Liverpool and Arsenal are both missing their main man while Manchester United’s highest-rated player is not Marcus Rashford.
Here’s every side’s best player so far according to WhoScored’s ratings, ruling out those who have played fewer than 600 minutes.
Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus – 7.61
Even before the injury, the goals had dried up somewhat, but his overall contribution remained exemplary. Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka have all scored more but Jesus beats players, wins fouls and bizarrely, rather a lot of headers. And he doesn’t miss quite so many chances as Eddie Nketiah.
Aston Villa: Douglas Luiz – 6.77
More Premier League assists than the rest of Aston Villa’s lopsided squad (now created by three managers) and does more than his fair share of defensive work too. We’re just happy to see Emiliano Martinez off this list.
Bournemouth: Marcus Tavernier – 6.92
Has a whole four Premier League assists, three goals and a decent amount of credit in the bank to suggest his first top-flight season might not be his last. Dango Ouattara and Hamed Traore are both off to an excellent start but need more minutes in the bank to dislodge Tavernier.
Brentford: Ivan Toney – 7.34
Fourteen Premier League goals in just 21 games. Was it ever going to be anybody else?
Brighton: Solly March – 7.25
Scores, creates, tackles, works damned hard. While other Seagulls were linked with moves away, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi believes March is in the same bracket: “Mac Allister, Caicedo? All people understand Mac Allister and Caicedo are two big players and I would like the people to understand that March too is a big player.”
Chelsea: Kepa – 7.10
Quite the revival for the Chelsea goalkeeper, though more minutes for new signings Benoît Badiashile and Enzo Fernandez could see him usurped. Which would be excellent news for the under-fire Graham Potter.
Crystal Palace: Joachim Andersen – 6.92
He wins a lot of headers, does Mr Andersen. And hits a lot of fairly accurate long balls. But for a team with Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise in their ranks, they probably don’t want a centre-half as their player of the season.
Everton: James Tarkowski – 6.97
Even before Sean Dyche turned up to get the old band back together, Tarkowski was sticking his head on whatever was hurled towards the Everton box.
Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic – 7.20
Only Harry Kane and has taken more shots in the Premier League, with Mitro scoring with 11 of them.
Leeds United: Pascal Struijk – 6.90
One of the low-key successes of Jesse Marsch’s doomed tenure was Struijk’s conversion into a decent left-back who is defensively stout while still being comfortable on the ball. Two goals and an assist help the algorithm too. Currently missing after a concussion; Leeds have missed him.
Leicester City: James Maddison – 7.30
Nine goals and five assists is quite the record from 17 games and the Foxes miss him badly when he’s not available. Which is likely to become more of a problem since he would probably quite like to leave for a better club now, thank you.
Liverpool: Luis Diaz – 7.28
In a sea of at-best mediocrity, Diaz has been less culpable than most. He conjured three goals and two assists from just seven Premier League starts and Liverpool have missed him terribly.
Manchester City: Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne – 7.59
Just the 26 Premier League goals for Haaland. Ridiculous. And nobody creates more chances than De Bruyne.
Manchester United: Bruno Fernandes – 7.42
Five goals and six assists this season for Bruno, the team skipper if not yet the club captain. And he is closing in on the man above in terms of chance creation.
Newcastle United: Kieran Trippier – 7.65
Bruno Guimaraes might want a word but Trippier plays in the Premier League’s meanest defence while simultaneously creating chance upon chance. What a signing for a club forcing talk of a Big Seven sooner than expected.
Nottingham Forest: Serge Aurier – 6.95
Forest have lost only three of the 13 Premier League games started by the veteran Ivory Coast full-back. Tackles like a full-back, clears the ball like a centre-back. Scoring the equaliser v Chelsea was a lovely bonus.
Southampton: James Ward-Prowse – 7.00
Who else?
Tottenham: Harry Kane – 7.46
Just the 17 Premier League goals this season and still no chance of winning the Golden Boot. He will have to console himself with other landmarks and records.
West Ham: Declan Rice – 6.92
No Premier League goals or assists since mid-October as West Ham have slumped. But Rice is still going about his job of winning the ball in the middle of the pitch. Except v Tottenham (when he was terrible).
Wolves: Ruben Neves – 7.02
Nobody at Wolves has scored more goals, made more tackles or made more interceptions. Somebody give him a hand FFS.