EXCLUSIVE: The Wonderkid Power Rankings: Everton star fights to stay top

Will Jarrad Branthwaite be named the best young player in the Premier League again? Or can the likes of Adam Wharton and Harvey Elliott take top spot?

Welcome back to our weekly Wonderkid Power Rankings, where we rank the top 10 in-form young players in the Premier League. Last week, Jarrad Branthwaite seized the opportunity to claim the top spot after Cole Palmer aged out of contention, but can he maintain his position? Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, and Harvey Elliott have been hot on his heels, and we’ll see how they fared in the latest round of matches. Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers and Illia Zabarnyi have dropped out of the rankings due to injury and a subpar performance, respectively. This creates two openings, which will be filled by a player who’s finally regaining form and a brand new entrant. Let’s dive into our top 10 for this week…

10. Jérémy Doku – Manchester City (⬇️ 5)

Compiling this weekly ranking involves a significant amount of subjective assessment, but we adhere to the principle that a player cannot be removed from the top five solely due to one poor performance or a single match missed due to injury or suspension. However, Doku’s recent outing has put this rule to the test.

Doku’s cameo appearance against Fulham was far from his best performance. Despite only getting 15 minutes of playing time, he managed to make more of an impact on the opposing team than his own. Out of his 18 touches, he lost possession six times, meaning that one-third of the times he had the ball, he gave it away to the other team. Furthermore, he failed to do anything productive with the remaining 12 touches. It’s safe to say that those 15 minutes were not Doku’s finest moment on the pitch.

9. Pape Matar Sarr – Tottenham Hotspur (re-entry)

The Senegalese midfielder, who had a superb first half of the season, fell out of our top ten rankings after a slight dip in form following the Africa Cup of Nations. However, he has now broken out of his slump and earned his way back into the rankings with a string of consistently solid performances for Spurs.In the 2-1 victory over Burnley, his passing stood out, as he achieved a remarkable 98% pass completion rate, misplacing only one pass throughout the entire match. He also excelled in tight spaces and handled Burnley’s physical approach very well. This type of sturdy and consistent performance is precisely what Spurs have been missing since the start of the new year.

8. Jhon Durán – Aston Villa (new entry)

The 20-year-old Colombian player has been overshadowed by Ollie Watkins throughout the season, but he made a remarkable breakthrough to shift the focus onto himself with his performance. His two late goals against Liverpool not only secured an unexpected point for his team in the race for the Champions League but also stood out as one of the most impactful substitute appearances of the season.Debates may continue about whether his eventual equalizer, which looped over Alisson with a flick of his boot, was intentional. However, his first goal was a skillfully executed finish from the edge of the box, displaying remarkable confidence despite the limited playing time he has had this season. While it remains to be seen if this performance is a one-off, Durán certainly made a significant impact at Villa Park on Monday night.

7. Tino Livramento – Newcastle United (⬆️ 1)

The ex-Southampton player continues to excel as a reliable stand-in for Kieran Trippier, showcasing his ball skills during the 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. He effectively utilized the ball and made numerous threatening runs into the Seagulls’ territory.While he struggled to deliver a decisive final pass on this occasion and displayed a need to improve his one-on-one strength (losing more than half of his duels and failing to execute a successful tackle), he demonstrated exceptional game reading abilities. He made several crucial clearances and interceptions throughout the match, highlighting a very encouraging performance

6. Murillo – Nottingham Forest (⬆️ 3)

Despite Nottingham Forest’s late defeat to Chelsea over the weekend, the young Brazilian defender gave his all to prevent the loss. He made a significant impact at the back throughout the match, recording four tackles, eight clearances, and winning every aerial duel he contested.He also utilized the ball effectively, completing five out of seven long passes, which is more impressive than it may initially seem. His role was primarily to quickly move the ball down the field, a tactic that can negatively impact a player’s passing accuracy statistics. However, he managed to keep Forest progressing rather than simply clearing the ball aimlessly. It was a very composed performance that perhaps deserved a better outcome.

5. Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United (⬆️ 2)

At this stage of Garnacho’s development, there are two perspectives to consider. The first, a more pessimistic view, suggests he may be wasteful, using his talent in a selfish manner. Despite his numerous dribbles and penetrating runs against Arsenal, he managed seven shots on goal, resulting in only 0.26xG and, most significantly, no goals. Alternatively, a more positive interpretation is that he was the sole player in the red team who provided a meaningful attacking spark. He was the only one willing and capable of taking on defenders and attempting daring moves in the final third. While his efforts did not yield results this time, a fair assessment of Garnacho’s performance should acknowledge his ambition and creativity.

4. Kobbie Mainoo – Manchester United (⬇️ 1)

Despite his impressive ball retention and passing accuracy in Manchester United’s 1-0 loss, Mainoo drops a spot in the rankings due to being physically outmatched in midfield. He lost nine out of 15 one-on-one duels and was dribbled past three times, managing only one successful tackle. While this defensive output was underwhelming, it speaks more to his inexperience than any lack of composure.Mainoo has been the subject of some rather peculiar comments questioning his coolness under pressure, which do not align with his performances. Game after game, Manchester United have lost their composure, but Mainoo has consistently maintained his poise and level-headedness amidst the chaos.

3. Harvey Elliott – Liverpool (⬆️ 1)

The diminutive midfielder with the wiry hair has finally secured a regular place in the starting lineup under manager Jürgen Klopp, just as Klopp is set to depart the club. In the match against Aston Villa on Monday, the player delivered another impressive performance, contributing an assist.It was his excellent cross from a free-kick that found the head of teammate Jarell Quansah, who is on the verge of breaking into the top ten players in the league. Throughout the game, the midfielder sent in numerous other dangerous passes into the box. While not every attempt was successful, he was arguably Liverpool’s most creative player on the night. He also displayed flashes of technical skill and quality in various moments during the match

2. Adam Wharton – Crystal Palace (-)

In summary, Wharton’s performance for Palace in this particular game may not have been his finest, yet he managed to secure an assist and contributed significantly. Interestingly, there are rumors circulating about Bayern Munich’s interest in signing him shortly after his transfer from Blackburn Rovers. While his assist was a simple pass to Michael Olise, who executed it brilliantly, Wharton’s consistent ability to deliver quick forward passes has been instrumental in many of Palace’s recent goals. Despite facing challenges in defense against Wolves and committing three fouls, he also drew three fouls himself, balancing out his performance. This match served as a reminder of Wharton’s immense talent while also highlighting areas where he can continue to improve and grow

1. Jarrad Branthwaite – Everton (-)

In another impressive showing, this young defender, aged just 21, once again showcased his reliability in a clean sheet performance against Sheffield United. While not a standout performance, his solid display highlighted his status as one of the league’s most dependable defenders. His contribution to the 1-0 victory was instrumental in maintaining his team’s position at the top this week.Throughout the match, he excelled in various aspects of his game. He dominated in aerial duels, only losing one ground duel, executed four successful tackles, cleared three threatening balls, and demonstrated improved passing skills. His development in passing has been particularly noteworthy this season, reflecting his overall growth as a player. Despite his young age, his maturity on the field is truly remarkable, making him a standout player in the league.