Premier League Power Rankings: Can Bruno Fernandes dislodge Liverpool duo this week?
Each week throughout the 2019-20 season, Sportsmail will bring 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.
So, who wins a place in the latest edition of our Power Rankings?
10. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City, new entry)
Leicester returned to winning ways and consolidated their Champions League place with a thumping win over Aston Villa on Monday night.
And Barnes was their stand-out player, with two goals continuing his fine recent form on the left side of the Leicester midfield.
Barnes was on hand to capitalise on Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina’s rush of blood to the head for the breakthrough goal five minutes before half-time.
And the 22-year-old was in the right place to turn home Leicester’s fourth goal late on, hammering home his sixth of the season.
Barnes’s manager Brendan Rodgers said: ‘Harvey has got a very bright future. He’s been getting better, his intensity and hunger to get in and score is what we’ve spoken about, and now he gets in there regularly and he’s getting good goals.’
Harvey Barnes celebrates after rounding off Leicester’s 4-0 thumping of Aston Villa
9. Dean Henderson (new entry)
Henderson’s season is just getting better and better and we’ve now reached the stage where he is not only being considered for England at Euro 2020 but some believe he should replace David De Gea at Manchester United next season.
He once again made crucial saves as Sheffield United beat Norwich to keep alive their chances of qualifying for Europe, with the Man United loanee recording a 10th clean sheet in 27 league games.
‘He’s got enormous enthusiasm and ambition,’ said Blades manager Chris Wilder. ‘He wants to be England No 1 and, if he keeps playing the way he is, it gives him a great opportunity.
‘I should imagine he’ll be in the next England squad. He made some really important saves for us and we’re delighted to have him.’
What isn’t in question is that Henderson is currently the form keeper in the Premier League.
Dean Henderson reaches out an arm to somehow deny Norwich’s Josip Drmic on Saturday
There are increasing calls for Henderson to become England and Man United’s No 1 stopper
8. Roberto Firmino (=)
The Brazilian keeps his position at No 8 because even though it wasn’t his most sparkling performance, Liverpool did at least return to winning ways against Bournemouth.
It moved them within touching distance of sealing their first Premier League title in 30 years and Firmino has certainly played his part this season with eight goals and seven assists in the league alone.
However, he hasn’t found the net in any competition since the win at Wolves back in late January and that constitutes a drought for someone of his quality.
Roberto Firmino aims for goal during Liverpool’s 2-1 home win over Bournemouth on Saturday
7. Mason Mount (new entry)
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard had little choice but to play some of the club’s youngsters at the start of the season but many of them have certainly seized their opportunity.
None more so than Mason Mount, who has featured in every one of their Premier League and Champions League matches this season and performed brilliantly.
The 21-year-old midfielder was at his best on Sunday as Chelsea swept aside Everton to strengthen their grip on fourth place.
His goal was superbly taken with a spin and crisp bottom corner finish right out of the top drawer, capping a man of the match performance.
Mason Mount celebrates scoring Chelsea’s first goal in their 4-0 thrashing of Everton
6. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (new entry)
Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday felt like a milestone win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and proof his team are moving in the right direction.
There were several excellent performances but Aaron Wan-Bissaka really stood out on the right side.
Not only did Wan-Bissaka manage to keep Raheem Sterling quiet, he carried a considerable attacking threat that City struggled to get to grips with.
United’s business in the transfer market has been often criticised in recent years but Wan-Bissaka, signed from Crystal Palace for £45million last summer, is looking like a very good purchase.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka produced another impressive performance as United beat City on Sunday
5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (-1)
With 20 goals to his name this season, Arsenal hotshot Aubameyang has been a mainstay of our power rankings list all season long.
He didn’t have his most effective performance in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over West Ham on Saturday, with his strike partner Alexandre Lacazette scoring the decisive goal.
But Aubameyang has been simply outstanding of late, scoring in recent games over Newcastle and Everton, and so maintains his deserved place in the top five.
Arsenal may have crashed out of the Europa League but they can still end the season positively in the league and the FA Cup, where they head to Sheffield United in the last eight.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the ball during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over West Ham on Saturday
4. Kevin de Bruyne (-1)
De Bruyne wasn’t involved in the Manchester derby on Sunday after picking up a shoulder injury in the previous weekend’s Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa.
That means the Belgian slips a place in our ranking though he is expected to be back ion contention for the home match against Burnley on Saturday and, importantly, the Champions League return with Real Madrid.
De Bruyne has been a regular in our rankings after another outstanding season for Pep Guardiola’s side, with nine goals and 20 assists to his credit in all competitions.
Kevin de Bruyne missed the Manchester derby with a shoulder injury but remains on our list
3. Bruno Fernandes (+1)
Manchester United’s January signing reveals a little more of his genius with every passing week.
It was his quick-thinking with a scooped free-kick that released Anthony Martial to open the scoring for United in the derby win over City.
Fernandes once again pulled the strings in United’s midfield and showed the leadership necessary to win such a demanding game.
Solskjaer has already spoken about the Portuguese becoming an Old Trafford legend and his purchase from Sporting Lisbon is looking more and more inspired with each game.
Bruno Fernandes put in another impressive performance as United beat City at Old Trafford
2. Mohamed Salah (-1)
The Egyptian forward has been in or around the top positions in our rankings all season and with Liverpool 25 points clear at the top, that’s only right.
But Salah drops a place this week even though he scored in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth, purely because his strike partner Sadio Mane got a goal and an assist in the same game.
Salah’s finish, millimetres inside the post after Mane’s pass, was absolutely inch-perfect and took him to 20 goals for the season in all competitions.
Liverpool certainly didn’t have it all their own way against the Cherries, but it was the perfect response to back-to-back losses against Watford and Chelsea.
Mohamed Salah marks scoring his 20th goal of the season for Liverpool against Bournemouth
1. Sadio Mane (+1)
Which leaves Mane to take this week’s No 1 spot after his goal and assist in the Anfield win over Bournemouth.
He now has 18 goals and 12 assists for the season now after another influential performance as Liverpool came from behind to move to the verge of winning the title.
Mane’s finish t put Liverpool ahead was delightful and another example of the class and composure he brings to his forward role.
It also continued his recent scoring run after goals against Norwich and West Ham.
Sadio Mane celebrates scoring what proved to be Liverpool’s winning goal on Saturday
