The Premier League awarded us with an exciting month of football in November. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got the sack, Liverpool’s unbeaten run was broken by West Ham United, and Manchester City beat Manchester United in the derby. As always, some Premier League stars managed to impress, while others were left to rue their mistakes.
Today, we will take a quick look at the top players who shined brightly in the festive month of November. Here are Premier League’s top-five performers for the month of November:
Special mention: Teemu Pukki (Norwich City), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
#5 Thiago Silva - Chelsea
When an out-of-contract Thiago Silva joined Chelsea from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, not many expected the veteran defender to be one of the first names on the team sheet.
A year later, not only is Silva featuring in most Premier League fixtures, but he is also setting an example for aspiring defenders.
In November, Silva featured in three Premier League games for the Blues. Chelsea did not exactly set the world alight with their Premier League performances in November, but Silva was nothing short of outstanding.
The Brazilian was sure-footed, organized the backline exceptionally well, and was sniffing out potential danger from miles out.
Silva did not hit the back of the net in November, but he contributed to Chelsea’s comeback against Manchester United in Premier League gameweek 13. His clever movement inside the Manchester United box drew a foul from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, winning Chelsea a penalty.
Jorginho stepped up and dispatched it to restore parity for the hosts at Stamford Bridge.
#4 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Mohamed Salah was chosen as the Premier League's Player of the Month in October. The Egypt international also enjoyed a successful month in Liverpool’s colors in November.
The Reds started the month with a shock 3-2 defeat to West Ham United. Salah tried his best to influence the game with his goalscoring, but his efforts were thwarted by a spirited West Ham side.
He did create a better angle for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s equalizing free-kick, but Liverpool could not keep the Hammers from pulling ahead.
Salah looked sharper in his next two outings, against Arsenal and Southampton, respectively. The Egyptian scored Liverpool’s third goal in the 4-0 rout of Arsenal and assisted Diogo Jota for his goal in the 4-0 win over Southampton.
Currently, Salah is Premier League’s leading goalscorer as well as assist provider. The former Chelsea man has scored 11 Premier League goals this season and provided eight assists in 13 games.
#3 Diogo Jota - Liverpool
Premier League giants Liverpool have a knack for discovering and developing world-class centre-forwards. After finding success with Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez, Liverpool unearthed Roberto Firmino in 2015. The Brazilian had some rough edges, but he eventually came good and helped the club to the coveted Premier League title in 2020.
Firmino is still an important member of the club, of course, but he is no longer their undisputed first-choice centre-forward. Diogo Jota has made sure of that. The Portuguese international is a lot more direct than Firmino, which adds a new dimension to Liverpool’s attack.
In November, Liverpool experienced first hand how pivotal Jota can be in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old endured a tough outing against West Ham United in the first week of November but bounced back in the next two fixtures.
Jota scored Liverpool’s second goal in their 4-0 win over Arsenal, before hitting a brace against Southampton to help the Reds to another 4-0 victory.
#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
England international and Liverpool maverick Trent Alexander-Arnold is arguably the best right-back in the world. He is lightning quick, has an exceptionally diverse passing range and can provide match-winning assists at will.
In November, we got to witness Alexander-Arnold’s skillset in all its unadulterated glory.
Even in an upsetting 3-2 defeat to West Ham in Premier League GW 11, Alexander-Arnold gave Liverpool reason to celebrate. Not only did he score an exceptional free-kick, but he also assisted Divock Origi’s 83rd-minute goal.
In Liverpool’s next Premier League outing, against Arsenal, the Englishman assisted the Reds’ first and fourth goals. Finally, in the clash with Southampton, Alexander-Arnold helped Virgil van Dijk hit the back of the net in a 4-0 win.
#1 Joao Cancelo - Manchester City
Manchester City are brimming with world-class talents. Full-back Joao Cancelo certainly belongs to the top echelon of the club’s most talented footballers.
The right-footed Portugal international operates on the left-side of the pitch. His unusual positioning allows him to cut back more instead of defaulting to in-swinging crosses.
Cancelo is also an excellent passer of the ball, which has helped him adjust to Pep Guardiola’s style of play. As of yet, Cancelo has completed 1049 passes in the Premier League this season, more than any other player.
The 27-year-old did not hit the back of the net in November, but he popped up with two important assists. His first came in the 2-0 derby win against Manchester United, where he helped Bernardo Silva double City’s advantage before half-time.
After the international break, City took on Everton in the Premier League. Here, too, Cancelo popped up with a crucial contribution, making a world-class pass that led to Raheem Sterling’s 44th-minute opener.