Will win EPL’s player of the season
20 candidates ranked featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah
AS WE find ourselves two-thirds of the way through the Premier League season, the conversation of “Player of the Year” has begun, with a host of Liverpool players in contention. Captain Jordan Henderson is the favourite to win the coveted award announced in April. His commanding performances have been pivotal in the Reds’ 42-game unbeaten run in the League.
Despite not scoring a League goal since Jan 2, Sadio Mane has emerged as one of the world’s best forwards and has a chance of becoming the third consecutive Liverpool player to win the award.
The ever-consistent Virgil van Dijk will be contention and so will Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who has 15 assists and seven goals this season for the reigning champions.
Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero are arguably the best of the rest trying to buck the trend of Liverpool dominance, as Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold could also be considered.
Here’s a look at the top 20 players that are in the running.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (ARSENAL):
has racked up 14 goals and will challenge for the Golden Boot.
RIYAD MAHREZ (MAN CITY): Mahrez has
a rare ray of light for City this season, with seven assists.
ADAMA TRAORE (WOLVES): Traore has
a sensation, causing fullbacks countless problems with his powerful dribbling.
FABINHO (LIVERPOOL): One of the less her17alded
of the soon-to-be title winners, Fabinho has dictated from deep and protected the back four.
MARCUS
(MAN UNITED): Rashford has carried Manchester
United at times this season, although his injury woes may scupper any chances of an end-of-year gong.
DANNY INGS
Ings has produced an extraordinary run of form to get himself in the mix for the Golden Boot.
RICARDO
(LEICESTER): The fullback has been outstanding at both ends of the field for the Foxes.
WILFRIED NDIDI
Another Leicester player who has shone this season, and the team have sorely missed him when injured.
JAMES MADDISON
Six goals and three assists undersells the creative influence of Maddison in the third best team so far this season.
SERGIO
(MAN CITY): Despite some injury struggles Aguero still second in the
League’s scoring charts.
JACK GREALISH (ASTON VILLA): The midfielder has
by example on the field as Villa’s talisman.
VARDY (LEICESTER): Top of the League’s scoring with 17 and surely more to come.
ALISSON BECKER (LIVERPOOL): Has been an excep8tional
goalkeeper since arriving in the Premier League, and near faultless all season.
MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL): Not quite at his ruthless best this year yet still has 14 goals and is in fine form.
VIRGL VAN DIJK (LIVERPOOL): The defender has had a little less defending to do this year but has still been peerless at the back and a threat going forwards.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE (MAN CITY): A ridiculous 15 assists
marks the Belgian out as the outstanding nonLiverpool player.
SADIO MANE (LIVERPOOL): One of the outstanding for4wards
in world football with 11 League goals this term.
ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIVERPOOL): The sensational Firmino has been integral to Liverpool’s football this term as the link man between midfield and attack.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
The fullback has had another supreme campaign as one of Liverpool’s most influential players, with 10 assists already.
JORDAN HENDERSON
Henderson is Liverpool’s unsung hero, the captain who puts everyone else first, but he is starting to get the recognition he
deserves this year.
He said: “That’s not the only reason they come
here –
because I am here.
We have been in contact with others who didn’t come when I was here.
“I think the club is big enough and good enough to be attractive for players who want to play in the way we do, or they watch TV and see us and we have played against them.
“They will still want to come because of economic reasons, or because just they want to play for City. I think Man City is not a bad solution for players.
“The club was stable and moving forward before I came here. I’m not the reason why – the club is good enough, and we need players to believe they can help us.” – The Independent