Gameweek 15 saw a goal-rush on Saturday with every home team scoring a minimum of three goals. Thirty-six goals were scored in total for this Gameweek, which implies an average of 3.6 goals per game. So, the attackers definitely had a field day on the pitch and this creates the possibility of a shake-up in the top 10 from last week’s hierarchy.
Also read – Power Ranking: Top 10 EPL attackers - Gameweek 14
Firstly, let us have a look at the players who have dropped out from the top 10 along with any new entrants for this week
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Christian Eriksen
Gameweek 14 ranking – 9th
Eriksen finds himself out of the top 10 along with his teammate Harry Kane after failing to affect the game against Manchester United at Old Trafford which Tottenham lost 1-0.
Chris Brunt
Gameweek 14 ranking – 6th
Brunt could not replicate last week’s performance for West Bromwich Albion this week against league leaders Chelsea and finds himself out of the top 10.
Now, let’s find out the top 10 attackers after Gameweek 15.
#10 Divock Origi
Gameweek 14 ranking - N/A
Match performance – one goal and stepping up in style
Divock Origi started the season well down the pecking order behind Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge. The lack of European football meant EFL Cup was the only way he could get playing time. Injuries to Phillipe Coutinho and Sturridge however, presented the 21-year old with a golden opportunity.
It is fair to say the Belgian has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and finds himself in 10th position in the power rankings.
Last week against Bournemouth, Origi showed a wonderful piece of skill by scoring from a tight angle away from goal. He followed it up this week with a poacher’s goal by being at the right place when Mane’s cross was deflected into his path by West Ham keeper Darren Randolph. He did well to adjust his footing and showed his awareness in nabbing the goal that brought Liverpool level with West Ham.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be hoping for more of the same from the young striker as the busy Christmas period is around the corner.
#9 Wilfried Zaha
Gameweek 14 ranking – N/A
Match performance – one goal, one assist and one penalty won
While the debate continues about Zaha’s national allegiance switch from England to Ivory Coast, the 24-year old winger is lighting up Crystal Palace’s wings with his dazzling displays and enters the ranking this week due to his splendid efforts in the Eagles’ thrilling 3-3 draw against Hull City.
Also read – Wilfried Zaha to switch allegiances to Ivory Coast
Zaha won the penalty for Palace due to a Robert Snodgrass foul that was converted by Christian Benteke to level the scores 1-1. In the second-half, Zaha unleashed an unstoppable shot at the near post after dancing his way through a couple of Hull defenders to give Palace the lead.
After falling behind in the space of six minutes to trail 2-3, Zaha delivered a superb cross from the right wing for substitute Fraizer Campbell to nod home thereby securing a point for Alan Pardew’s side.
#8 Jamie Vardy
Gameweek 14 ranking – N/A
Match performance – 3 goals and an unforgettable hat-trick
The title-winning Leicester striker, who was unstoppable last season, found himself in an incredible 16-game scoring drought this season as he failed to find the back of the net since September. However, his class finally shone through and he came to life in a spectacular way with a match-ball winning performance against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
A defensive header by Robert Huth was cleverly placed at the feet of Algerian teammate Islam Slimani by Riyad Mahrez who then threaded a perfect pass for Vardy to latch on to and apply the finishing touch to end his drought.
After a quick second, Vardy was at it again to finish a classic counterattack as Christian Fuchs launched a long ball from the defence to find Mahrez who calmly passed it on to Vardy to go past the keeper and score. The Englishman completed his first hat-trick for Leicester City by showing his awareness to intercept John Stones’ back-pass and score from the tightest of angles. This finished a fantastic match for him and sees him enter the top 10.
#7 Ryan Fraser
Gameweek 14 ranking - 2nd
Match performance – A dip in impact after last week
Bournemouth’s hero last week in the thrilling 4-3 win over Liverpool failed to create a similar impact in a 3-2 loss at Burnley, after being rewarded with a starting spot. While it would be unfair to expect consistency from a youngster, the hopes were definitely high after the heroics of last week.
This week’s ineffective performance sees him drop to 7th place after this Gameweek and he must improve his performances if he is to keep his place in the top 10.
#6 Alex Oxlade–Chamberlain
Gameweek 14 ranking – 8th
Match performance – one assist and nailing a first-team spot
Chamberlain burst onto the top-flight picture as another product of the famed Southampton academy but his career has stagnated since then. The resurgence he has seen this season is noteworthy and he already has 6 goals and 6 assists across all competitions, signifying a coming of age.
Chamberlain had a terrific game against Stoke over the weekend and delivered a clever dinked ball over the Potters defence to catch Ozil’s run for a superb headed goal. The consistent performance lifts the Englishman to 6th place for this week.
#5 Christian Benteke
Gameweek 14 ranking – 5th
Match performance – one penalty and an ice-cool one at that
Christian Benteke was one of the most consistent goalscorers in the Premier League at Aston Villa before joining Liverpool. The transfer to Palace from Liverpool after a year at the Merseyside proved to be a masterstroke and the Belgian is once again finding his touch.
Benteke scored the early equaliser from the spot after Zaha was brought down by Snodgrass inside the penalty area. The Belgian’s penalty showed his calm demeanour and confidence as he passed the ball into the net having sent the keeper the wrong way. This brings his tally to three goals in the last two games and the former Liverpool striker is warming up well for a rich Christmas haul.
#4 Mesut Ozil
Gameweek 14 ranking – 10th
Match performance – one goal and now a more-rounded attacker
This season is the one where Ozil has finally applied finishing touches to his game by finding the right shooting boots. After last week’s goal and assist against West Ham, he continued the scoring streak with another memorable goal.
Ozil’s run behind the defence was not tracked and Chamberlain delivered a lofted ball to the German. However, Ozil had a lot to do and he chose to score a stunning dipping header beating the keeper and finding the back of the net. The consistency from last week and the nature of the goal lifts the Arsenal attacker to 4th in this week’s ranking.
#3 Diego Costa
Gameweek 14 ranking – 3rd
Match performance – one goal and currently unstoppable
The Spanish striker just cannot stop scoring at the moment. In a match where West Brom proved a tough nut to crack, it was Costa’s strength and ability that won the match for league leaders Chelsea.
The manner in which Costa outmuscled West Brom’s defender Gareth McAuley on the right side of the pitch shows how good he is in using his body. But Costa still had a lot to do. However, he did not break sweat as he bullied his way past the defence to score the only goal of the game and secure three points for the London team. An early contender for the Golden Boot and the Player of the Year.
#2 Sadio Mane
Gameweek 14 ranking – 7th
Match performance – two assists but still not sufficient for a win
The Liverpool winger rises to 2nd spot this week after a strong showing in the home game against West Ham to add to last week’s goal and assist contribution at Bournemouth. He did not score in this game, however, he picked up the assists for both the Liverpool goals scored by Adam Lallana and Divock Origi.
Mane was a constant threat with his pace and quick feet and he picked up the first assist of the night by setting up Lallana for Liverpool’s opener. After West Ham went ahead with a couple of goals, Mane once again impacted the game in the second-half by delivering a good cross into the box that was poorly handled by Hammers keeper Randolph leading to Origi equalising for the Reds.
The Senegalese international has one goal and three assists in the last two games and will be deeply missed when he heads off for the African Cup of Nations.
#1 Alexis Sanchez
Gameweek 14 ranking - 1st
Match performance – one assist and a low-key display
The Chile international holds on to the top spot for a 2nd consecutive Gameweek although his performance was not at the same level as last week’s hat-trick against West Ham. The fact that this is the 3rd Arsenal player on the list for the second consecutive week shows which team has the most in-form attackers.
Sanchez picked up an assist for Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi’s goal who scored the Gunners’ third after picking up the ball when Sanchez was fouled at the edge of the box leaving a loose ball. This takes Sanchez’s tally to 3 goals and 2 assists in the last two Gameweeks and he stays at the top for this week as well.
