Arsenal sit top of the Premier League tree at Christmas after drawing in an enthralling battle against Liverpool at Anfield as the race for the title prepares to enter the second half of the season.
Manchester United again failed to build any momentum as they followed up their goalless draw against Liverpool with a lacklustre defeat against West Ham that in the end was far too comfortable for the Hammers.
Elsewhere, Dominic Solanke led Bournemouth to victory against Nottingham Forest with a stunning hat-trick at the City Ground and Luton continued their quest for survival by beating Newcastle.
But who sits top of Mail Sport’s Power Rankings heading into the end of the year as Boxing Day waits to welcome top-flight football back?
Declan Rice and Arsenal sit top of the league table at Christmas after drawing with Liverpool
10. Ross Barkley (New entry)
It was an emotional day at Kenilworth Road as Luton played their first match back since captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest in their previous game against Bournemouth that was abandoned as a result.
Lockyer is fortunately back home recovering after being discharged from hospital and it was fitting that Luton claimed a valuable win over a faltering Newcastle team. Ross Barkley was at the heart of their attack and is now showing signs of his once great form at Everton.
The attacking midfielder was given permission to roam in between Newcastle’s defence and midfield, linking play up in key areas and shooting efforts on target, with one rattling the crossbar that deserved a goal.
Luton remain within the relegation zone at Christmas but their latest win means they are just two-points from safety.
Ross Barkley was at the heart of Luton’s attack against Newcastle on Saturday afternoon
9. William Saliba (New entry)
Jamie Carragher correctly praised all four centre-backs in Liverpool’s goalless draw against Arsenal, but it was Arsenal’s Frenchman who takes the pick as the game’s star performer.
Saliba was ruthless in dealing with Liverpool’s dangerous crosses into the box, mainly created by Trent Alexander-Arnold, and impressed with his calm build-up play when under pressure from the Reds relentless press.
The Gunners defender missed last season’s trip to Anfield that kick-started their eventual title slip-up and demonstrated his importance this time round to keep Mikel Arteta’s side top of the table at Christmas.
William Saliba was a rock at the heart of Arsenal’s defence against Liverpool on Saturday
8. Jarrod Bowen (New entry)
The West Ham star’s confidence is sky-high and there was a feeling of some inevitability that he would keep his goalscoring run against a weak Manchester United side.
Erik ten Hag’s visitors largely dominated the first-half but weren’t able to take some golden chances in front of goal, with Alejandro Garnacho wasting two goalscoring opportunities.
Bowen showed United how crucial a proven goalscorer is when he was played in behind their defence with a delightful lob from Lucas Paqueta and finished at the second time of asking after Andre Onana parried the shot back into the West Ham forward.
Jarrod Bowen showed Manchester United how crucial a proven goalscorer is at the weekend
7. Dominic Solanke (New entry)
Bournemouth looked to have been in serious trouble after a torrid start to the season but have been revitalised under Andoni Iraola who has also begun to get the best out of Solanke.
At 26-years-old, Solanke is entering the traditional peak years of his career and starred with an outstanding hattrick against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground to inflict a debut defeat on hosts manager Nuno Espirito Santos.
The former Liverpool asset moved to the south coast seeking to climb back to the top of the Premier League with another Big Six side and his showing the type of form that will be beginning to peak the interest of rival sides.
Solanke is the third-joint highest goalscorer in the Premier League this season alongside Son Heung-min on 11 goals and is just three behind Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Dominic Solanke scored a hat-trick to hand Bournemouth victory over Nottingham Forest
6. Richarlison (Down three)
The Brazilian was attempting to continue his career-best form at Tottenham when he was given the nod to start upfront once again by Ange Postecoglou as the Toffees made the visit south.
It took Richarlison just nine-minutes to continue his current high-performing trend by giving Tottenham the lead with a cool finish from close-range.
There was confidence only seen in players who are constantly scoring goals in the way the Spurs talisman stroked a driven cross into the bottom corner to give his side a brilliant start to the festive weekend.
Four goals in Tottenham’s last three Premier League games makes the south American striker one of the top-flight’s most in-form goalscorers.
Richarlison’s goal against Everton made it his fourth in Spurs’ last three Premier League games
5. Bukayo Saka (New entry)
Saka is a new Power Rankings entry on the eve of Christmas and a deserved inclusion as well after starring with a stunning performance against Liverpool when it mattered most.
The Englishman won his individual duel against Reds full-back Konstantinos Tsimikas before he was forced off through injury and replaced by Joe Gomez. Saka continued to get in behind the replacement and was a constant threat throughout the encounter.
Saka has demonstrated maturity in his performances against the Premier League’s bigger teams this season and is one of the fundamental reasons why Arsenal head into Christmas sitting top of the table.
Bukayo Saka was a constant threat to Liverpool’s defence throughout the Anfield battle
4. Mohamed Salah (Up three)
If Liverpool’s other forwards could produce the same clinical finishing as Salah then Arsenal wouldn’t have left Anfield with a point. Salah drifted in and out of the game at times but scored a decisive goal that resulted in spoils being shared at Liverpool’s home.
The Egyptian winger scores when it matters most for Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasers and his goals are the difference between being in with a chance of the title heading into the New Year and not.
This could be his last season at Liverpool if Saudi Arabia comes calling again in the summer transfer window and what a leaving present it would be if the Premier League trophy made its way to Liverpool.
This could Salah’s last season at Liverpool if Saudi Arabia comes calling again in the summer
3. Trent Alexander-Arnold (New entry)
Alexander-Arnold’s versatility is proving to be invaluable in Liverpool’s title chase this season and he produced another midfield masterclass against Arsenal on Saturday.
There was a spell around the 50-minute mark when everything that the England international touched turned to gold and his incredible passing unlocked Arsenal’s defence with every ball forward.
The Liverpool-born star is like a new £80m-£100m midfield signing for Klopp and proving that any concerns over whether he could perform against the more impressive teams in Europe in his new role are unwarranted.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s superb versatility is proving to be invaluable in Liverpool’s title chase
2. Lucas Paqueta (No change)
His exquisite chip over Manchester United’s defence to set-up Bowen’s first goal for West Ham was exquisite as was his all-round midfield play at the London Stadium.
It’s performances like this that made him a first-choice target for Manchester City in the summer before the move fall through and the reigning Premier League champions instead had to settle for Matheus Nunes.
Paqueta has continued the brilliant form he ended last season with and if he can keep fit over the remainder of the busy festive period then West Ham could find themselves in a seriously impressive Premier League position going into next year given how tight the table is.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta is continuing to flourish in his rich vein of form for West Ham and is showing why he was once a prized target for reginign champions Manchester City
Spurs captain Son Heung-min claims top spot in Mail Sport’s Power Rankings before Christmas
1. Son Heung-min (Up five)
The Tottenham captain isn’t only starring individually as a goalscorer and creator for Ange Postecoglou but is also excelling as a leader in his captaincy role and showing others how it’s done.
His 18th-minute strike against Everton proved to be the winner against the Toffees and keeps Son in chase with the Premier League’s golden boot race as he scored his 11th top-flight goal of the season to move to within three of Haaland.
Son has thrived in Harry Kane’s absence after he left for Bayern Munich in the summer and is rubbing off on his team-mates who are matching his form to help keep pressure on the team’s at the top of the Premier League.
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