The English Premier League season is approaching its closing stages with just two months and 10 games left to play of the 2023/24 campaign.
This year’s Premier League has so far been one of the standout seasons in recent years, with the ongoing title race, top-four battle and relegation dogfight being some of the closest and most entertaining we have seen in seasons gone by.
The quality that certain players have produced throughout the season has also matched what we have seen from the teams, with some outstanding individual performances so far.
With this, we’re going to be looking at the EPL Player of the Year candidates so far:
1 – Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is once again leading the goalscoring charts after 28 games of this season, despite only appearing in 23 of them himself. The striker has netted a massive 18 goals from these 23 appearances, leaving him with a goal every 107 minutes in the league.
Not only has he been the clinical finisher that we all know he can be, but Haaland has played a huge hand in the impressive performances that have kept Manchester City in this year’s title race. The Norwegian creates over one chance every 90 minutes and has provided five assists for his teammates so far.
These performances, especially the quantity of goals he has scored once again, leave Haaland as one of the frontrunners for the player of the year award.
Bet9ja odds: 6.75
2 – Rodri
Rodri serves as a different type of contender for vastly contrasting reasons to the other three on this list, with the Spaniard mainly operating at the opposite end of the pitch.
Rodri plays as the deepest of three midfielders for Pep Guardiola’s side, helping to keep the ball moving while also stopping any potential counterattacks. This season, Rodri has the most passes of any player to have appeared in the Premier League with 2428, equalling over 100 every 90 minutes. The midfielder has also recovered possession more than a majority of other midfielders in the league with 174, despite playing for one of the most possession-dominant sides the league has ever seen.
While Rodri’s defensive and midfield prowess has been arguably the key part of Manchester City’s successes in the last two seasons, his attacking output has also improved since last season. The Spaniard has already scored six goals in the league, two more than last season, and recorded just one less assist than last season with five so far. The fact Rodri hasn’t been in a losing side for Man City since 5 February 2023 demonstrates his importance to the team.
These performances leave Rodri as one of the leading candidates to take home the player of the year award.
Bet9ja odds: 4.00
3 – Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins has been the standout performer of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side that have been one of this season’s best sides. Villa currently find themselves fourth in the table and embroiled in a race with Tottenham to keep their UEFA Champions League qualification spot.
A large reason for Villa’s success this season has been the outstanding form of Watkins, who has already recorded his highest number of goals and assists this campaign of any of his Premier League seasons so far.
Watkins, who has played 29 games for Aston Villa in the Premier League, currently sits as the second top scorer of the league with 16 goals, only behind the goalscoring machine that is Haaland. The Englishman has also had massive contributions in the creating of chances for his side though, being the joint top assister of any player in the Premier League with 10 assists.
While Aston Villa and Watkins may not go on to lift the Premier League trophy they could record a huge achievement by qualifying for the Champions League, and Watkins would have been a huge reason for this. With this, Watkins has to be one of the top contenders for this award.
Bet9ja odds: 20.00
4 – Mohamed Salah
Our final choice of candidate is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who has been ever-present in these conversations since he joined the Reds in the 2017/18 season.
Despite missing multiple league games through injuries and his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, Salah has been one of the top scorers and assisters of any player in the Premier League so far.
Bet9ja odds: 8.75
The forward has scored 15 goals in his 22 league appearances so far, equalling to a goal every 121 minutes. These have helped push Liverpool over the line in multiple games and has resulted in his side competing in the ongoing title race with Arsenal and Manchester City. Salah has also had a hand in multiple other goals for his side, creating a massive 2.48 chances every 90 minutes and currently having nine assists, the joint-second most of anyone in the league.
These statistics, as well as his overall performances, have certainly made him one of the potential winners of this season’s player of the year award.
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Comment below with who you think will win the player of the year award this season!
2 Comments
by Olayera Peter
I can only suggest either Rodri one of the midfielder for man city or M.Selah the forwarder for Liverpool…
by Olayera Peter
I can only suggest either Rodri one of the midfielder from man city or M. Selah the forwarder for Liverpool….