Jamie Vardy has been a consistent performer for Leicester (Getty Images)
As we reach the business end of the Premier League season, it’s quite interesting to know who will be awarded the PFA player of the year, which is given to the player adjudged to have had the best year in England.
Liverpool are well and truly on course to end their league trophy drought as they are 23 points ahead of Manchester City in the standings. This could mean that one of the Reds players could claim the award, or their collective effort might be a hindrance to this. Nothing can be said of it.
Leicester have also come up against all odds and are currently 3rd in the league standings. They have enjoyed a brilliant season under Brendan Rodgers.
The 28th edition of the Premier League has had its fair share of dramas and controversies, with the VAR coming into existence since the start of the season. The English top-flight boasts of some of the gifted footballers in the world and some of them have shone brilliantly this season as they look to snap up the prized PFA player of the year award.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have won the accolade in the past two seasons respectively. However, after a gruelling performance from several stars in the campaign, let’s take a look at the top 3 nominees of this edition.
Leicester City have been a surprise package this season after Brendan Rodgers took over the reins from Claude Puel. And speedster Jamie Vardy has been brilliant up front, scoring 17 goals so far. At 32, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
The 17 goals have seen him jump to the top of the scoring charts – a position he has held for several months.
He has transformed himself by playing in a team that has held possession rather than break into spaces and has been one of the standout performers in the league.
Despite Manchester City’s lacklustre title defence, the Belgian international has hit top-form in an injury-free season for him. He has been at the core of City’s good run of form in the past few years.
His tally of 8 goals and 16 assists is one of his best returns. An average of 3.7 key passes per game shows his importance in City’s attack. It’s the best in the league this season and he is on course to break Thierry Henry’s 20 assists in a single season.
Since joining from Southampton in 2016, Mane has established himself as one of the deadliest forwards in Europe, forming an unstoppable attacking force alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. He became a very reliable source for the Reds up front, dragging them to crucial wins in the second half of last season.
He has continued that fine form into this term, racking up 14 goals and 9 assists. This season has been full of vital Mane goals and assists, especially a rich patch of form coming in between December and January.
