Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
After defeat at West Ham, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is now reported to be on the brink of losing his job.
The Portuguese and his side welcome rivals Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a win that could decide his future - Tim Sherwood's future at Aston Villa was finished after a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea.
Sunderland had been the only team without a win in the Football League before they faced bitter local rivals Newcastle, running out 3-0 winners in a morale boosting Wear-Tyne derby.
Sunday's other big derby in Manchester came and went with rather less drama, as United and City played out a bore draw at Old Trafford.
That meant that Arsenal's impressive win against Everton the evening before was enough to keep them level at the top of the Premier League.
But who are the Premier League's most important stars?
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 11 Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>17) Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa) - new entry</b> Tim Sherwood's sacking at Villa was blamed on an inexperienced squad failing to gel. But looking at the back five who started against Swansea, four of them are over 30 (goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Alan Hutton, Lescott, Kieran Richardson) and Micah Richards has plenty of Premier League experience of his own. Scoring goals was a problem for Sherwood's team, but an experienced defence made plenty of errors. Whoever replaces Sherwood will want to make the team tough to beat, but the likes of Lescott have to improve.
Last Fixture: L - 1-2 - Swansea
Next Fixture: Arsenal (h)
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>16) Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - re-entry</b> It's been another very tough week for Chelsea and their manager, Jose Mourinho. Defeat to West Ham and a half-time red card has left the Portuguese on the brink according to some sections of the media with anything but a win against Liverpool perhaps spelling the end of his second spell. A midweek defeat to Stoke City didn't exactly help. Mourinho has made some baffling decisions this season but, ultimately, he has been let down by his players, who are operating way below the level they were last season. No player has seen a more dramatic drop off than Hazard, who has gone from the standout performer in the Premier League to a man who is without a goal all season. With Diego Costa perhaps missing, Hazard has to be at his match-winning best.
Last Fixture: L - 2-1 - West Ham
Next Fixture: Liverpool (h)
AFP
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>15) Andre Ayew (Swansea City) - re-entry</b> After a blistering start to the season Ayew, like Swansea had cooled off before the trip to Villa Park last weekend. But against the relegation candidates he found his best form and eventually added the crucial match-winner. A much stiffer test will come to this weekend with the Gunners visiting South Wales.
Last Fixture: W - 1-2 - Aston Villa
Next Fixture: Arsenal (h)
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>14) Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) - new entry</b> What a difference a week makes. The only winless club left in the Football League this time last week finally got off the mark - and what a way to do it, with a thumping win against their most bitter rivals. Sam Allardyce has certainly strengthened up the back line in just two matches in charge (Sunderland deserved a draw against West Brom) but the way they attacked against a lacklustre Newcastle was impressive. Steven Fletcher was superb, holding up the ball well and bringing team-mates into play, grabbing a deserved goal in a morale-boosting win.
Last Fixture: W - 3-0 - Newcastle
Next Fixture: Everton (a)
PA Wire
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>13) Salomon Rondon (West Brom) - new entry</b> Two wins in a row and both by a single goal with a clean sheet at the other end - Tony Pulis football at its finest. The Baggies are gradually getting it under Pulis and it will be interesting to see how their match against Leicester plays out, a team with a completely differing style who play at a breakneck speed. For West Brom and their manager it's all well and good being a team designed to keep the ball out, but you must have someone who can score at the other end. Venezuelan Rondon hasn't made the fastest start to the life in England but he clearly has the physical and technical tools to thrive. Norwich never came to terms with his strength and movement last week.
Last Fixture: W - 0-1 - Norwich
Next Fixture: West Brom (h)
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>12) Troy Deeney (Watford) - new entry</b> Strike partner Odion Ighalo has taken much of the credit for Watford's comfortable start to the season, the Nigerian scoring five crucial goals so far. But Deeney, the Hornets' captain and cult hero, has been excellent this season in every facet, with three good assists, a high work rate and great link-up play, except in front of goal. That changed at Stoke, where Deeney scored a deserved first goal of the season. He is a real handful.
Last Fixture: W - 0-2 - Stoke
Next Fixture: West Ham (h)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>11) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - down 8</b> The stats tell their own story: 55 per cent passing accuracy, 0 shots on target, 0 chances created. Wayne Rooney was terrible in the Manchester derby and wasn't much better as Louis van Gaal's team crashed out of the League Cup. He looks less and less like a striker every week and his playing up top means United's mst dangerous attacker, Anthony Martial, has been shunted out to the left, blunting his threat. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him dropped for the game at Selhurst Park.
Last Fixture: D - 0-0 - Man City
Next Fixture: Crystal Palace (a)
EMPICS Sport
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>10) Sadio Mane (Southampton) - new entry</b> Graziano Pelle has previously appeared on this list and continues to be excellent, but Mane has 'it' (whatever that may be). Manchester United were laughed at when they made a move for the Senegalese in the summer, but every week that move looks like it would have been a coup. Mane is fearless, direct and fast, striking fear into whichever defender is tasked with marking him. He also has an eye for goal and has no qualms about working hard defensively to help the team. A top player.
Last Fixture: D - 1-1 - Liverpool
Next Fixture: Bournemouth (h)
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>9) Anthony Martial (Manchester United) - new entry </b> He probably should have been on this list sooner given the impact he's had at Old Trafford since his eyebrow-raising move from Monaco. Worryingly for United, the teenager is now the club's biggest threat and most obvious match-winner, a trait that has only been so much more evident in the last couple of matches where he was pushed out to the left. Van Gaal needs him back in the centre, and back in the goals, soon.
Last Fixture: D - 0-0 - Man City
Next Fixture: Crystal Palace (a)
-
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>8) Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) - re-entry</b> His Arsenal career looked dead and buried at the start of the season when Theo Walcott was scoring and he was getting sent off in the Champions League. But where Walcott dropped, Giroud stepped up and has been impressive in cameo appearances against Watford and Bayern Munich, before he was superb against Everton. Depending on the outcome of a scan on Walcott, Giroud could be Arsene Wenger's main man for the next few weeks.
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Everton
Next Fixture: Swansea (a)
PA Wire
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>7) Yohan Cabaye (Manchester City) - up 8</b> A fixture in these rankings this season, the Frenchman had a relatively poor game against Leicester, where he was overpowered by the athletic Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante. But his quality and temperament were conspicuous in their absence as Palace were overwhelmed in their worst defeat of the season at Manchester City in the League Cup. Cabaye will certainly be back in the side when Manchester United visit at the weekend.
Last Fixture: L - 1-0 - Leicester
Next Fixture: Man United (h)
PA Wire
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>6) Christian Benteke (Liverpool) - re-entry</b> With Daniel Sturridge still not 100 per cent fit, Christian Benteke has returned at the perfect time for Jurgen Klopp (and a terrible time for under-pressure Jose Mourinho), scoring a good goal in an impressive second-half performance against Southampton. Liverpool will want to be compact and work hard at Stamford Bridge and the big Belgian will be crucial to relieving pressure for the Reds with his hold up play. Mourinho will be hoping he forgets his shooting boots.
Last Fixture: D - 1-1 - Southampton
Next Fixture: Chelsea (a)
AFP
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>5) Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - down 3</b> He was relatively quiet at Old Trafford and let down by some poor deliveries, but it was telling that the Belgian still carried the biggest threat for Manuel Pellegrini's team at the home of their rivals. Was impressive, and on target again, in the League Cup and should enjoy an easier ride against a Norwich team who have been poor defensively.
Last Fixture: D - 0-0 - Man United
Next Fixture: Norwich (h)
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>4) Harry Kane (Tottenham) - up 7</b> The Harry Kane of last season finally arrived this term. It had been a long, hard struggle for the England striker, but he was at his very best at Dean Court, scoring an impressive hat-trick (although the defending wasn't the best). Spurs play on Monday night giving the squad an extra couple of days to rest and Aston Villa - who look likely to still be without a manager - should be there for the taking. Tottenham still need a striker to arrive in January, but at least Kane is back and firing once more.
Last Fixture: W - 1-5 - Bournemouth
Next Fixture: Aston Villa (h)
2015 Getty Images
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>3) Dmitri Payet (West Ham) - up 3</b> Andy Carroll and Jose Mourinho may have got all the headlines after West Ham's brilliant win at Upton Park, but make no mistake, the Frenchman Payet was hugely influential in the victory. Not only did his work rate force Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabgregas and Ramires into mistakes, but Payet had the quality to ensure the Hammers - who mostly sat deep and let Chelsea dominate possession - were able to attack quickly and effectively. He delivered the corner for Mauro Zarate's opener and had a huge hand in the build up for the second.
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Chelsea
Next Fixture: Watford (a)
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>2) Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) - up 3</b> We could just copy and paste what was written last week but Vardy continues to prove the doubters wrong with his match-winning style. He's the fastest player in the Premier League, arguably the hardest worker and now he has the skill, and confidence, to score on a regular basis - the touch to dink the ball over Alex McCarthy at the weekend was absolutely superb. Real Madrid links seem a bit premature but if he carries on as he has been...
Last Fixture: W - 1-0 - Crystal Palace
Next Fixture: Man United (a)
Premier League Power Rankings: Week 11 <b>1) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) - non-mover</b> Other players were better against Everton last week but it doesn't really matter, Sanchez is still the best individual performer in the Premier League. There are just so many ways in which he can put his mark on a football match, not just goals. He can create for others, he helps his defender and the work rate and effort he puts in rubs off on the rest of the Arsenal team. No other player in the Premier League is as important to their club as Sanchez - just look what happened to the team when he was rested against Sheffield Wednesday.
Last Fixture: W - 2-1 - Everton
Next Fixture: Swansea(a)
PREVIOUS RANKINGS:
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies