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Following eight weeks of exciting football, the Premier League is showing no signs of slowing down. The English top flight has been a roller-coaster of a ride since the start of the campaign. Gameweek 9 promises to be a similar experience.
Undoubtedly, the clash between arch-rivals Manchester United and Liverpool will be the most anticipated fixture of gameweek 9. The encounter between the two Premier League heavyweights carries a lot of history and both teams will be looking for all three points.
League leaders Chelsea will face bottom-placed Norwich City, who are yet to register their first win in the English top flight this campaign. In other key fixtures, Manchester City will travel away to face Brighton Hove Albion while Arsenal host Aston Villa at the weekend. We also have a London derby in the form of West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur.
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With these epic fixtures, a lot of stars will feature to help their team win their matches. On that note, we will be predicting five players who can stand out and grab headlines.
Now, without further ado, let us take a look at
Top five players to watch in GW 9 of the Premier League
#5 Joao Cancelo - Manchester City
Joao Cancelo is not only proving to be one of Manchester City's best players but also remains one of the best full-backs in the Premier League. The Portuguese has been the most reliable option for Pep Guardiola with his consistent, impressive displays.
Cancelo is extremely versatile, which is why Guardiola can use him on both flanks. The 27-year-old is a constant presence on the left, with his darting runs forward also making life difficult for opponents. Besides being defensively solid, he can wreak havoc on overlaps and score goals for his team.
Cancelo has already scored two goals and assisted one in all competitions for Manchester City. The full-back has been an integral part of Manchester City's defense, having conceded just three goals. It goes without saying that his performance will hold the key for City against Brighton.
#4 Andros Townsend - Everton
With three goals and two assists for Everton, Andros Townsend is slowly turning into one of the most promising midfielders in the Premier League. In the absence of key players like Richarlison, the 30-year-old has been decisive in key matches, helping the Toffees secure valuable points.
Townsend's most notable performance came against Manchester United, where his goal helped secure a draw against the Red Devils. The wide midfielder is also creating a plethora of chances for his team-mates when he is not getting his name on the scoresheet.
Considering Watford's poor defense and Townsend's rising form, he is expected to play a pivotal part in matchday nine of the Premier League.
#3 Heung-Min Son - Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have taken some time to find their feet in the Premier League this campaign. With their talisman Harry Kane not on form, Spurs were under pressure to deliver under their new manager, Nuno Espirito Santo. Expectations were on Heung-Min Son to deliver and he has not disappointed so far.
Heung-Min Son has been as deadly as ever in front of goal. In the Premier League, the 29-year-old has racked up four goals and an assist in just seven games. Son's knack for scoring is nothing new but what matters is that he is stepping up in times of need for Tottenham.
Spurs take on West Ham in their ninth game-week and it will be wise to keep faith in the South Korean attacker to steal the show.
#2 Jamie Vardy - Leicester City
Seven goals in eight Premier League games - Jamie Vardy has been nothing short of sensational this campaign. The 34-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down with age and only Mo Salah is statistically better than him in the current campaign.
Vardy has been explosive during attacks, finding his name on the scoresheet almost every match-day. The forward played a significant part in Leicester's 4-2 victory against Manchester United in their latest league game.
After their win, Leicester are bound to get a boost in their confidence. Although Brentford away will be difficult, Vardy can dictate the result of the tie if he keeps firing on all cylinders.
#1 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Mohamed Salah is in a league of his own this campaign, proving himself to be the best in business with some ruthless displays. The Egyptian's extraterrestrial form has been an important part of Liverpool's early success in the Premier League and in Europe.
No matter who the opponents are, Salah has been able to find the net or make an impact in the game. The 29-year-old has wreaked havoc on the right wing with his left-foot and has been a cheat code for the Reds. Salah has racked up 12 goals and four assists in all competitions so far. Seven of his goals have come in the Premier League, through which he leads the race for the Golden Boot.
With Liverpool facing their arch rivals Manchester United, all eyes will be on the forward to deliver. Considering Salah's explosive form, who would bet against him?
