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When the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award came out, five of the six candidates (Diego Costa, David De Gea, Eden Hazard, Harry Kane and Alexis Sanchez) were exactly the same as what we had predicted in our top 5 candidates for the award, but the sixth candidate for the award caught us by surprise. Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho was the sixth candidate for the award and many of us have failed to see the reason behind it.The current season may not even be Coutinho’s best season at Liverpool. The Brazilian has scored 4 goals and provided 4 assists this season from 29 appearances, but last season he had scored 5 goals and provided 7 assists in 33 games. Also in his first season at Liverpool, he had scored 3 and assisted 5 in just 13 games. Another aspect to look at is the chances created and the 22-year-old has created 1.68 chances per game this season which is significantly lower than 2.48 chances created per game in the last season and also lower than 1.94 chances created per game in his first season.Coutinho may not even be the best player in the Liverpool squad this season. The Brazilian got off to a slow start and only picked up his form in the latter half of the season, while players like Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel have been far more consistent than him. In fact, Henderson who plays deeper in midfield compared to Coutinho has scored 6 goals and assisted 8.Here are five players whom we think should have been shortlisted for the award ahead of Philippe Coutinho.
#1 Cesc Fabregas - Chelsea
Cesc Fabregas was one of the key architects behind Chelsea’s blistering start to the season. The Spaniard reinvented himself in a deeper role in midfield after moving to Stamford Bridge and picked up from where he left off the last time he played in the Premier League.
Fabregas leads the assists chart in the Premier League with 16 to his name despite switching off a little towards the latter half of the season. In fact, the former Barcelona man is only second to Kevin De Bruyne in the top assists providers across Europe’s top 5 leagues. In addition to his sixteen assists, he has scored three goals and all of them in away games.
The 27-year-old also leads the league in terms of chances created with 80 in total, which averages to almost 3 chances created every game and all of this while still maintaining a pass completion percentage of 86.
#2 Santi Cazorla - Arsenal
Cazorla has to be the unsung hero of Arsenal’s season so far. The Spaniard has been highly influential in turning around Arsenal’s form in the second half of the season and stepped up his game during a time when Arsenal were hit with a midfield injury crisis.
The little Spaniard extrudes so much confidence that Wenger has given the 30-year-old the responsibility of taking Arsenal’s spot kicks in the absence of Arteta.
Overall the Spaniard has 7 goals and 8 assists to his name while creating 66 chances and maintaining a pass completion percentage of 88.
One of Cazorla’s outstanding performances came against Manchester City at the Etihad and it was a fixture in which the Gunners had struggled in the past. Cazorla left City’s defence bamboozled with his twinkle toes and his work ethic off the ball was also amazing.
#3 Sergio Aguero Manchester City
A league highest 19 goals and six more assists to go with that is apparently not enough for Sergio Aguero to be even considered for the PFA Player of the Year shortlist.
The Argentine has been the standout performer for Manchester City this season amidst some below average performances by many players around him. In fact, it’s safe to say that without Aguero, City may have been in big trouble this season.
The 26-year-old’s 19 goals have come despite the fact that he was out injured for a significant period in between the season and was only fit to come off the bench at the start of the season due to an injury he picked up during the World Cup.
Aguero has turned out to be City’s big game player this season as he has scored nine of his goals against the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
#4 Charlie Austin - QPR
It is safe to say that without Charlie Austin and his goals, QPR may have already been preparing for next year’s Championship as Austin’s goals alone have contributed to 11 of the mere 26 points the London club have managed to pick up this season.
Austin is currently the second highest goal scorer in the league with 17 to his name and is only two behind the leaders Aguero, Costa and Kane. But what is to be remembered is that Austin is playing for a club involved in a survival battle while the top scorers are playing for teams fighting for the title or the Champions League spots and have much better quality players around them.
The 25-year-old’s goals have not only come against mid and bottom placed clubs as he has found the back of the net Chelsea, Manchester City, Southampton, and Arsenal.
If QPR fail to beat the drop, then Austin is sure to return to the Premier League next season.
#5 Christian Eriksen Tottenham Hotspur
Christian Eriksen has been Tottenham’s most consistent and reliable player since he had joined the club, but unfortunately for the Dane, he hasn’t received enough credits this season due to the incredible impact of his teammate Harry Kane.
The former Ajax man has hit nine goals this season while providing 2 assists, but the important factor is that majority of Eriksen’s goals have come at the right time and helped in saving important points for his side. He scored the winning goal very late into the game against Hull City, Swansea City and Sunderland with his individual brilliance. In fact, according to a recent survey, Eriksen’s goals have contributed to 13 of Spurs’ points so far and only Harry Kane’s goals have led to more points than his in the Premier League.
Eriksen has also created an impressive 71 chances this season, but sadly for the Dane he only has 2 assists to his name so far.
