Ranking the Premier League's 50 best players: 10-1

With the Premier League set to return on June 17, theScore will be counting down English football's top 50 players as voted by our editors. We'll reveal 10 stars every day until the top 10 are unveiled on June 14.

50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

10. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

He hasn't hit the heights of last season, when manager Pep Guardiola called Silva "one of the two, three best players in the Premier League." But we're not going to hold that against him too much, as a dip in form has been relatively common among Manchester City players this year. Still, the versatile Portuguese international remains one of the league's craftiest and most inventive players with the ball at his feet, a skill he pairs with the type of industrious effort that makes every manager swoon.

9. N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)

Injuries have largely hampered Kante's campaign, but the indefatigable Frenchman continues to show he's comfortable playing a more advanced midfield role. Maurizio Sarri was heavily criticized when he made that decision regarding Kante upon his arrival at Chelsea, but it makes sense. Kante covers ground better than basically anyone else in the game, so why not let him be more adventurous, knowing he can recover defensively when needed. Kante scored three goals over his first six matches of the season under Frank Lampard, showing he's much more than a defensive midfielder.

8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)

Arguably the most valuable player to his team this season, Aubameyang has kept Arsenal afloat in the Champions League race with his 17 goals, the second-best tally in the division to date. He also assumed the club's captaincy in the wake of Granit Xhaka's fan faux pas, taking on additional responsibility beyond being the team's focal point on the pitch. With his contract set to expire in 2021 and the two sides apparently not discussing new terms yet, the Gunners desperately need to sort the situation out.

7. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Sterling hopefully used the Premier League's hiatus as an opportunity to reset. After a blistering start to the campaign when he looked absolutely unstoppable, Sterling didn't score once the calendar flipped to 2020. As a result, his raw numbers this season - 11 goals and one assist - don't leap off the page like in years past. However, the 25-year-old, who's still an electrifying attacking player even when things aren't quite clicking, has been somewhat unlucky in the assist column, as highlighted by the eight "big" chances he's created for his teammates.

6. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Putting Alexander-Arnold in the lineup is basically a cheat code. That's especially true for Liverpool, who are already blessed with a bounty of attacking riches. Among all those other stars, though, the Englishman has a claim as the Reds' most important creative outlet, acting as a de facto No. 10 despite being a right-back. His penchant for delivering assists is well-documented, as only Kevin De Bruyne has registered more helpers this season. Alexander-Arnold has delivered 69 more crosses than anyone else in the league, again showing just how much of Liverpool's play goes through the youngster.

5. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

Death, taxes, and Aguero consistently scoring for Manchester City - there are some things you can always count on in life. The Argentine, who continues to produce shots at an elite rate, was well on his way to hitting the 20-goal mark for the sixth consecutive Premier League season prior to the work stoppage. It feels like an eternity ago when people were questioning whether Aguero was a suitable striker for a Pep Guardiola-led team. If anything, the prolific veteran has become a better all-around player since the Spaniard took over at the Etihad.

4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Few things in football are more enjoyable than watching Salah fly down the right wing as a terrified left-back awaits, knowing he's virtually powerless to stop the Egyptian star from breezing by and getting into a dangerous area. Only two players - De Bruyne and Jamie Vardy - have contributed to more goals this season than Salah, who's honed his game in recent years while developing into a dynamic threat. He's now comfortable dominating out wide or playing a more central role, where Salah can showcase his strength, hold-up play, and scoring instincts inside the penalty area.

3. Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Mane emerging from the shadow of his attacking mates Salah and Roberto Firmino is one of the most pleasant developments over the past couple of years in the Premier League. The perfect modern forward, the Senegalese winger is equally adept at scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates. Earlier in his career, he was always somewhat of an analytics darling who didn't get the recognition his play deserved while not matching his peers' eye-popping scoring numbers. That changed last season when he tallied 22 goals, and the praise has rightfully continued throughout 2019-20.

2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Is there a player in world football more dominant - in the non-Lionel Messi category, of course - than Van Dijk? The best center-back in the sport, the Dutchman has helped transform Liverpool since arriving at Anfield. Whereas most defenders are expected, at some point, to make a blunder that costs their team, the towering 28-year-old has been so imperious that even seeing him get beat in a one-on-one situation is jaw-dropping. Almost untouchable in the air in both penalty areas, Van Dijk is calm on the ball and decisive in the tackle. He is, quite simply, a rock that any club would love to build its entire squad around.

1. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Being able to watch De Bruyne play again is one of the top reasons to be excited about the Premier League's return. A true magician on the pitch, the Belgian is so good at absolutely everything that you'd be forgiven for thinking he was engineered in a lab. He's the best creator in England for reasons beyond his league-leading assist total, as De Bruyne is producing an outrageous four key passes per 90 minutes. The 28-year-old is also blessed with an absolute rocket launcher for a right foot. He can physically hang with anyone, too, and De Bruyne seems to always make the correct pass at the right time. His feel for the game is second to none, and so is De Bruyne's Premier League status.