Liverpool won the Premier League in 2020, but the player of the season was Kevin De Bruyne. For City, De Bruyne had taken home the league trophy the year before. But the season’s best award went to Virgil van Dijk. This time around, Liverpool, City, and Arsenal are all vying for the league title. A multifaceted fight, like a team fight, is now also an individual prize. Many footballers are in the fight to be the best of the season.
Because of the ‘voting season’, the discussion of who is the best in the fight comes up. The Premier League Player of the Season is announced in the second or third week of May, which is finalized by votes from sponsors, the governing body, the media, and spectators. The top three teams in the league have finished 30 matches each, and the league is now at the stage of closing the net. Also, this is the ideal time for voters to select the top player. But the voters have to be quick to judge the best. Last time, Erling Haaland set back-to-back records with no one around to challenge him—not so this time. Numerous individuals have distinguished themselves not only in attack but also in midfield and defense.
This time, Haaland is back in the battle. An injury in the middle kept him off the field for a month. However, this striker is the highest scorer for City, with 18 goals in 24 matches. Haaland, however, is somewhat on the back foot this time, as he did not shine as expected in important matches. (Until yesterday’s Liverpool match, Mohamed Salah was behind Holland in the number of goals.). Liverpool‘s Egyptian star has missed a few matches due to injury but has been in great form in full-time matches.
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Salah scored 16 goals in 23 matches. In addition to scoring goals, he is also very successful with assists. He has nine assists so far, which is joint second highest in the league this season. If Salah continues this form, Liverpool will also win the league, but having been voted the best of the 2017-18 campaign, the player will have a good chance of being the best throughout the campaign. When it comes to goal-assists, teammate Darwin Nunez catches the eye. This Uruguayan, who saved the team by substituting in several matches, scored seven assists and 10 goals.
Should Liverpool win the league again, Van Dijk might be the best. The 32-year-old Dutch defender has faded a bit in the middle but has turned around again this season. Former Liverpool legend and commentator Jamie Carragher predicted in March that Van Dijk could be the best of the season. Carragher, however, named two others. A decline in rice.
Arsenal won’t collapse at the end, like last season, because of Rice. He thinks, ‘Rice has a significant role in the fact that the backbone of this Arsenal team is still strong.’ Rice’s team has scored the most goals among the three teams fighting for the title (71). and digested the least (24). Rhys, from West Ham, has contributed well in both areas. However, William Saliba has been doing the main job of managing Arsenal’s defense. This French defender is also in the running for the best.
Phil Foden is another one of Manchester City’s three-season bests. The midfielder, who scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa last night, has already scored 14 goals and assisted another seven. Rodri, Foden’s teammate, is the main opponent in the season-best competition. The Spanish midfielder is currently considered the world’s best in his position. Rodri, who was recognized as the best player in the Champions League last year, scored seven goals and seven assists for City. Rodri also has the most perfect passes and long ball passes per ninety minutes.
With all the tested footballers in the big leagues, there is also one team that is not in the trophy race: Ollie Watkins. The 28-year-old English forward has scored 16 goals for Aston Villa so far, joint second highest. She also had 10 assists, a joint-high. Even if the team doesn’t win the trophy, Watkins has a good chance of winning the season. For example, there are De Bruyne and Van Dijk.
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