Premier League Gameweek 20's Top 5 Stars Who Dominated the Pitch—Ranked
Premier League Gameweek 20 delivered another thrilling collection of matches filled with excitement.
While Ruben Amorim's departure from Manchester United has dominated the news cycle, the on-field action provided exceptional entertainment. Among the traditional 'Big Six' clubs, only Arsenal managed to secure victory, Aston Villa found their footing in the championship chase, and Wolverhampton Wanderers finally claimed their inaugural league victory of the campaign.
The weekend's matches were elevated by outstanding individual displays throughout the country, and thanks to FotMob, we can identify precisely which players delivered the most impressive performances for their teams.
Below are the players who earned the top FotMob ratings during Premier League GW20.
5. Jack Grealish: 8.7
Jack Grealish departed Sunday's 4–2 loss to Brentford feeling frustrated despite delivering another outstanding individual performance. Although the Manchester City loanee hasn't maintained his early-season effectiveness in recent weeks, he continues to produce moments of brilliance.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium supporters had little to celebrate during a disappointing defeat to the Bees, but Grealish's two exquisite crosses that set up Beto and Thierno Barry for consolation goals at least provided some brief excitement.
Predictably, the English winger completed more successful dribbles (four) than any other player on the field and also topped the statistics for chances created (four). He merited being on the winning side.
4. John McGinn: 8.9
While Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins have frequently been the standout performers for Aston Villa lately, Saturday belonged to John McGinn's brilliance. The tireless Scottish midfielder remains a consistently dependable figure in Unai Emery's lineup and played a crucial role in the 3–1 triumph over Nottingham Forest.
Following their crushing loss to Arsenal, Villa desperately needed a victory, and McGinn's double strike proved decisive in overcoming their Midlands rivals. His opening goal, a well-executed finish from within the penalty area, extended the hosts' lead, while his second was an extraordinary long-distance strike assisted by a catastrophic goalkeeping error.
Converting twice from an expected goals value of 0.45 demonstrates remarkable efficiency, complemented by numerous defensive actions that helped secure Villa's victory. Remarkably, this marked McGinn's first brace at club level since a 3–1 win against Forest during the 2018–19 Championship season.
3. Malick Thiaw: 9.0
Malick Thiaw is rapidly establishing himself as a standout performer at Newcastle United. The summer signing is experiencing an outstanding inaugural campaign with the Magpies despite the club's overall decline in form, earning praise for his defensive solidity and attacking contributions.
His third Premier League strike helped secure a crucial 2–0 victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, though the scrappy finish following a goalmouth melee was hardly spectacular. However, Thiaw dominated defensively throughout the match.
A match-leading 17 defensive actions, including five tackles and 10 clearances, preserved Newcastle's clean sheet, with Thiaw utilizing his pace and strength to neutralize Jean-Philippe Mateta's threat.
2. Declan Rice: 9.1
Doubts surrounded Declan Rice's participation in Saturday's away fixture at Bournemouth due to injury concerns, but Arsenal were incredibly fortunate to have their influential midfielder fit for selection. The England star proved essential as the Gunners maintained their position at the top.
Arsenal didn't display their most fluid football during the 3–2 victory over Bournemouth, but they didn't need to thanks to Rice's two clinical strikes. He curled a low shot past Djordje Petrović for Arsenal's second goal before calmly finishing Bukayo Saka's cutback for the decisive winner.
His contribution extended beyond goalscoring, delivering a dynamic midfield performance that helped Arsenal control the contest. He registered 14 defensive actions and was surpassed in passing accuracy by only two teammates as he dominated the proceedings.
1. Igor Thiago: 9.6
Just two players have achieved Premier League hat-tricks since early December. Both happen to be Brentford strikers.
Kevin Schade claimed the match ball during Brentford's 4–1 victory over Bournemouth shortly after Christmas, and Igor Thiago has now joined him, recording his maiden treble since arriving in England and bringing his Premier League goal tally to 14 this season.
The Brazilian has been crucial in compensating for Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa's reduced output, with his hat-trick on Sunday highlighting his predatory instincts. Three unspectacular yet precise finishes powered Brentford to a commanding victory over Everton and even positioned Thiago as a contender for the European Golden Boot—though such aspirations may prove fleeting.
Thiago overwhelmed Everton's typically resilient defense with his strength and tactical awareness, establishing himself as an unstoppable attacking force.