Newcastle star Trippier retains top spot in the Premier League form standings

The Premier League form rankings return following the first round of festive games, with another Newcastle player joining Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier in the top 10. There are two new entries on the leaderboard, including a Liverpool striker, while a Manchester United star has soared into the top three, though he is pipped to second by an in-form Arsenal sensation.

Here, we take a look at the WhoScored form standings. 

10. Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) - 7.47 

Darwin Nunez may have come under criticism for a number of missed chances in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day, yet the Uruguayan is a new entry in the form rankings regardless. That'll largely be down to his good form prior to the World Cup break, and notably for performances against West Ham, Tottenham and Southampton, where he scored three and assisted one to feature in 10th. 

9. James Maddison (Leicester) - 7.48 

Dropping down the form rankings, James Maddison needs to make an appearance against Liverpool tonight or he'll lose his spot on the leaderboard entirely. Maddison sat out Leicester's 3-0 Boxing Day loss to Newcastle due to injury, but his sparkling showings for the Foxes prior to the World Cup break means he is clinging on to his spot in the top 10. 

8. Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth) - 7.56 

Like Maddison, Marcus Tavernier remains in the form standings, but needs to feature for Bournemouth when they take on Crystal Palace on Saturday. Tavernier missed the Cherries' 2-0 loss at Chelsea in midweek due to injury, and is a doubt for the welcome of the Eagles, so it may be that he drops out of the reckoning next time. 

7. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.61 

Kevin De Bruyne wasn't poor in Manchester City's 3-1 win at Leeds on Wednesday night, and he was unfortunate not to register his 10th assist of the season having made four key passes, but there was a slight dip in his form rating, which means he dropped down to seventh in the form rankings. 

6. Joelinton (Newcastle) - 7.62 

The first of three Newcastle players in the form rankings, Joelinton is the second new inclusion in the standings on the back of his superb showing against Leicester on Boxing Day. The Brazilian scored his second league goal of the season at the King Power Stadium earlier this week as the Magpies extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games. Joelinton has now scored twice in his last three league outings, which has helped push his WhoScored form rating up to 7.62. 

5. Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham) - 7.62 

Rodrigo Bentancur drops one place in the form standings, and there is a possibility he'll drop off the leaderboard by the time the next batch of ratings come out. Bentancur sustained a groin problem at the World Cup and that saw him sit out the 2-2 draw at Brentford, and if he misses the New Year's Day welcome of Aston Villa, then the Uruguayan will not come into contention next time. 

4. Miguel Almiron (Newcastle) - 7.74 

Rising up into fourth is Newcastle star Miguel Almiron. The in-form Magpies star bagged his ninth league goal of the season at Leicester on Boxing Day as he played his part in their 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium. For context, Almiron has scored 18 league goals in his Newcastle career. The 28-year-old has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last six outings, scoring five, and with Leeds up next for Eddie Howe's side, don't bet against the Paraguayan adding to his impressive haul. 

3. Casemiro (Manchester United) - 7.76 

While many scoffed at Manchester United's decision to spend big on Casemiro back in August, the Brazilian has been superb for Erik ten Hag's side. The 30-year-old put in his best performance of the season in United's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the week, and coupled with his fine showings prior to the World Cup break, Casemiro has risen to third in the WhoScored form rankings. 

2. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) - 7.87 

Another rising up the leaderboard, Martin Odegaard put in his fourth WhoScored man of the match award performance of the Premier League season as Arsenal secured a 3-1 win over West Ham on Boxing Day. Of the 10 league goals Odegaard has directly contributed to in England's top tier this term, five have come the Norwegian's last four league outings, and that's helped push his form rating up to 7.87. 

1. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) - 8.22 

Kieran Trippier is not only the Premier League's in-form player, but the form player in Europe's top five leagues with a rating of 8.22. The Newcastle right-back put in his sixth man of the match showing at Leicester on Boxing Day, registering his fourth league assist of the campaign in the process. Three of his four assists have come in his last four outings with Trippier in excellent form both pre and post-World Cup.