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When do we start taking Leicester City for real?
Every week Claudio Ranieri's men win, yet every week there are pundits and fans lining up to shoot their hopes down.
We'll find out how serious they are on Saturday, when the Foxes travel to the Etihad for the biggest game of the season so far against Manchester City.
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Depending on which half of north London you prefer, things are either really rosy or really bad. Arsenal haven't won in four while Spurs have lost just one in eight to open up a five point gap over the Gunners.
Across London Chelsea maybe unbeaten since Guus Hiddink took over but they have just three wins in eight and host Manchester United on the back of John Terry's revelation on Sunday.
Newcaslte United have spent as much as anyone this season but Steve McClaren's team are still in the relegation zone, while Aston Villa may as well give up now if they don't beat Norwich on Saturday.
Quietly it's all going wrong for Crystal Palace, without a win in seven, while Liverpool continue to frustrate.
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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 25 Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 17) Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) Liverpool aren't an especially good defensive team, in fact only five teams have conceded more goals in the Premier League than the Reds this season. Defoe, with his nine Premier League goals so far, has been one of the few Sunderland players to cause a problem for opposing defences this term - he needs much better service, however.
Last Fixture: L - 0-1 - Man City
Next Fixture: Liverpool (a)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 16) Odion Ighalo (Watford) Odion Ighalo was well marshalled by John Terry and the Chelsea defence on Wednesday night, but the Nigerian remains the Hornets' biggest goal scoring threat. His partnership with Troy Deeney is a wonderful throwback to a time when two up front was the norm. White Hart Lane is one of the toughest places to go this season, but Deeney and Ighalo cause problems wherever they go.
Last Fixture: D - 0-0 - Chelsea
Next Fixture: Tottenham (a)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 15) Dmitri Payet (West Ham United) Payet has played 20 matches for the Hammers and they've lost just five of those. The Frenchman is an incredible, hard working talent that makes every single one of his team-mates a better player. You only have to look at West Ham's results when he was away to show how vital he is to their success.
Last Fixture: W - 2-0 - Aston Villa
Next Fixture: Southampton (a)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 14) Andre Ayew (Swansea City) Ayew got off to a blistering start to life in England but it has slowed to a crawl recently. Just two of his eight goals this season have come since November, although he showed at Everton he can still be a match-winning threat for the struggling Swans. Crystal Palace at home is a must-win and Ayew must quickly learn how to play with new signing Alberto Paloschi, who was decent on his debut.
Last Fixture: D - 1-1 - West Brom
Next Fixture: Crystal Palace (h)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 13) Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) The Brazilian continues to operate in that 'false 9' role ahead of the expensive Christian Benteke and the always-injured Daniel Sturridge. Firmino is clearly a player of talent but when the Reds who have come up against teams content to absorb pressure, he has not been able to make a significant contribution. A home game against porous Sunderland should provide plenty of opportunity.
Last Fixture: L - 2-0 - Leicester
Next Fixture: Sunderland (h)
2016 Liverpool FC
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 12) Steven Naismith (Norwich City) Naismith is a bundle of energy who has made Norwich a sharper side on the front foot. It's defensively where their problems lie. Even in defeat to Spurs, the Scot was able to cause some problems, getting off four shots and finding the target twice. Away at Aston Villa is a must-win for a team who have lost all of their last four matches.
Last Fixture: L - 3-0 - Spurs
Next Fixture: Aston Villa (a)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 11) Benik Afobe (Bournemouth) Eyebrows were raised and giggles surpressed when Bournemouth decided to splash out £10m on an unproven Championship striker, especially after a horror show in his debut. Fast forward a couple of weeks and Afobe is the one laughing now, scoring in three successive matches that have included crucial strikes to draw with Sunderland and beat Crystal Palace. Former club Arsenal await - was he one that Wenger allowed to get away?
Last Fixture: W - 1-2 - Crystal Palace
Next Fixture: Arsenal(a)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 10) Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) Dele Alli deserves all the praise in the world for his performances this season but make no mistake, Kane is still Spurs' star man. Especially considering the make-up of Mauricio Pochettino's squad and the lack of an alternative for the England striker. No signs of second-season syndrome anymore for one of the hottest properties in Europe.
Last Fixture: W - 0-3 - Norwich
Next Fixture: Watford (h)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 9) Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) The German was the toast of the Premier League from October to December, but he has fallen a long way in recent weeks. Arsenal are now winless in four and Ozil is showing a concerning regression. He was anonymous against Liverpool and Chelsea, and although better against Southampton he missed an excellent chance. He may lead the Premier League in assists but he's not recorded one in 2016.
Last Fixture: D - 0-0 - Southampton
Next Fixture: Bournemouth (h)
2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 8) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) At this point we may as well stop trying to figure Rooney out. He's either the worst or best player on the pitch and never something in between. After scoring just two Premier League goals in the first five months of the season the England captain now has seven goals and two assists in seven matches in 2016. He'll be hoping to continue that against old foe John Terry.
Last Fixture: W - 3-0 - Stoke
Next Fixture: Chelsea (a)
2016 Manchester United FC
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 7) Emmanuel Adebayor (Crystal Palace) It's getting desperate for a Crystal Palace side who have now lost five in a row and not won in seven. In that time they've scored just two goals - one of those from centre-back Scott Dann and the other an own goal. A team with Yohan Cabaye, Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie will always create chances, they are desperate for Adebayor to stick them away.
Last Fixture: L - 1-2 - Bournemouth
Next Fixture: Swansea(a)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 6) Seydou Doumbia (Newcastle United) The time is now for Steve McClaren. Alan Pardew never got close to this kind of backing during his time at St James' Park, the former England manager has spent £80m. What did that get them in midweek? Absolutely nothing. Doumbia is a player with Champions League pedigree and an eye for goal. He has to deliver quickly
Last Fixture: L - 3-0 - Everton
Next Fixture: West Brom(h)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 5) Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) What a clash it could prove to be at the Etihad as the two most exciting attacking teams in the division go head-to-head. Aguero may not lead the scoring charts but he is still the most dangerous striker in England - City's title chances rest on his squat shoulders.
Last Fixture: W - 0-1 - Sunderland
Next Fixture: Leicester (h)
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 4) Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) After a little blip during the busy Christmas period, Mahrez, and therefore Leicester, are back to their very best. He made Philipp Wollscheid look like a clown just over a week ago and then picked out a stunning pass for Jamie Vardy's brilliant goal against Liverpool. There is not a pair of players more in sync in the division right now.
Last Fixture: W - 2-0 - Liverpool
Next Fixture: Man City (a)
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 3) Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) To even have the audacity to try what he did against Liverpool tells its own story of how confident Vardy is feeling right now. At this point it should be considered an act of treason if Roy Hodgson doesn't start Vardy for England (up front, NOT on the left) at Euro 2016.
Last Fixture: W - 2-0 - Liverpool
Next Fixture: Man City (a)
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 2) Gabby Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) This is a player who was once a regular in England squads. Agbonlahor, still only 29, has had injury problmes this season - the game at Villa was his first in two months - but that doesn't excuse his lack of goals this season. He doesn't have one. In fact, he hasn't scored since last March. If Aston Villa don't beat Norwich on Saturday they may as well pack up and join the Championship now.
Last Fixture: L - 2-0 - West Ham
Next Fixture: Norwich (h)
2016 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings Week 25 1) John Terry (Chelsea) It's been written in plenty of other places but it'll be a scandal if Chelsea's greatest player is not at Stamford Bridge next season, while he is still more than capable of performing. His first game at home since his revelatory comments couldn't come much bigger; Manchester United.
Last Fixture: D - 0-0 - Norwich
Next Fixture: Man United (h)
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