EPL Player of the Year race get surprise new No.1

As the 2023-24 Premier League season nears its end, Manchester City face a tough challenge to win their fourth title in a row, a feat never achieved before in the English top-flight. Erling Haaland is likely to retain his Player of the Season award from last year, thanks to his amazing scoring record, but City are among the teams trying to catch up with him after playing 24 matches.

Liverpool are leading the pack again under Klopp, thanks to some clever signings that have boosted their squad, and Arsenal are hot on their heels as they aim to improve on their previous campaign. Aston Villa, under Emery, have taken over the role of the surprise package from Spurs and are ready to challenge the top teams.

Some of the new arrivals have become key players for their clubs, while some of the existing ones have gained from a change of coach or a better fitness level to find their best form or go beyond it. And with Newcastle and Chelsea still lacking in consistency, there are a few unexpected candidates for Haaland’s crown.

16. Jarrod Bowen

West Ham have lost their momentum from winning the Europa Conference League in 2022-23, as they have only drawn two of their last five Premier League matches, but they are still in contention for a top-seven spot under Moyes.
Bowen deserves a lot of praise, as he scored the decisive goal in their memorable final win over Fiorentina in May, and he has enhanced his finishing skills to make the Hammers one of the best teams at counter-attacking in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old has already scored 11 Premier League goals this season, which is five more than he did in the entire previous season. Bowen has earned a place in the England team because of this, and he might attract attention from bigger clubs if he keeps up his current form.

15. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)

Sterling had a disappointing season in 2022-23, scoring only nine goals for Chelsea in all competitions after joining them from Manchester City for £47.5 million ($58m). However, the 29-year-old has shown his quality this season, leading the Chelsea attack superbly under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Sterling has been the main driving force behind a Chelsea team that is still rebuilding and has scored six Premier League goals so far, including two important ones against his old team City.
He is proving Gareth Southgate wrong for ignoring him for the England national team and will earn a place in Euro 2024 if he maintains his high level of performance.

14. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

Dias is the main reason why City has been so solid at the back this season, as he is one of the few players that Guardiola always trusts to start. The Portuguese is a brilliant defender with great awareness and skills, and he always leads by example in his partnerships with Akanji, Gvardiol, and Ake.
Dias will also be happy that Stones is fit again, and once the England defender is fully ready, City will be even more difficult to score against with the strong bond that the two have formed at Etihad Stadium.
Dias faced some challenges earlier in the season, but he is too good to stay down for long, and he will once again be vital for City as they aim to break more Premier League records.

13. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)

Newcastle have lost their edge after finishing in the top four last season, as they found it hard to balance Premier League and Champions League duties in the first half of the season. Eddie Howe’s team needed a miracle to stay in the elite European competition, but Trippier did not give up, and the Magpies still had a slim chance because of his special skills.
Trippier has improved his assists record from 2022-23, creating 11 goals in 23 games with his excellent passing and set-piece skills, with Isak, Wilson, and Gordon all enjoying his creativity.
No defender has ever claimed the Premier League Playmaker of the Season prize, but Trippier is on track to change that, and he will also be keen to secure the right-back spot in the England team for the European Championship.

12. Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

Alvarez scored 17 goals in only 23 games for City last season, but his role in the treble-winning team was overshadowed by Haaland’s amazing achievements.
This season, the situation has changed, with Alvarez playing as a central attacking midfielder behind Haaland, and the position switch has paid off. The Argentine has contributed eight goals and six assists, and impressively took on the responsibility of creating chances for the team when Kevin De Bruyne was injured.
Alvarez has continued to be a regular starter even after De Bruyne’s comeback, which indicates how much Guardiola trusts him. It is not surprising considering Alvarez was Messi’s main partner at the 2022 World Cup - and Haaland also seems to be even more lethal with the 24-year-old supporting him.

11. Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)

Nunez had a tough time adjusting to the speed of English football in his first season at Liverpool, but he has slowly become Liverpool’s main source of chaos, and rival defenses are struggling to stop him. He has 16 goals and assists in 24 Premier League games, showing that he can deliver results, even if he sometimes makes the wrong choice in the last third.
Nunez is unpredictable when he faces the goal, which makes him exciting to watch, and it’s scary to imagine how much more he can improve at 24 years old.
Liverpool fans love Nunez for his brave, explosive way of playing, and his sharp instincts could help Klopp’s team win the title race.

10. Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Son had a lot of expectations on him for Spurs this season. After Kane left for Bayern Munich, the South Korean became the leader of the team, which was confirmed by Postecoglou’s choice to give him the armband.
Son admitted that he had a poor 2022-23 season. However, the 31-year-old has proven that he still has a lot of energy while switching between his normal position on the left and a central forward role this season.
Son has scored 12 goals, including crucial ones in Tottenham’s derby tie with Arsenal and a dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool at home, demonstrating once again that he is unmatched in the art of scoring.
Spurs had to cope without their captain for a month while he played at the Asian Cup for South Korea, but he provided a key assist in his first game back against Brighton, and Postecoglou will rely on him to keep producing his magic if the north London team are to secure a spot in the Champions League by May.

9. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Palmer left Man City last summer in a bold move to get more playing time and has shown to be a great deal for Chelsea at £42.5 million ($54m). The 21-year-old has been the main highlight in another disappointing season for the Blues, displaying maturity and calmness beyond his young age while being a key player for Pochettino’s team.
The Argentine has used Palmer in various roles, and he has adapted well each time, with his grace on the ball bringing a new quality to Chelsea’s attack. Palmer can make a killer pass from anywhere on the field and has a good scoring instinct, which has given him a place in the England senior team.
Chelsea are still far from competing with the best, but they have one of the most promising talents in Europe in Palmer, and it will be interesting to see how he progresses in the next months at Stamford Bridge.

8. Phil Foden (Manchester City)

City has had many creative stars under Guardiola, but Foden is on track to surpass them all. At only 23, he already seems like a complete player, and he is now the one City relies on to create chances with his quickness and intelligence on the ball.
Foden has already scored eight Premier League goals this season, just three less than his personal best, and he will easily beat that record if he stays healthy. The England player has become a lethal threat for City, as shown by his amazing hat-trick against Brentford in early February, and he could be the key player as the champions try to win another Premier League title.
England’s position as favorites for the Euros also depends a lot on Foden, who is now clearly a world-class player and has everything he needs to become one of the best players of his era.

7. William Saliba (Arsenal)

Arsenal have closed the gap to the top of the Premier League, and they might have what it takes to stay there with Saliba in top form at the center of the defence. The Frenchman missed the crucial part of the 2022-23 season due to injury and the Gunners suffered without him, but he has come back stronger than ever.
Arteta’s team have conceded the fewest goals in the league so far this season, and Saliba is the main reason. The 22-year-old is an expert at timing tackles and has the calmness to help Arsenal switch from defence to attack in an instant.
The Gunners are doing everything they can to challenge City for the title, but no one is more vital to the team effort than Saliba, who must be protected between games.

6. Rodri (Manchester City)

Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in Europe without a doubt. The Spaniard led City to the treble, and even scored the only goal in the Champions League final. The 27-year-old is still very determined in 2023-24, with his toughness and energy inspiring City in their quest for more trophies.
Guardiola signed Rodri to replace Fernandinho, but he has proven to be much better than the Brazilian. The ex-Atletico Madrid player has no weaknesses in his game and City miss him when he is not playing, as shown when Guardiola’s team lost two games in a row against Wolves and Arsenal in October without their key midfielder.
City needs Rodri to stay out of trouble so that they don’t lose him to any more bans, especially because he is also very influential in attack. Rodri has scored six Premier League goals in 2023-24, with his most recent one giving City a vital draw against Chelsea, and he can always be trusted to take charge in the most difficult games.

5. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Saka earned the 2022-23 PFA Young Player of the Year award after leading Arsenal’s unexpected title challenge, and he might have a chance to win the senior award this season, as he has improved even more under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have managed their energy better this season, and they are reaching their peak at the perfect moment, with Saka being the key player in their attack once again. The 22-year-old can score from any position and has the creativity to unlock defences easily, which is why he has 19 goals and assists this season.
Arteta seems to be pushing Saka too hard, but Arsenal depend on him to finish their chances, and he doesn’t want to sit out any game. Saka has the mindset of a top player and will do anything to achieve some real success at the Emirates Stadium.

4. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Watkins has been Villa’s main goal scorer since he joined the club in 2020 and scored 15 goals as the club finished in the top seven last season, but he has improved even more under Emery.
The 28-year-old has 13 goals and 10 assists, with his best performance coming in a 6-1 thrashing of Brighton at Villa Park. The Seagulls could not stop Watkins that day as he netted a superb hat-trick, and he has maintained his excellent form since the new year, with goals against Newcastle, Sheffield United, and Fulham.
Villa have lost ground at the top of the table, which was expected given their thin squad, but they are still in the race for a top-four spot thanks to Watkins’ efficiency. And if the Villa star can keep scoring, he will likely earn a place in the England team for the Euros this summer.

3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Haaland has run out of words to describe him. He humiliated Premier League defences in his first season at City, and he is determined to win his second Golden Boot in a row.
Haaland is still the top scorer with 16 goals this season, even though he missed two months due to injury, with his most recent double helping City beat a tough Everton team. The 23-year-old missed some chances in the next game against Chelsea, but he could have scored two or three more goals on another day because he was always ready to shoot.
City know they can trust Haaland to be in the right spot at the right moment, even when he is not involved in the game, which is why he is the best striker in the world. And when Guardiola’s team improve their performance again in the final part of the season, Haaland’s scoring rate will also increase even more - because there is no way to stop the Norwegian machine.

2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Salah has been a Liverpool legend for a long time, and he showed his commitment to the club when he rejected Al-Ittihad’s offer in the summer. He could have moved to Saudi Arabia for a lot of money, but Salah stayed loyal, and he has continued to be invaluable for Klopp’s team.
Liverpool have proven their ‘mentality monsters’ nickname in this season, collecting 57 points out of 75 to become the main rivals for City’s title, with Salah scoring 15 goals and setting up nine more. The 31-year-old is still very dangerous, and he will believe he can beat Haaland to the Golden Boot.
Salah’s main goal, though, will be to win a second Premier League trophy - which would make him one of the best players in English football history. A bad AFCON injury stopped Salah’s form, but he looked sharp after coming on as a substitute at Brentford, assisting Alexis Mac Allister and scoring himself.
There is a feeling that something special is happening at Anfield, with Klopp hoping for a glorious finish to his nine-year spell, and Salah will give his all to make sure the German coach leaves on a high.

1. Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Arsenal signed Rice from West Ham for a club-record £105m ($131m), and he has been a huge success since moving to the Emirates Stadium, choosing to stay in London rather than joining Guardiola’s dominant team at City.
Rice is always the first player on Arteta’s list, and he won over the fans with a vital late goal for the Gunners that helped them beat Manchester United at home in August.
The 25-year-old has no equal in recovering and intercepting the ball, but he is also very dangerous in attack - as shown by his amazing long-distance shots against Chelsea and West Ham. The England player also displayed his set-piece skills in the 6-0 thrashing of his old club at the London Stadium as he provided two assists, after becoming Arsenal’s new regular corner taker.
Rice’s readiness to take on more responsibility is what sets him apart, and his positive energy has improved Arsenal a lot in the last seven months. Winning their first Premier League title since 2003-04 is now a realistic goal for the Gunners because they have the best midfielder in the country leading them.