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Jose Mourinho is gone, Louis van Gaal is in crisis and Leicester City remained top of the Premier League.
Just another week in the Premier League.
Newcastle continued their resurgence and Aston Villa lost again.
This week Arsenal and Manchester City meet on Monday night in what should be a massive match in the title race, while Chelsea begin life with (another) new manager.
We all know who the best players are but defining those with the power to shape events in the Premier League is not so simple - so we've created The Independent's Premier League Power Rankings.
Ahead of every round of fixtures in the top-flight our team of experts get together to define the 17 players who hold the power.
Rather than being based on who the best or most talented footballers are, it's defined by current form, league position, next fixture and any other factors which could influence events.
Players move up and down the rankings, battling to be number one. Some will drop out and new entries will emerge. You might not agree (in which case let us know why) - but that's half the fun.
These are the 17 most important players in the Premier League right now...
Show all 17 1 /17Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 17) David Silva (Manchester City) - re-entry Sergio Aguero is likely to return this week and that can only spell good news for City's title hopes, and bad news for the Gunners, even if Vincent Kompany is still missing. Silva is only just back from injury himself and looked a bit out of sorts against Swansea, but he will still be a massive threat. With Francis Coquelin out injured, Arsenal have a weakness that can be exploited by the masterful Spaniard.
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Swansea
Next Fixture: Arsenal (a)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 16) Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa) - down 6 As we wrote last week, Aston Villa have some experienced defenders that could have the makings of a decent back four (perhaps Micah Richards would be better used at right-back in place of the awful Alan Hutton?). Jores Okore, while prone to mistakes, is talented and Lescott is an experienced head. Arsenal scored two pretty easy goals against Villa last week. If Remi Garde wants his team playing Premier League football next season then Newcastle is the kind of match that is now a must-win.
Last Fixture: L - 2-0 - Arsenal
Next Fixture: Newcastle (a)
2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 15) Robbie Brady (Norwich City) - down 1 Another industrious performance down the left for Brady as Norwich fought back from a goal down against Everton and may well have won it had Cameron Jerome not missed a sitter. Manchester United a vulnerable, especially in defence, and Brady should look to exploit whichever player Louis van Gaal picks at right-back; youngster Guillermo Varela has not impressed in the last two weeks.
Last Fixture: D - 1-1 - Everton
Next Fixture: Manchester United (a)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 14) Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) - down 7 After that great run of fourm that brought nine goals in six games, the England striker has now failed to score in his last three and was guilty of missing an excellent chance against Newcastle. The England striker has barely had a rest since he burst onto the scene a year ago and, problematically, Mauricio Pochettino can't afford to give him one over the busy Christmas period. January reinforcements up front for Spurs are a must - they risk burning out their best player.
Last Fixture: L - 2-1 - Newcastle
Next Fixture: Southampton (a)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 13) Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle) - non-mover
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 12) Salomon Rondon (West Brom) - up 3 Can't get a goal but make no mistake, Rondon is the man who allows West Brom to play in such a manner. The Baggies, extremely unlucky not to pick up all three points at Anfield, played an very defensive 4-5-1 formation that included centre-back Jonny Evans in midfield. When a team plays that deep, they must have a lone striker capable of holding the ball up and causing problems for defenders - Rondon did that. Tony Pulis can't be expected to play such a defensive team against Bournemouth at home, meaning the chances should come for the Venezuelan.
Last Fixture: D - 2-2 - Liverpool
Next Fixture: Bournemouth (h)
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 11) Diego Costa (Chelsea) - re-entry What a week for Chelsea. Eden Hazard would be in this spot but he is a bit of an injury doubt (or was he faking?). Diego Costa, along with Hazard and Cesc Fabregas, is the man who needs to bear a lot of the blame for Jose Mourinho's sacking and, frankly, for Chelsea being so bad this season. He returned for pre-season overweight and uninterested and has been downright awful since. It'll be extremely interesting to see if the arrival of Hiddink will see renewed effort from Costa and Co. It'll be a kick in the teeth to Mourinho, and the fans, if there is.
Last Fixture: L - 2-1 - Leicester
Next Fixture: Sunderland (h)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 10) Anthony Martial (Manchester United) - down 1 Another week and another dreadful, boring performance from Louis van Gaal's team. Make no mistake, the Dutchman is under pressure to change results and the style of play quickly. Martial, who made such an exciting start to life at Old Trafford, no longer looks like he is playing with any joy or freedom; in fact, he looks nervous. He created two chances for himself but then lacked the composure to take advantage, squandering both of them.
Last Fixture: L - 2-1 - Bournemouth
Next Fixture: Norwich (h)
2015 Manchester United FC
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 9) Christian Benteke (Liverpool) - down 4 Another very frustrating week for the Belgian who is still struggling to adapt to the way Jurgen Klopp and the rest of the team are playing. Often looks lost, out of position and is struggling to get into the right position for chances. He really needs to get out of this funk - with Daniel Sturridge forever injured, £32m Benteke is Liverpool's best scoring threat.
Last Fixture: D - 2-2 - West Brom
Next Fixture: Watford (a)
2015 Liverpool FC
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 8) Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) - up 4 Probably doesn't get enough assists considering his style of play - his first official assist came to gift Yohan Cabaye the game-winning tap in against Southampton at the weekend. But Bolaise does so much more, his pace and dribbling causing opponents to bend to his will. Full backs are scared to push up against the Congolese international for fear of him, and Wilfried Zaha, hitting them on the counter-attack. Still needs to add consistency to his game, but he's getting there.
Last Fixture: W - 1-0 - Southampton
Next Fixture: Stoke (a)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 7) Romelu Lukaku (Everton) - down 2 Romelu Lukaku is closing in on Jamie Vardy's freshly broken Premier League record. The Belgian has now scored in six consecutive matches for the Toffees, a club record, and is Vardy for that top spot. He did miss some good chances against Norwich, though. Everton have got matches against Leicester, Newcastle, Stoke, Tottenham and Man City coming up over Christmas, and one can see the Belgian scoring in all of those. Lukaku may be on fire but Everton must stop dropping points from winning positions if they have serious European ambitions.
Last Fixture: D - 1-1 - Norwich
Next Fixture: Leicester City (h)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 6) Joe Hart (Manchester City) - new entry As long as Vincent Kompany is missing time at centre-back then Joe Hart will be among the busiest goalkeepers in the Premier League. City are just not a solid defensive team when they miss their leader. Hart can still be prone to mistakes or losses of concentration, see his inexplicable clanger against Norwich City, but they are few and far between these days. He gets through so much dirty work for this team, the likes of Eliaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis should be giving him a fat Christmas bonus.
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Swansea
Next Fixture: Arsenal(a)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 5) Josh King (Bournemouth) - up 1 King is fast becoming Bournemouth's saviour this season. When Callum Wilson went down Eddie Howe looked desperately short of options up front. Glenn Murray is solid enough but he can't last 90 minutes week in, week out. Enter King. He has spent the majority of his career playing on the wing but he is proving to be a perfect lone striker in the Premier League. He's quick, strong and his direct running style and high work rate makes him a real handful, as Louis van Gaal's makeshift back four found out.
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Man United
Next Fixture: West Brom (a)
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 4) Odion Ighalo (Watford) - non-mover Not many would have predicted the Nigerian would have been amongst the top scorers in the Premier League this season, or that he would already be Watford's all-time top scorer in the Premier League (not that the competition is that stiff). Ighalo is not only scoring lots of goals, he is getting important ones as well, with winning goals against Sunderland and Swansea, doubles against West Ham and Newcastle and the equaliser against Bournemouth. His goals have led to lots of points for the Hornets this season.
Last Fixture: W - 1-0 - Sunderland
Next Fixture: Liverpool (h)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 3) Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) - down 1 The Chelsea defending wasn't exactly brilliant but Vardy still showed the pace, movement and calmness in front of goal to open the scoring at the King Power Stadium. Everton will provide another stiff test and we will finally see how the Foxes fair now they have suffered their first injury problem of the season (N'Golo Kante).
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Chelsea
Next Fixture: Everton (a)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 2) Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) - down 1 Another week, another assist for the Premier League's top playmaker and finally getting the recognition he deserves for his performances (except from David Moyes, laughably). Arsenal will always score goals with him in the team, one of those players who makes everyone around him better.
Last Fixture: W - 2-0 - Aston Villa
Next Fixture: Manchester City (h)
2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Premier League Power Rankings Week 17 1) Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) - up 2 Vardy was the talk of the town a couple of weeks ago but it is Mahrez who has emerged as the more dangerous threat. Yes, Vardy is a supreme goalscorer at the moment, but Mahrez is the real danger, with blinding pace and movement that makes Leicester the most dangerous team in the league. Set up Vardy for his first and then scored the goal that put the final nail in the coffin of Jose Mourinho's second spell. Just a brilliant player and his £500,000 fee looks better as the weeks go by.
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Chelsea
Next Fixture: Everton (a)
2015 Getty Images
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