The first month of the 2024/25 Premier League season is in the books and it’s fair to say it’s gone pretty much as expected.
Superstars like Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah put in world-class performances, Manchester United struggled for form and the likes of Brighton and Aston Villa showed their ability to challenge for European qualification.
After all that fun, here it is 90 minutes picks for the ten best performers of August – ranked.
Best performance: Goal and star turn against Arsenal
After a fairly decent opening campaign at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023/24, Joao Pedro looks to have taken his game to another level at the start of the new season.
His goals against Arsenal and Manchester United saw Brighton pull off a stunning four-point recovery from their difficult fixtures that ended in August and have helped the coastal club climb into third place in the game. Premier League table for the international break.
Best performance: Four goal contributions against Wolves
Although the results and performances have been quite inconsistent Chelsea at the start of the new season, star man Cole Palmer has been as brilliant as ever.
The recently crowned PFA Young Player of the Year already has five goal contributions to his name, thanks largely to his masterclass in a 6-2 win over Wolves in which he scored a goal and three assists.
Best Performance: Man of the Match against Ipswich Town
When fit, Kevin De Bruyne is probably the best midfielder in the world.
And luckily Man City fans, De Bruyne has been fully fit for the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
This has notably made City the team to beat in the early stages of the season, with KDB dictating the pace for his side’s three wins in August.
It’s a different class.
Best performance: clean sheet vs Man Utd
Liverpool’s August’s impressive performances were largely down to their veteran stars finding their best form again, with Virgil van Dijk one of those players.
The Reds’ Van Dijk-led defense have started the season with three clean sheets in three games, with their star centre-back putting in fantastic performance after fantastic display to achieve the feat.
His ability to completely nullify Joshua Zirkzee in the win against Man Utd was particularly impressive.
Best performance: Brace vs Southampton
Not Ivan Toney? no problem
With their former star striker moving up the posts and moving to the Saudi Pro League, Bryan Mbeumo has been tasked with becoming Brentford’s leading goalscorer in 2024/25 and he has.
His three goals in three games so far have seen Brentford take an impressive six points to start the campaign. A beautiful
Best performance: Man of the match against Wolves
Bukayo Saka was tipped by many to win every player of the year award this season, and judging by his outings in August, it’s easy to see why.
of Arsenal ‘Starboy’ has been as consistent as ever in the first few weeks, contributing a goal in all three of his side’s games so far.
Best performance: Hat-trick vs Wolves
Considering how many strikers Chelsea have (a billion at our last count), Noni Madueke has been a surprising starter for Enzo Maresca so far.
And it’s fair to say that Madueke has seized this surprise opportunity with both hands.
The wide forward’s hat-trick in the win over Wolves was the best individual display we’ve seen in 2024/25 so far.
Best performance: Brace vs Man Utd
After starting on the left flank ahead of Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez, Luis DÃaz has excelled under new boss Arne Slot.
The wide forward already has four goal contributions and two man of the match awards to his name, most notably a brace in a famous 3-0 win over Man Utd to round off the month on Sunday.
Best performance: Three goal contributions against Man Utd
Yes, another Liverpool player. And the best of the lot, too.
Mohamed Salah has looked back to his very best in 2024/25, with three goals and three rather outrageous assists to launch the Reds into an early title race with Manchester City.
The veteran star is thriving under Slot.
Best performance: Hat-trick vs West Ham
Three games = seven goals.
Erling Haaland is unstoppable.
The striker is on course for another record campaign in front of goal Manchester City.
