Top 5 candidates for the Premier League Player of the Season award
The Premier League season is set for a thrilling finish, with none of the places yet to be decided. Three teams are still battling for the title, while seven sides are fighting to avoid relegation.
The focus today is on the top players so far this season, with just eight matches to go. Without further ado, here are the top five players in the running to be crowned the Premier League Player Of The Season:
Phil Foden
Phil Foden has been in fine form this season and is easily Manchester City’s player of the season. He has scored 14 times and assisted seven – helping them stay in the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola also heaped praise on the Englishman and said:
“He has goals in his veins and he has to use this. What can I say when he scores three goals? He didn’t start well but he improved. Phil when he plays in central positions has a feel of goal. He can do whatever he wants. He’s a really top‑class player, we know it but still is open minded [so] has to understand the game [more].”
Foden has played in every single game for the Cityzens this season. He has come off the bench just twice while starting in 28 – playing a total of 2456 minutes.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice was a Premier League record signing for a few days, as Moises Caicedo stole that honor. However, the Chelsea man has not managed to replicate the impact the Englishman has had at Arsenal.
He has helped take Mikel Arteta’s tactics to another level. The Englishman has been so impressive that even former Tottenham man Jermaine Jenas named the former West Ham United as the Player Of The Season. He said:
“I’m looking at Declan Rice, it’s difficult to ignore Declan Rice and [William] Saliba. I think Declan Rice in particular, his contribution, big fee on his head, a lot of pressure, a lot of eyeballs looking at him and how he’s going to deliver. I think if we’re looking at his performance from mid-season to now, he’s a difficult one to top.”
The midfielder has scored six times this season while also assisting five times.
Alexis Mac Allister
Alexis Mac Allister is another new signing who has made a big impact in the Premier League this season. The Argentine has played a crucial role in helping Liverpool battle for the Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for the former Brighton & Hove Albion star and stated that he was a ‘super important’ player for Liverpool. He admitted that the midfielder can operate as an 8 or a 6 and said:
“He is a super important player for us, a wonderful boy. I met his dad after the game. He said thank you, I said gracias. That was the full conversation! I said hola as well and then my Spanish ends. Wonderful player, wonderful boy and really happy for Liverpool that we got him. It was not about him being in the wrong position. He played a good game in the first half too. You can play a game like this with a footballing 6 if you want. If we talk about Macca – is he better as an 8 or a 6? – There are two different subjects to talk about. One is his defensive part. That was obviously really good. I prefer him in eight as well but we are not playing in dreamland.”
He has notched four goals this season and assisted five times. Mac Allister scored in the crucial win over Sheffield United on Thursday to help the Reds continue their title charge.
Rodri
Rodri has been in stunning form this season and has been the best player for Manchester City. He has started a goals to his game and has been key for the Cityzens whenever they have struggled.
Pep Guardiola heaped praise on the Spaniard and named him the best midfielder in the world. He said:
“I would say if the holding midfielder doesn’t get the same appreciation as the strikers or the number 10 then that is good. When a holding midfielder has a lot of appreciation, it is not good. The holding midfielder has to play positive, for him and for the team, and make the team play. This is the role for the holding midfielders.”
He added:
“All the highlights have to be for the guys up front who score goals and make assists and so on. But Rodri always has the ability in important moments to score goals so he’s an unbelievable player. He’s the best midfield player in the world currently by far because he is able to do everything. What a signing. It’s difficult to understand how we could have done what we have done in recent years without him.”
With Kevin de Bruyne missing a chunk of the season with injuries, Rodri stepped up and scored seven goals in the league while also getting six assists.
Cole Palmer
Chelsea have struggled this season, but Cole Palmer has been on top of his game. The Englishman is in the Golden Boot race after his hattrick against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are still 10th in the Premier League table, but the new signing has scored 16 goals while also assisting eight times. He has single-handedly ensured that Chelsea are not battling relegation this season.
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