Man City and Man Utd make up seven of top 10 in player form rankings

The midweek Premier League action delivered more drama, as Liverpool slipped to yet another home defeat. After going unbeaten at Anfield in 68 matches, Liverpool have remarkably now been defeated in successive home games. Even more remarkable, they have failed to score in both games following a 1-0 loss to Brighton. It leaves the defending champions seven points off Manchester City ahead of their meeting with Pep Guardiola's side on Sunday.

That wasn't the only eye-catching result across gameweek 22, with Manchester United delivering Southampton with their second 9-0 defeat in as many seasons. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side ran a depleted Southampton side ragged at Old Trafford, also benefitting from the away side being reduced to nine men. Given United and City are the favourites for the Premier League title, it's not surprising to see the Manchester clubs dominate our updated player form rankings.

Before we delve into the top-10, first a reminder of how it all works. As always, our power rankings are based on a six-game period, weighted chronologically with the most recent outing carrying greater significance and so on. Each player must have played in two of the last three and six of the last eight available Premier League matches for their side. Moreover, only league ratings are considered.

10) Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 7.51 form rating

Aston Villa captain finds himself in his lowest position in our Premier League player form rankings since October when he last failed to make the top-10. It's been 16 straight gameweeks in the top-10 but a fall of three places from last week is putting that incredible record under threat. Villa were comfortably turned over at home by West Ham in midweek, but Grealish did at least assist his side's only goal - his 10th of the season to become the first Villa player since Ashley Young to reach double figures for assists in a single Premier League campaign in 2010/11.

9) Paul Pogba (Man Utd) - 7.54 form rating

Paul Pogba wasn't given the chance to impact his form rating in midweek after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave the Frenchman the night off. Pogba watched his United team-mates rip into Southampton from the bench after a hectic January schedule. Pogba has scored twice in his last five league appearances but drops two places in our top-10. He will hope to return to the side when they host Everton on Saturday.

8) Rodri (Man City) - 7.56 form rating

After a few weeks out of the top-10, Rodri makes a triumphant return off the back of Manchester City's 2-0 win away to Burnley in midweek. The Spaniard finally looks to be coming good on his hefty pricetag with few now calling for Fernandinho to come back into the side. Rodri averages 3.2 tackles pg and 3 clearances pg across his last five league starts, totting up 96.6 total passes pg in that time.

7) Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Man Utd) - 7.58 form rating

Aaron Wan-Bissaka followed up his WhoScored Man of the Match display against Arsenal last weekend with his first Old Trafford goal in midweek. The United right-back kickstarted the rout against Southampton on Tuesday night, completed both of his attempted tackles and finished with a pass success rate above 90% in a Premier League game for the first time this season. The 23-year-old typically averages 5 tackles and interceptions combined pg across his last six league games.

6) Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) - 7.59 form rating

Bruno Fernandes ended a five-game run without a Premier League goal contribution in midweek. The Manchester United star scored once and provided two assists in United's drubbing of Southampton to pick up our Premier League player of the week award. In fact, Fernandes claimed the first perfect WhoScored 10 rating of his Premier League career in the process. He climbs back into the top-10 after a four-gameweek absence as a result.

5) Raheem Sterling (Man City) - 7.60 form rating

Raheem Sterling is in the top-10 for just the second time this season and in his highest after helping himself to a goal and the WhoScored Man of the Match award against Burnley in midweek. Sterling has now scored in three of his last four league appearances and has played a direct hand in four goals in his last six. Sterling has notably achieved a pass success rate in excess of 90% in back-to-back matches.

4) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) - 7.63 form rating

Bukayo Saka was incredibly unfortunate not to continue his superb scoring recent form in midweek against Wolves. In the opening half he was denied by the woodwork, forced Rui Patricio into a superb save and then had a goal chalked off for offside. Arsenal went on the lose 2-1 and Saka drops two places to fourth in our player form rankings. Despite drawing a blank in midweek, the 19-year-old has still played a direct hand in five goals in his last six league games.

3) Joao Cancelo (Man City) - 7.69 form rating

Staying in third is Manchester City's Joao Cancelo. After an underwhelming first season at the club, Joao Cancelo has been on the league's best players in 2020/21. Cancelo has two goal involvements in his last six, both coming in City's 5-0 demolition of West Brom. He has incredibly registered three shots in each of his last three matches, doing so last time out against Burnley despite playing just over an hour. Cancelo is in the team as a right-back but is generally playing every position on the pitch. His heat map is worth a look!

2) Tomas Soucek (West Ham) - 7.80 form rating

Tomas Soucek dropped down to ninth in our form rankings following West Ham's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool last weekend but has soared back into second after the Hammers bounced back with a 3-1 win of their own away to Aston Villa in midweek. Soucek was among the goals and surprisingly not from a set-piece this time. He crashed one past Emi Martinez after his driving run was found perfectly by Said Benrahma. Soucek has scored four goals in his last six league matches and won 5.5 aerial duels pg in that time.

1) Ilkay Gunodgan (Man City) - 7.91 form rating

Retaining his place as the most in-form player in the Premier League for third week running is Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan. Gundogan has been City's surprise source of goals in recent weeks but turned provider against Burnley on Wednesday with his first assist of the Premier League campaign. In fact, he registered five key passes in total - a personal record in a league game this season. The 30-year-old, in the form of his life, has played a direct hand in five goals in his last six league matches, garnering a WhoScored rating above 7.00 in every appearance.