You vs WhoScored: Premier League Form Rankings Ahead of Gameweek 5
Following the end of the international break attentions should have turned to your MondoGoal fantasy football teams ahead of the return of the Premier League this weekend.
WhoScored.com reveal their form rankings ahead of gameweek 5 to give you an idea of the top rated players that took the league by storm in the opening month of the campaign. If you feel like any of the following players will continue their fine start to the season, then why not take a shot at winning a share of a £10,00 cash pot in MondoGoal's weekly offering for just a £2 entry fee.
GOALKEEPERS
One month into the campaign, the in form goalkeeper over the last 3 appearances of those eligible is Tim Howard, who answered any critics from his display against Manchester City with a stellar showing at Spurs. The veteran American earned the WhoScored.com man of the match award with a rating of 8.53 having produced 6 saves to keep Mauricio Pochettino's side at bay. It was enough to take his score for the season to 7.60 and earn Howard a place between the post in August's team of the month.
Elsewhere Petr Cech has bounced back from a horrific league debut for Arsenal with back-to-back clean sheets, including a man of the match rating of 8.90 in a stalemate with Liverpool. Meanwhile Tim Krul is the top rated Newcastle player so far this season, keeping his side in the game having been reduced to 10-men against Arsenal last time out. A man of the match rating of 8.50 against the Gunners followed an excellent display to keep United out a week earlier, producing 17 saves across the two games.
DEFENDERS
Aleksandar Kolarov remains at the top of the class for defenders following his role in Manchester City's perfect defensive record so far this season. The Serbian has been a real outlet going forward in support of Raheem Sterling too, creating 8 chances for teammates, securing a rating in excess of 7.85 in each of his four league appearances thus far.
Manchester United and England duo Luke Shaw (fourth) and Chris Smalling (fifth) also take a place in the top 10 here, with the latter in particular enjoying an excellent start to the season. Smalling has made significant strides over the past year and while a WhoScored.com rating of 7.57 earned the 25-year old a place in the team of the month for August, his impressive form has stretched back to the turn of the year.
MIDFIELDERS
It's no surprise to see the majority of Manchester City's players feature among our form rankings and the midfield pairing of Fernandinho and Yaya Toure lead the way in midfield. The former netted his second goal from only his second shot of the season ahead of the international break against Watford. Meanwhile only David Silva - who ranks 7th - has had a direct hand in more league goals thus far than Toure (4), who looks back to his best.
Dusan Tadic's starring role against Norwich a fortnight ago, netting twice for a WhoScored rating of 9.20, saw him leap to fourth in the midfield rankings, while a trio of Swansea players have kept their places on the leaderboard. Jefferson Montero may not have featured in the victory over United but he remains near the top of the rankings, joined by Jonjo Shelvey and Andre Ayew, with the latter registering a goal and an assist in what was Swansea's third successive 2-1 win over Van Gaal's side.
FORWARDS
Another key player to Garry Monk's men's superb start to the campaign has been Bafetimbi Gomis and, as the only player to score in each of his 4 league appearances thus far, it's little surprise that the Frenchman tops the forwards' form rankings. His rating of 7.62 over three meetings with United, Sunderland and Newcastle comes having earned Swansea four points in said games.
Elsewhere Callum Wilson continues to climb the leaderboard having joined both Gomis and Riyad Mahrez at the top of the scoring charts thus far, with 4. The Bournemouth striker's tally accounts for 80% of his side's goals this season having followed up a hat-trick at West Ham with a spectacular bicycle to open the scoring against high-flying Leicester before the break.
Do you think these players will continue their fine early season form? Then why not enter a team into MondoGoal's weekly contest for a shot at a stake of £10,000!