Ivan Toney showed no signs of rust again for Brentford, Conor Bradley tormented Chelsea, while Kevin De Bruyne helped Man City really click into gear… but who took top spot in this week’s POWER RANKINGS?

It was another dramatic week of action in the Premier League as the top flight returned after a break for the FA Cup fourth round. 

The midweek matches were full of tension, with Man United‘s last-gasp 4-3 victory over Wolves being the game of the round, as youngster Kobbie Mainoo showed all his class and quality with a 97th-minute winner.

Man City demonstrated again that they are really ticking now with a comfortable 3-1 win over Burnley, while Liverpool demolished Chelsea 4-1.

Arsenal secured a hard-earned victory at Nottingham Forest, while Luton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Tottenham also picked up important wins, with several players having starring contributions. 

But, there can only be one player who takes the top spot in this week’s power rankings…

Liverpool thumped Chelsea 4-1 as they continued to set the pace at the top of the table

10. Cole Palmer (down three) 

It was a rare tough gameweek for the 21-year-old who has quickly become Chelsea’s star man.

Starting in a false 9 role at Anfield, the Blues just couldn’t get Cole Palmer on the ball as they were overwhelmed by a stunning Liverpool performance.

The introduction of Christopher Nkunku in the second half did bring a slight improvement for a period and Palmer linked up well with the Frenchman, but it was still a tricky night for the attacking midfielder.

However, he remains in our top 10 given he has nine goals and four assists in what is his first season of regular Premier League action.

Palmer will hope to bounce back when Mauricio Pochettino’s side entertain Wolves on Sunday. 

Cole Palmer endured a tough night in Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat to Liverpool and slips three places

9. Darwin Nunez (down six)

Where to start with Darwin Nunez? The hugely popular Uruguayan yet again caused chaos for an opposition defence during Liverpool’s thumping 4-1 victory over Palmer’s Chelsea.

However, Nunez managed to make history by becoming the first-ever player to hit the woodwork four times in one match as his goalscoring touch eluded him.

Nunez – who even hit the post with a penalty – has now struck the woodwork 13 times this season, which is 10 more than any other top flight player.

His performance was still full of running though and he did extremely well to set up Luis Diaz for Liverpool’s fourth, before he was serenaded by Reds supporters despite his profligacy in front of goal. 

Darwin Nunez had a tough night in front of goal as he hit the woodwork on four occasions

8. Fabian Schar (new entry)

Talking of history, Fabian Schar almost made his own, with Newcastle’s Swiss defender inches away from becoming the first ever Premier League defender to score a hat-trick. 

Schar’s two first half strikes set Eddie Howe’s side on their way at Villa Park against an Aston Villa side who were still unbeaten in the league at home this season.

He nearly made it three late on, but was thwarted by some great defending from Clement Lenglet.

Schar also defended brilliantly and the 32-year-old’s importance to Newcastle cannot be overstated.

The £3m they paid for his services from Deportivo La Coruna six years ago has got to be one of the club’s best ever pieces of business. 

Fabian Schar scored twice and was superb defensively as Newcastle beat Aston Villa 3-1

7. Richarlison (up one)

The Brazilian forward continues to be a revelation for Tottenham ever since returning from groin surgery in December.

Richarlison scored just five times in his first 50 appearances for Spurs, but the 26-year-old has proven to be integral over recent weeks, stepping up amid a slew of injuries and absentees across Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

After his goal against Brentford on Wednesday – which put Spurs 3-1 up on the night in an early second half blitz – Richarlison has seven goals in his past seven league games.

The former Everton man couldn’t be in a better place ahead of a trip back to Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime. 

Richarlison is on fire right now and the Brazil star has scored seven in seven league games

6. Kobbie Mainoo (new entry)

The 18-year-old has continually received plaudits for his performances for Man United since breaking into the team back in November, but the 4-3 victory over Wolves was Kobbie Mainoo’s best moment yet.

The midfielder was brilliant as United went 2-0 and then 3-1 up and his importance was highlighted when Erik ten Hag withdrew Casemiro – 13 years Mainoo’s senior – and not him, for Scott McTominay midway through the second half.

Disaster struck for United when they collapsed yet again and looked set to have squandered a win, with Pedro Neto equalising in the 95th minute.

However, just as it looked as if his side would be shell-shocked, Mainoo stepped up with a sensational run before an even better finish past Jose Sa to secure the most dramatic of victories and send United’s away supporters into pandemonium.

What a moment for the 18-year-old and you can be sure Gareth Southgate will be keeping Mainoo in his thoughts ahead of Euro 2024. 

Kobbie Mainoo scored a sensational late winner for Man United against Wolves on Thursday

5. Elijah Adebayo (new entry)

Elijah Adebayo can probably count himself harshly done by to be fifth, but his stunning performance was one of several fantastic displays across the midweek.

Adebayo’s story is as brilliant as it is heartwarming, with the striker playing in League Two just three years ago.

But his rise epitomises Luton’s and after taking a bit of time to adapt to the Premier League, Adebayo has shown all of his quality.

After five goals already this season, the 26-year-old stole the show as Luton blitzed Brighton to thump them 4-0, with Adebayo’s scoring a hat-trick that was full of class.

With eight league goals in just 11 starts, Adebayo has shown that he more than belongs in the top flight and he is set to be crucial as the Hatters try to secure what would be an inspirational survival. 

Elijah Adebayo scored a hat-trick against Brighton and he truly belongs in the Premier League

4. Conor Bradley (new entry)

Given Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quality and importance to Liverpool, if you are even thinking about whether or not to bring him back for a crunch top of the table clash at Arsenal, whoever came in must have done pretty well.

And Conor Bradley – who only made his first Premier League start 10 days previous – did just that, with a performance for the ages at Anfield against Chelsea.

After winning a challenge before bursting forward to find Jota for Liverpool’s first, he then finished superbly for his first Reds goal.

With Chelsea hoping to launch a comeback early in the second half, Bradley flew away down the right again before firing in a sumptuous cross for Dominik Szoboszlai to head home.

A simply superb performance from the man who was playing for Bolton in League One last season. 

Conor Bradley put in a performance for the ages for Liverpool against Chelsea on Wednesday

3. Ivan Toney (up one)

If anyone was doubting whether Ivan Toney would be the same player after his eight-month absence from football, there really was no need to worry.

The Bees talisman – who scored a free kick 19 minutes into his first game back against Nottingham Forest last time out – finished coolly to keep Brentford in the game against Tottenham on Wednesday.

Toney was also integral in Neal Maupay’s first and joined the Frenchman in his darts-themed celebration which irked James Maddison and his Spurs team-mates.

With two goals in two, Toney will most certainly be eyeing-up a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for March’s internationals and beyond.

And with the Bees only four points clear of the bottom three, Thomas Frank’s side need their talisman to keep producing. 

Ivan Toney made it two goals in two games since returning from an eight-month betting ban

2. Kevin De Bruyne (non-mover)

With Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and John Stones – three of Man City’s best players – returning in recent weeks, you do feel for their title rivals.

Despite Haaland’s astonishing goal record and Stones’ ability to help Pep Guardiola find innovative ways to impact opponents, De Bruyne’s comeback could be the most crucial.

After his match-winning cameo against Newcastle, he was again at the heart of everything against Burnley on Wednesday, combining brilliantly with the likes of Julian Alvarez and Matheus Nunes.

His quick-thinking free kick which Alvarez scored from was executed to perfection and with Haaland back to fitness, the Belgian will be sure to provide him with plenty of service. 

De Bruyne helped City make it eight successive wins in all competitions, and Guardiola’s side are starting to click into that relentless winning machine they tend to become at this time of the season. 

Kevin De Bruyne stepped up his comeback and impressed for Man City against Burnley

1. Diogo Jota (non-mover) 

Diogo Jota reaffirmed his credentials as one of the most under-rated attackers in the Premier League this week.

Despite 54 goals and 20 assists in 138 games for the Reds, Jota’s contributions often go under the radar, but the Portuguese star has stepped up superbly in the absence of Mohamed Salah.

After returning from injury on Boxing Day, Jota has scored four Premier League goals and added two assists in just two starts and he was at it again on Wednesday against Chelsea.

During the first half when the Reds threatened to – and perhaps did – overwhelm Mauricio Pochettino’s side, Jota was brilliant, linking up with Nunez and Luis Diaz up-front.

He topped off his evening with the opening goal when he drove his way through the centre of Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, before firing home coolly.

With that performance, Jota keeps his spot at the top of the power rankings for another week.

Jota keeps his spot at the top of the power rankings after scoring his fourth goal in four games