Premier League power rankings: Thiago Alcantara, Jack Grealish and Harry Kane dazzle this week

Each week throughout the 2020-21 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.

As the weekend concluded we saw Liverpool endure derby day despair with the most controversial of refereeing decisions, while Tottenham continued on the goal splurge… but forgot to shut up shop at the other end.

Certain players are remaining very much in form, while others are beginning to tail off. Newcomers are also joining the party, as the best of the Premier League begin to showcase their skills on the main stage.

With all of that in mind, how do Sportsmail’s latest batch of Power Rankings look?

10. Danny Ings (new entry)

Southampton struck gold when they managed to prise Ings away from Liverpool, and the England international has continued to reward the Saints on a weekly basis ever since.

Ings was instrumental in keeping Southampton up last season, and now he appears to be clicking into gear once more.

Danny Ings is back doing what he does best and has entered a spell of form once again

Against Chelsea Ings covered every blade of grass in the final third, knowing it was vital to keep harrying Frank Lampard’s defensive line which remains under heavy scrutiny.

Ings was rewarded for his endeavours by scoring his side’s opening goal, slipping in between haphazard defenders to round the goalkeeper expertly.

9. Ross Barkley (new entry)

Another new entry in the form of a midfielder with absolutely everything to prove.

Eyebrows where raised at the start of the season when Barkley’s impromptu loan to Aston Villa was announced.

The Liverpool-born star clearly knew exactly what he wanted to achieve, however, and has slotted into Dean Smith’s side effortlessly.

Ross Barkley is a man with a plan and has hit the ground running at Aston Villa

All ‘top four ego’ has been left at the door with Barkley, who has rolled his sleeves up and got stuck into Villa’s fight.

As a result, the Midlands club have been quite simply flying. Barkley was on target against Liverpool in the 7-2 demolition, and continued his heroics with a late winner against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester.

With a blossoming relationship with Jack Grealish taking hold, and with grand aspirations of breaking back into the England fold, Barkley looks like he could be in the power rankings for quite some time to come.

8. James Rodriguez (down five)

The novelty of watching James Rodriguez play still hasn’t worn off, with the Colombian producing regular flashes of brilliance for his new club.

James has been a driving force for a rejuvenated Everton this season, and has fired the Toffees to the top of the table as a result.

James Rodriguez is the creative spark for Everton, though was nullified in spells in the derby

Playing with freedom and a point to prove after being relegated to the shadows at Real Madrid, James is proving the doubters wrong and showcasing that he has everything it takes to cut it in the Premier League.

However the 29-year-old drops slightly in this week’s power rankings following his maiden introduction to the Merseyside Derby.

In arguably his first big test since arriving in English football, James was not quite able to seize the game by the horns as many had hoped for.

His sumptuous crossing after cutting back inside was still very much apparent, and it was James’ whipped corner ball which assisted Michael Keane for Everton’s first.

But the Colombian found himself largely nullified by Liverpool’s tireless midfield of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, which in turn allowed Thiago to dictate the tempo for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

7. Mohamed Salah (new entry)

It seems we may have got to a point now where everybody simply takes for granted just how good Mo Salah is.

The Egyptian was clearly aggrieved after being left out of last season’s Team of the Year, and has begun the campaign in breathtaking fashion.

Salah is back to scoring week-in, week-out for Liverpool. His current figures exceed even that of his dazzling debut season, though it is still of course early days.

Mohamed Salah is racking up ruthless figures already and seemingly taking every chance

At Goodison Park Salah came into the match in fits and starts, though looked a constant menace and was frequently responsible for stretching the Everton back line.

His instinctive volleyed finish to put Liverpool in the lead was typical of a player who is bang in form, and converting everything that falls into his path. His goal on the opening day of the season against Leeds United was much the same.

In five games played Salah has six goals, and is showing no signs of slowing down. He has reinstated himself as the club’s talisman once again, picking up the mantle after Sadio Mane was recently ruled out due to coronavirus.

6. Thiago Alcantara (new entry)

Signed to much hype this summer, Thiago has taken to Liverpool’s title-winning team like a duck to water.

It never looked in doubt, given how majestic the Spaniard was in last season’s Champions League with Bayern Munich.

But what has surprised many is just how quickly Thiago looks as though he has been a Premier League player for years.

Thiago Alcantara looks a class apart and was awarded Man of the Match in the derby

In his first Merseyside derby, and first ever start for Liverpool, the diminutive star simply ran the show.

Easing into the match in the first half, it was in the second 45 when Thiago really found his space and rhythm and was able to channel the ball effortlessly for Liverpool.

His brief debut at Stamford Bridge was quickly improved upon, as Thiago took the Reds to another level and saw high-flying Everton on the back foot inside their own stadium.

Should he remain fit in the coming weeks, Thiago will be vital in helping to ease Liverpool woes in the aftermath of Virgil van Dijk’s season-ending injury.

5. Emiliano Martinez (up two)

Moving to Villa from the Emirates was a masterstroke by the Argentine, and now Martinez is keen to prove he was worth every penny of his £17million fee.

At the King Power Stadium Martinez kept another clean sheet and pulled off a string of impressive saves.

Villa are benefiting greatly, and the confidence of the shot stopper is soaring.

Emiliano Martinez has so far shown he’s worth every penny of the £17m Villa forked out for him

Following his bright start to the season Martinez now moves up two places in the power rankings, standing as the most impressive goalkeeper on the list so far.

Martinez has only conceded two league goals all season so far, and both of those were against Klopp’s free-scoring Liverpool. So no shame there, then.

Leeds United are next up for Villa, which will see Martinez’s fine form really pushed to its limits, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side known for peppering the opposition goal with slick and rapid build up.

4. Harry Kane (up two)

What we are seeing so far this season from Harry Kane is something very special.

His goal-scoring instinct was always a given, but this year Kane the playmaker seems to have been born.

The England captain is quite simply doing the lot for Spurs. He’s winning balls, holding up play, taking on opponents and slicing defences open with the most audacious of passes.

All the while Kane is still weighing in with his fair share of goals, making Jose Mourinho’s side early contenders to secure a top-four finish.

Harry Kane is showing even more facets to his game with goals, assists and incisive passing

Of course, Spurs came rather dramatically undone at the weekend after somehow surrendering a 3-0 lead against West Ham.

But Kane’s efforts stood above and beyond the rest. He continued his exquisite form which saw Manchester United humbled at Old Trafford, and gave the Hammers both barrels.

Son Heung-min is benefiting greatly from this new-look Kane, and a certain Gareth Bale will no doubt be very eager to capitalise after fully returning from injury.

3. Jack Grealish (up one)

Mr Aston Villa has set the most highest of benchmarks this season.

Grealish wants to hit new heights and establish himself as a bonafide England international, and he’s certainly going about it in the right manner.

Villa are a team in hot form right now and everything good about their play is passing through Grealish.

Jack Grealish has benefited from Barkley’s arrival and is taking his game to the next level

Fresh from dissecting Liverpool before the international break, Grealish didn’t get the best of chances with England but did not let this deter his laser-like focus.

Against Leicester the playmaker was in the heat of the action, and is now striking up a telepathic connection with Barkley in midfield.

Indeed, both players could well be the helping hand one another needed in order to break into the England fold permanently.

2. Son Heung-min (no change)

Son has scored in all but two of Tottenham’s league games so far this season, and has converted from a conventional winger to and out-and-out centre forward.

The South Korean now looks both confident and assured in any forward area, and appears destined to score in every one-on-one with the last man.

After beginning the season in blistering form and blundering four goals against Southampton, Son has continued to graciously receive from his team-mate Kane.

Son Heung-min has started in blistering form and looks as though he will score every week

The pair are linking up better than ever before, and looked well on course to go about business as usual at the weekend and take down West Ham in ruthless fashion.

Son’s goal in just the first minute showed just how sharp he is right now, a player very much in form who is waiting for those around him to get up to his level.

Spurs have much work to do, given the dramatic way they ultimately folded in north London, though Son’s form has been an ever-presence for some weeks now.

1. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (no change)

And so the big man remains on top, after continuing his rich goal-scoring run and proving the sceptics wrong by stepping up to the big occasion in the derby.

Given that he didn’t see great swathes of the ball, Calvert-Lewin maintained a persistent pressing of the Liverpool back line and took his chance when it mattered.

Knowing Van Dijk had departed the field, Calvert-Lewin launched himself head and shoulders above everybody else in the area to connect with Lucas Digne’s cross and head home Everton’s equaliser.

He rightly keeps hold of top spot in the power rankings, given he is quite simply the most dependable striker in the Premier League so far this season.

Carlo Ancelotti has placed great trust in the Sheffield-born star, who has in turn repaid him handsomely and broke his way into the England squad as a result.