

The Argentina international is also hungry for silverware this season. “It’s difficult, but why not?” he said. “Leicester won the Premier League three years ago. It’s difficult, but we need to believe.”
60. Sebastien Haller (West Ham)

Real Madrid might be wondering if they signed the wrong Frankfurt forward after Luka Jovic’s struggles to adapt to life at the Bernabeu.

Meanwhile, his former team-mate Haller is settling in nicely at West Ham, scoring goals at an impressive rate and showing strength, mobility and unselfishness that makes him the perfect man to lead the line in east London.
59. Fabian Schar (Newcastle)

Newcastle fans understandably adore Schar, who has been a standout performer in some bleak recent seasons for the club.

The Swiss won six official man of the match awards for the Magpies last season and was a big reason they conceded just 48 goals - the joint-7th-best in the league.
58. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester)

It’s easy to forget Ndidi is only 22, as he’s already closing in on 200 club appearances in which his ball-winning abilities have earned him rave reviews.

He led the league for tackles last season, as well as being in the top three for interceptions, and if he can improve in possession under Brendan Rodgers then the Foxes could find themselves fighting to keep hold of him.
57. Jorginho (Chelsea)

Jorginho became a scapegoat for Chelsea’s problems last season, but in reality he’s one of the best possession-oriented midfield players in the English top flight.

The Italian is gifted with superb vision and close control and has impressed new boss Frank Lampard. “He can change a game, lead a game, own a game from midfield areas,” said the Stamford Bridge manager. “He’s just a fantastic sportsman who cares deeply.”
56. Dele Alli (Tottenham)

Alli has struggled to live up to the standards he set in a superb 2016/17 season, when he scored 17 goals, and has also struggled with injury problems.

However, he remains a key player at Spurs and Tanguy Ndombele’s arrival could help the England man rediscover his spark. If the Frenchman can provide a defensive platform from which his 23-year-old team-mate can thrive going forwards, Spurs should have the Dele they know and love back soon.
55. Joel Matip (Liverpool)

Matip barely featured at Liverpool this time last year but he’s since established himself as an automatic first choice pick after pouncing on Dejan Lovren’s patchy form and the injury to Joe Gomez.

The centre-back is now a Champions League winner and partner-in-crime to the seemingly unflappable Virgil van Dijk. "Not a lot of people spoke about the impact Joel had in the last third of the season," Jurgen Klopp said in the summer, when answering a question about Van Dijk. That’s now changing.
54. Nathan Aké (Bournemouth)

Ake is yet to miss a Premier League game since joining Bournemouth in the summer of 2017, and since then he’s gone on to win the fans’ and players’ player-of-the-season awards.

The Netherlands international complements good defensive nous with excellent ability on the ball, thanks to his previous role as a midfielder. Chelsea inserted a buy-back clause into the deal that saw the centre-back move to the south coast, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them trigger it once their transfer ban is over.
53. Ashley Barnes (Burnley)

Barnes rarely gets the respect he deserves, but after an impressive start to his fifth Premier League campaign it’s high time that changed.

He is unselfish, hard-working and has excellent technique. Barnes bagged 12 goals for Burnley last season, and although his England hopes have probably passed by now at the age of 29, the fact he’s in the conversation shows how far he’s come.
52. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

Jesus scored twice to help Brazil lift the Copa America for the first time since 2007 over the summer, to make up for a somewhat underwhelming club campaign on a personal level.

The forward will be desperate to succeed this season under Pep Guardiola, but he needs more game time to do so. He’s one of the best finishers in circulation but only mustered eight starts last term as he struggles to get ahead of Sergio Aguero in the pecking order. Not an easy task.
51. Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)

Frank Lampard’s side haven’t looked defensively sturdy so far this season, but the Chelsea boss knows that life will get easier once Rudiger is back from injury.

The Germany international was one of the Blues’ standout players last season, arguably only being outperformed by Eden Hazard, but was forced off 45 minutes into his return against Wolves. He should be back soon to help shore things up at Stamford Bridge.
50. Victor Lindelof (Manchester United)

Lindelof has recovered from a torrid debut season at Manchester United to establish himself as a regular pick at centre-back.

Two seasons after his big-money move from Benfica, the Swede is beginning to forge a promising partnership with new arrival Harry Maguire at the heart of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s defence.
49. Ben Chilwell (Leicester)

Chilwell has rapidly grown into one of the Premier League’s most exciting full-backs since breaking into the first team from academy level during the 2016/17 season.

A real threat going forward, the 22-year-old has also improved the defensive side of his game now to become a viable contender for Gareth Southgate’s England team.
48. Fernandinho (Manchester City)

He may be 34, but the Brazilian’s importance to Manchester City was plain for all to see last season as his side fell to two of their four defeats of the season while he was absent for two matches.

Aware of the need to blood a long-term successor, Pep Guardiola brought in £63m man Rodri over the summer, who has since taken Fernandinho’s starting spot. But rest assured; the experienced midfielder would improve every other team in the league right now.
47. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)

Now in his seventh season at Tottenham, Lloris continues to be one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League.

His kicking has always attracted criticism, but the 32-year-old World Cup winner is reliable more often than not.
46. Dani Ceballos (Arsenal)

Ceballos’ outrageous piece of skill in an early-season clash with Burnley made him an instant favourite among the Arsenal faithful.

That might have been a bit premature as the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder has failed to maintain that level of performance since, but Unai Emery will be relying on his fellow Spaniard to grow as the season goes on and light up more matches with his undoubted quality.
45. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)

Mahrez would be much higher on this list if it was based on pure ability, but in reality he has struggled to nail down a place in the City team.

He started just 14 matches for Pep Guardiola’s champions last season, contributing seven goals and four assists, but it’s a shame we don’t get to see the former Leicester star more often.
44. Ricardo Pereira (Leicester)

Ricardo is a classic modern full-back who can support attacks down the flank and make up the ground to cover his defensive duties.

The Portugal international made the fourth-most tackles in the division last season as well as providing six assists, winning the club’s player of the year award.
43. Richarlison (Everton)

Marco Silva wasted no time in bringing Richarlison with him from Watford to Everton after the Brazilian made an excellent start to life in England during the 2017/18 season at Vicarage Road.

The £50m transfer fee Everton forked out last summer was laughed at by many at the time, but the 22-year-old went on to score 13 goals in his debut season on Merseyside before helping Brazil to Copa America glory, where he scored in the final. It’s not looking like such a bad deal now.
42. Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham)

Spurs’ record signing also happens to be the player the fans have been crying out for as he fills the void created by Mousa Dembele’s departure in January.

The former Lyon man introduced himself to the Premier League with a goal and assist in his first two games before injury disrupted his fast start. He could rise quickly up this list if he can replicate the form he showed in France last season.
41. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)

Kepa became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when Chelsea forked out £72m for his signature last summer, but he has since gone on to show why such faith was placed in him.

The Spaniard kept 14 clean sheets in the league and made important saves in the EFL Cup and Europa League penalty shoot-outs against Tottenham and Frankfurt respectively. He’s probably still best known for refusing to be substituted by boss Maurizio Sarri during the League Cup final defeat to Manchester City, though.
40. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

For a 21-year-old, Rashford shoulders an awful lot of pressure. His explosive breakthrough in 2016, when he scored braces on his Europa League and Premier League debuts, set the bar high and now every touch he makes is examined ruthlessly.

Last season he plundered a career-best 10 goals and six assists in an otherwise disappointing season. “Say we lose a game; it affects me more than it should because I’m a fan,” he told the Times. “It hurts every day to see where we are now, [compared] to where we’ve been in the past. It makes me more determined to put the club back where they belong.”
39. Joao Moutinho (Wolves)

It wasn’t entirely obvious how Moutinho would fare in the Premier League. He was 31 when Wolves signed him for a paltry £5m, and despite his pedigree as Portugal’s third-highest-capped player of all time, had never played domestic football outside of his home country or France.

But fans needn’t have worried: Moutinho (now 33) was exceptional alongside his compatriot Ruben Neves, racking up eight assists for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side as they qualified for the Europa League – a competition he won with Porto in 2010/11. A joy to watch.
38. Youri Tielemans (Leicester)

Getting Tielemans on a six-month loan deal for the second half of 2018/19 was a coup for Leicester, let alone tying him down to a permanent transfer for £40m this summer. The Foxes weren't the only club interested after the Belgian had a hand in seven goals across his 13 Premier League matches at the King Power, but the 22-year-old liked what he’d seen in Brendan Rodgers’ promising side.

Tielemans is now part of an exciting young midfield alongside the likes of Wilfred Ndidi, James Maddison and Hamza Choudhury, and Leicester’s bid to crack the top six will depend a lot on him.
37. Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

He may have lost his place in the England squad for September’s European qualifiers, but the versatile Walker remains a fine attacking right-back who helps to keep this terrific Manchester City ticking.

The 29-year-old has improved his positional sense and passing under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, but still manages to terrify opposition full-backs with his pace: a top speed of 22mph in setting up Gabriel Jesus on the opening day was faster than any recorded in the entire 2018/19 season. He’s keeping £60m new signing Joao Cancelo on the bench.
36. Raul Jimenez (Wolves)

A Mexican hotshot with a passion for lucha libre, Jimenez was a surprising revelation of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign. He’d arrived on loan off the back of an underwhelming season at Benfica (six goals in 33 games), but proved to be one of the season’s finest signings with 17 goals in all competitions.

Like Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota before him, Jimenez made an immediate impact. The 28-year-old was directly involved in 45% of his team’s goals as Wolves romped to a surprise seventh-place finish, and then grabbed six to help his side reach the Europa League group stage.
35. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

Zaha was heavily linked with moves to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Everton in the summer, and even asked to leave his boyhood club, but the Ivorian didn’t get his wish.

Last season was the 26-year-old’s first 10-goal league haul as Palace avoided the drop, but his overall contributions were essential in the general absence – through injury or otherwise – of strikers at Selhurst Park. What would Roy Hodgson’s side do without him?
34. Ruben Neves (Wolves)

Opposition sides have learned the hard way that giving Neves any space on the edge of your penalty area can be fatal. It doesn’t really matter how far out he is: the Portuguese central midfielder only deals in screamers and will punish you accordingly.

The 22-year-old has scored nine goals from outside the box since joining Wolves in 2017, and Manchester United were his latest victims in August. He doesn’t get too many – Neves’s talents are grounded in pinpoint passing and those raking long balls he loves – but when he does, you’ll remember it.
33. Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

Who is the real Pogba? The one who plundered eight goals and assisted two more from Boxing Day to early February? Or the one who meanders around midfield being frustratingly ineffective for an underachieving Manchester United far more than expected?

The truth, as ever, is somewhere in between. The Frenchman hit top form at the perfect time to earn himself a place in the PFA Team of the Season, and ended the campaign with 13 goals and nine assists. You’d love to see him playing further forward, but a player of his undeniable talent should be doing more with what he’s got – wherever he is on the pitch.
32. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)

Wilson’s start to Premier League life was miserable. In the September of his first top-flight season (2015/16), he ruptured his ACL. The striker returned, eased into life – and then crockrd the ACL on his other knee in February 2017.

But what a return it’s been since. After easing himself through 2017/18 with eight goals in 28 appearances, the 27-year-old was brilliant in 2018/19 – directly involved in around 43% of Bournemouth’s goals, having scored 14 and laid on 10 more.

Wilson made a scoring international debut for England against the USA in November 2018, and will be confident of making England’s Euro 2020 squad. He’s comfortably one of the finest all-round strikers in the Premier League these days, and kicked off the current campaign with four goals in his first six matches.
31. Rodri (Manchester City)

Rodri was a smart acquisition from Atletico Madrid by Pep Guardiola during the summer. Part of City’s struggles last season – which nearly saw them relinquish their Premier League crown to Liverpool – stemmed from a lack of alternative options to Fernandinho, but the 23-year-old Spaniard has eased concerns over a long-term successor.

City didn’t hesitate to trigger his €70m release clause, and the Spain international should soon settle to show Premier League fans what he’s capable of.
30. Georgino Wijnaldum (Liverpool)

Wijnaldum was a mainstay in the Liverpool side which won the Champions League and racked up a record 97 points in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old is arguably one of the top flight’s most underrated players, surrounded by headline-hogging stars who dazzle for Jurgen Klopp’s side on a weekly basis, but it says a lot that the Holland international is virtually undroppable despite facing fierce competition from James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the Reds’ engine room.
29. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United)

After a brilliant debut Premier League season for Crystal Palace in 2018/19, Wan-Bissaka earned a move to Old Trafford for a £50m transfer fee. Arguably, he’s already the second-best right-back in the Premier League – a terrific defender who tackles like a player possessed and is rarely bettered by opposition wide men.

The 21-year-old looks like a solid investment for the Red Devils, and adds to a ludicrous pool of England right-backs that currently includes Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.
28. Lucas Digne (Everton)

Digne’s career was stagnating before he arrived at Goodison Park in 2018. Restricted to just 12 La Liga appearances for Barcelona, the Frenchman cut his losses and moved to the Premier League – where he was an instant hit with Everton fans.

Bernard’s propensity to drift inside frequently gives Digne an entire left flank to operate down. He made full use of this privilege last campaign, scoring four goals and registering four assists – a haul that could quite easily double this term. Digne’s dead-balls are often a potent weapon. The 26-year-old scored a beautiful trio of free-kicks last season, and was up to similar antics this campaign when curling one in from 30 yards against Lincoln in the EFL Cup.
27. James Maddison (Leicester)

Maddison has swiftly morphed from promising talent to midfield superstar. The 22-year-old arrived at Leicester from Norwich for £20m fresh from winning the Canaries’ player-of-the-season award, and slotted straight into the Foxes’ first team with an eye-catching debut at Old Trafford.

It’s been much of the same ever since. A supremely confident Maddison provides a young Leicester team’s creative impetus, and he carved out more chances for his team-mates than anyone else in the Premier League last term. England call-ups are yet to produce a cap, but the stylish operator seems destined to be a regular for his national team eventually.
26. Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham)

Despite Aldeweireld’s contract at Spurs coming to an end next summer, the Belgian is still an important figure in this Tottenham side. It’s a miracle he’s still around in north London, however, after no club triggered his £25m release clause in the summer.

Alderweireld’s partnership with countryman Jan Vertonghen remains one of the most formidable defensive duos in the Premier League, and helped Spurs leak the joint-third-fewest goals last season.
25. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s best buddy might not score quite any many goals as his Gabonese colleague, but the Frenchman is a more rounded footballer who assisted 10 goals for Arsenal last campaign while contributing 13 of his own.

The 28-year-old’s dribbling, hold-up play and finishing make Unai Emery’s side a force to be reckoned with at home and on the continent, and Lacazette will be depended upon to help his side bring Champions League football back in 2020.
24. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)

He’s not fashionable for fans to love, but Liverpool captain Henderson is an essential part of this Liverpool side pushing a remarkable Manchester City all the way. The 29-year-old has improved hugely under Jurgen Klopp’s management, filling the shoes of former captain Steven Gerrard brilliantly.

The former Sunderland man is also a key figure of Gareth Southgate’s England side, and currently keeping younger prospects like Harry Winks, Mason Mount and James Maddison out of the starting line-up with consistent high-level performances for club and country.
23. Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

The 32-year-old Vardy is now entering his sixth Premier League season, but shows no signs of slowing down. The former England international hit 18 goals last season, despite admitting that he struggled to perform in Claude Puel’s conservative tactical system which led to Brendan Rodgers’ arrival in February.

Since the Northern Irishman took over, Vardy has returned to his electric best. He’ll struggle to get close to his remarkable 24-goal haul of 2015/16, but 78 in 148 appearances over the last four-and-a-bit campaigns is some going.
22. David Silva (Manchester City)

The Spaniard is now in his final season as a Manchester City player, having announced this summer that his 10th year at the Etihad would be a fitting way to call it a day.

Yet despite being 33, Silva remains one of the best midfielders in the Premier League – and certainly one of its all-time greats. Prodding, poking, finding gaps that don’t exist: few are capable of doing it better than the man they call Merlin.
21. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)

Eriksen was desperate for Real Madrid or Barcelona to come calling in the summer, but neither did and the creative Dane will be a Tottenham player until January at least. His contract expires this summer, and Daniel Levy would be loathe to lose him for nothing.

It’s hard to escape the fact that Mauricio Pochettino’s side are simply much better with Eriksen in their team, however. The Denmark international can be accused of going missing in some of Spurs’ bigger games, but there are few better creative talents in the top flight – Eriksen has managed 10+ assists in the last four seasons.

New arrival Giovani Lo Celso may represent Spurs’ long-term future, but for now they’d better enjoy Eriksen’s midfield talents while they can.
20. Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

After two impressive seasons at Leicester, not to mention a headline-grabbing 2018 World Cup with England, Maguire finally got the big move he craved in joining Manchester United for a world record fee of £80m in summer 2019.

Maguire stands above his peers (often literally) thanks to his comfort in possession and ability to start attacks from deep, but the 26-year-old is also a terrific and domineering defender who should solve a long-standing problem at Old Trafford. He’s a huge asset from set-pieces at either end, too – you don't get a nickname like ‘Slabhead’ for nothing – and will play a huge role as United look to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite.
19. Ederson (Manchester City)

A solid shot-stopper, comfortable with the ball at his feet but with an ability to punt a football very, very far upfield: Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson is one of the top all-round goalkeepers in the world right now.

Despite not having the same on-field impact as other Manchester City players, the 26-year-old is still one of the most important men for Pep Guardiola’s team. His tidy distribution from deep is crucial to how City play, and it’s difficult to see him being ousted from between the sticks in Manchester for a long time indeed.
18. Fabinho (Liverpool)

Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder was a terrific acquisition for Jurgen Klopp’s side last season, and the 25-year-old played a huge part in the Reds’ Champions League-winning season. Fabinho’s height is a useful asset for Liverpool, while his defensive solidity and neat play in possession help the star names ahead of him thrive.

Gary Neville recently hailed him as the Premier League’s finest defensive midfielder, saying: “He doesn’t sit back in games. These holding midfield players who just play horizontally, passing sideways, shuttling across, but Fabinho plays vertically as well. I think the best holding midfield players aren’t just people who basically shuffle across and make it look simple, they also step into the game.”
17. Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Son had a memorable 2018/19, registering 12 league goals and seven assists – his best ever numbers for Spurs, despite missing several matches through international duty. His most significant achievement was winning the Asian Games with South Korea, earning Son and his team-mates exemption from military service.

Not only is that terrific for the Spurs talisman’s quiff, it’s also a huge relief for Mauricio Pochettino. Son’s direct nature and consistent quality – just rewatch that volley against Crystal Palace – make him incredibly difficult to replace on the Tottenham High Road.
16. David de Gea (Manchester United)

Ederson and Allison are relatively new kids on the block when it comes to the finest Premier League goalkeepers, but they have some way to go to match De Gea’s levels of consistency.

Manchester United have been heavily indebted to their Spaniard’s athleticism since Alex Ferguson retired – it speaks volumes that he was their player of the year in four of the five season that followed the Scot’s departure. De Gea’s 2018/19 wasn’t so hot, but he’s allowed a blip. Tying him down to a new contract was United’s best business of the summer.
15. Alisson (Liverpool)

Football fans gasped at the £66m record fee (well, briefly) for Roma’s goalkeeper just over a year ago, then quickly forgot about their misgivings when they saw him play. After a ropy start when his Flatley footwork got him into trouble, Alisson settled in behind the league’s meanest defence.

The ghosts of former goalkeeping calamities were laid to rest as Alisson became only the fifth goalkeeper in Premier League history to record 20 clean sheets in a season – finishing on 21 overall and beating Pepe Reina’s club record of 20 en route. Liverpool’s No.1 is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, and it’s not hard to understand why Reds are desperate to have him back.
14. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

It speaks to Bernardo’s dazzling quality that he managed to stand out in a Manchester City side that claimed its second straight league title, with the Premier League’s second-highest points total of all time last season.

The Portugal international made more appearances than any other City player, stepping beautifully into central midfield when key man Kevin De Bruyne was sidelined through injury. “He enjoys every training session and game. I love him, it's simple like that,” beamed his manager in May.
13. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)

Scotland international Robertson has been nothing short of a revelation at Anfield. The left-back racked up 11 Premier League assists in tandem with Trent Alexander-Arnold last season, causing Jose Mourinho to remark after one of his final Manchester United games: “I’m still tired just looking at him.”

Now a Champions League winner, the 25-year-old epitomises the hard running and endless desire of Jurgen Klopp’s breathless Reds side. Arguably one of the league’s most enjoyable players to watch.
12. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

One of the four players to rack up more assists than Robertson last season? Step forward Alexander-Arnold, who is practically redefining the role of a right-back right now with his creative quality.

The England international, still only 20, is a brilliant passer who carves out chances for Liverpool’s fearsome front three all over the pitch. Whether from set-pieces, pinpoint crosses or raking cross-field balls: you name it, Trent’s got it in his repertoire. Twenty years old. Life is unfair.
11. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)

Some sceptics wondered whether signing another striker so soon after the similarly expensive Alexandre Lacazette was a sensible use of the Gunners’ transfer budget, after Aubameyang arrived at the Emirates Stadium for £56m in 2018.

Fortunately for the Gunners, the Gabonese livewire has replicated the scoring form he showcased at Borussia Dortmund, registering 38 goals in 55 Premier League appearances and sharing the Golden Boot in his first full season at the club. Money well spent.
10. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)

Manchester City’s season has been severely dented by a serious knee injury which will keep Laporte out for around six months. It’s got the potential to be a title-crippling blow: the centre-back’s form has been exceptional ever since he arrived from Athletic Club in January 2018, and he’s near-impossible to replace from within.

The stylish left-footed centre-half is adept at playing out from the back, defends with confidence and even pops up with an important goal every so often. He would have been the man to take over defensive leadership responsibilities from Vincent Kompany – but for now he’ll be a helpless onlooker.
9. Harry Kane (Tottenham)

By his own freakishly high standards, last season was somewhat underwhelming for Kane. The England captain only managed 17 goals from 28 appearances, as injuries and constant chatter of fatigue halted his scoring rate. It’s been a fairly sluggish start to 2019/20 too.

But doubt him at your peril. Kane is arguably the best all-round frontman in the Premier League: a fine finisher from all angles, strong in his hold-up play and a leader by example. If he stays fit, another 20-goal campaign is a virtual dead cert.
8. Sadio Mané (Liverpool)

Last season’s joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League has carried on where he left off, scoring four goals in his opening five matches for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The Senegalese forward’s direct running and link-up play with his Liverpool team-mates makes him one of the most feared forwards in the league – especially if you don’t pass to him, as Mohamed Salah found out at Turf Moor. Don’t be surprised if he manages to go one better and claim the Golden Boot for his own this year.
7. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

“Mo Salah, world class but not every day. Sadio Mané, world class but not every day. Roberto Firmino, world class pretty much every day.”

Hard to find a better endorsement than that – not least when it comes from your own manager. Firmino is the string that links Liverpool’s exciting front three together, dropping deep to give Salah and Mané more space in behind and generally facilitating the excellence around him.

That outrageous cameo against Newcastle was the brilliant Brazilian in a nutshell: selfless, skilful and oh-so-effective.
6. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

Aguero has the best minutes-to-goal ratio in Premier League history, having found the net with his 172 strikes every 107 minutes on average. While the striker is sometimes rotated in Manchester’s City starting line-up with fellow team-mate Gabriel Jesus, the 31-year-old is a clear first choice after adapting brilliantly to Pep Guardiola’s demands. When the Argentine is through one on one, expecting him to score is a safe bet.

Aguero’s elusive movement and finishing precision make him one of the most prolific strikers in English football history. Consistency personified.
5. N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)

Find a person in the world who doesn’t love N’Golo Kanté. The diminutive Frenchman is a shy and retiring figure off the pitch, but transforms into a ruthless ball-winner on it and has demonstrated his class and consistency with different Premier League champions.

After being given more license to push forward under Maurizio Sarri last campaign, the 28-year-old was also able to display the more technical side of his game in registering four goals and four assists.

A look at his achievements is enough: back-to-back Premier League titles in 2015/16 and 2016/17; PFA Player of the Year; World Cup 2018; Europa League 2018/19.
4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Anfield’s Egyptian king has also enjoyed a positive start to the current season, scoring four in six matches to take his total up to 58 in 80 league games for the Merseyside club. Salah has also registered three assists in the Premier League, and looks well on course to reach double digits in both categories after narrowly missing out on that feat in 2018/19.

How do you stop him? It doesn’t matter if he cuts inside the defender on his left or bustles down the line to score with his right: Salah usually finds a way. Defenders don’t seem to have an answer.
3. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

After a couple of seasons filled with injury struggles, De Bruyne in back in his usual groove. The Belgian has eight assists for Manchester City already this season, and it’s perhaps not surprising that they struggled most (against Norwich) in a game he didn’t start. He was masterful in the 8-0 win against Watford.

Should De Bruyne stay fit, the 28-year-old looks primed for his best season to date at the Etihad Stadium. There’s simply no better passer in the Premier League.
2. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

The England winger is in the form of his life for club and country. Sterling has kicked off 2019/20 with five goals in his opening five league matches, before grabbing two goals and three assists during the September international break with England.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has helped bring Sterling’s positional play to new levels, and the 24-year-old – yes, he’s still only 24 – is now among world football’s greatest goalscorers at the very highest level.

“You look at young players who can be crowned the future best in the world and you still think of Neymar, Mbappe, Salah, and of course Sterling. I look at the moment – and Sterling is winning that race,” said former Barcelona midfielder Xavi this week.
1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Who else? The towering Dutchman was one of the main reasons why Liverpool recorded 21 clean sheets in 38 Premier League games last season, continuing his transformative effect at Anfield and ending the campaign with Champions League victory to show for it.

No defender has won the Ballon d’Or since 2006, but Van Dijk doesn’t even have a World Cup win behind him for his 1/5 favourite status. He’ll likely win, keeping the Messi-Ronaldo in tatters – and he'll deserve it too.

The 28-year-old instills Reds fans with a long-forgotten sense of confidence at the back, improving those around him and helping full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson thrive further upfield.

As Liverpool fan Matt Ladson put it earlier this week for us: “[There's] laughter when he hits the afterburners and you watch the attacker think: ‘How has he done that?’ Laughter when a shot blasts and he stands still like a mannequin on the training ground to nonchalantly block the attack. Even defending is now enjoyable to watch.”