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Player awards, for natural reasons, are not often given for the calendar year. Exceptions, of course, are the Balon d'Or, but generally, these take place over the course of a season, which span across two years, typically.
But as 2018 is coming to an end, which player of each of the Premier League top six has done the best? Who has stood out the most, and contributed the best to their successes and general performances?
The Premier League top six have many great players between them, who all have won many team-based and individual accolades in their careers. They also are guided by top managers, who have been successful in a wide variety of leagues and for big global clubs. This is, of course, one reason why they can shine, and who wouldn't if guided by Guardiola, Klopp, Emery, Pochettino, or Sarri?
The 2018 World Cup also saw numerous English-based players shine, such as Kane, Dier, Lukaku, Hazard, Torreira, Fellaini, Pogba, Lloris, and Kante, amongst many others. Many others didn't partake, such as Aubameyang, and others yet had unique tournaments like Ozil, who cited racism as a reason for quitting the German national side. Others yet, like Salah, featured for countries that were not amongst the favourites (Egypt), and top defenders akin to van Dijk featured for countries that didn't qualify (the Netherlands). Kante, Pogba, Lloris, Mendy, and Giroud, all emerged victorious in Russia, and of course all play for PL top six teams.
Overall, 2018 has been an eventful year for English-based players. They have all been touched in some form by great performances, great changes, and triumphs.
Each top six club has several world-class players, so there are many from whom to choose. Examples include:
Manchester City - Aguero, Sterling, de Bruyne, Sane, Silva, Stones, Ederson
Liverpool - Salah, Mane, Firmino, Keita, van Dijk, Allison
Manchester United - Martial, Pogba, de Gea, Lingard
Arsenal - Aubameyang, Ozil, Lacazette
Tottenham Hotspur - Kane, Son, Alli, Eriksen, Alderweireld, Lloris
Chelsea - Kante, Hazard, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Kepa
Criteria I am using here are:
- Consistency
- Big game performances
- Great moments/goals
So, who is the Player of 2018 for each PL club? Let us see:
Manchester City
Raheem Sterling
Sterling, amidst much controversy off the pitch this year, shone at the Russia World Cup and also has been a major factor in Manchester City's record-breaking league title win in 17/18.
Moreover, in 18/19, he has been a pivotal player in his side's Premier League retention campaign. Yes, they currently sit (as of matchday 19) behind Liverpool. But they have been boosted by Sterling's goals, and his overall contribution to the attacking play of Pep Guardiola's team.
Sterling, whilst also calling out racism which he believes is media-driven, has not let these dark moments faze nor limit his game, and he is fast-emerging as a world-class talent in the English national side, and the Premier League overall. He showed this potential at Liverpool, but in the dominant side of Pep Guardiola, Sterling has really come into his own, and showing the potential he expressed at Anfield. The fact he can do this amongst much media and fan hatred is telling of his character and stature as a player.
Honourable mentions:
Sergio "Kun" Aguero
Kevin de Bruyne
John Stones
David Silva
Leroy Sane
Ederson
Manchester United
Anthony Martial
As of matchday 18 and their win at Cardiff City, Manchester United had relieved themselves of manager Jose Mourinho, amidst numerous on and off the pitch issues surrounding his tenure. Much of the points didn't solely emanate from him - but the club seemingly is looking to rectify them, with even club legend Peter Schmeichel offering himself as director of football. At this point, Man United have appointed club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjear as interim manager, and seemingly the team responded well by winning in South Wales.
The year overall for them was mixed - they finished second in the league, but then miles behind Mancunian neighbours Manchester City. They lost to Mourinho's former club Chelsea in the FA Cup final and had a weak exit in the Champions League to Sevilla. The first half of 18/19 saw a memorable albeit fortunate win at Juventus (and against old boy/club legend Ronaldo) in the Champions League, and a League Cup defeat to Derby County. Prior to Matchday 19, they are sixth in the league and will need a radical change in form to gain a top-four placing.
As for the Red Devils' player of the year, it's hard to say, since many of their top players have been inconsistent, or merely non-performing. However, the pick here goes to Anthony Martial on various means:
- Talk of rifts between himself and the now former manager didn't affect his game
- He has added some attacking flair, amidst Mourinho's negative "park the bus" football
This may be a controversial choice in some respects. But then Martial certainly must stand versus the qualities but inconsistencies of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Eric Bailly, Lindelof, and Juan Mata.
United did sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, but he has to date been a huge flop. His Arsenal form, which was stellar, has certainly not been reproduced to date.
David de Gea, some may argue, has been more consistent over the year. And without his saves and performances, United may have been even worse off. But Martial has been a ray of attacking light, amidst some really dour performances.
Honourable mentions
David de Gea
Paul Pogba
Romelu Lukaku
Juan Mata
Jesse Lingard
Eric Bailly
Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane
This year has been good for Spurs, in terms of their league form. They finished third in 17/18, and in 18/19 (as of Matchday 19) they are in third again. They again finished above their rivals Arsenal in the league, and in the World Cup, many of their top players achieved success in various means. Kane, Dier, Alli, Trippier, and Rose were all part of the England side that reached the semis. And goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was the French winning captain, as France won their second World Cup in history.
Off the field, the new stadium has caused undue headaches, with no firm opening date as yet. However, despite not signing anybody in the transfer window, they haven't been deterred, and are very strong in the league all the same. They also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, but lost to Manchester United, via a goal from ex-Arsenal star no less, Alexis Sanchez.
To choose the best player from their crop is difficult since over the calendar year they possessed many high performers. But in this case, it would be Harry Kane. He cemented himself as a prime global striker with his Golden Boot at the Russia World Cup, and whilst missing out to Mohammed Salah of Liverpool for the Premier League Golden Boot, Kane scored more than 30 PL goals alone in 17/18. In 18/19, as of Matchday 19, is firmly amongst the mix with Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mo Salah.
His off-the-ball movement too has increased, and for both club and country, he often drops deep to create and influence plays. He is far more than just a tap-in merchant, which formed his characterisation in his earlier career.
Honourable mentions
Son Heung-Min
Christian Eriksen
Mousa Sissoko
Mousa Dembele
Toby Alderweireld
Dele Alli
Liverpool
Mohammed Salah
Liverpool reached the Champions League final, losing in spectacular fashion (in various means) to record-holders Real Madrid. Mohammed Salah's early injury from Sergio Ramos, Karius's mistakes, and Gareth Bale's wonder goal, all led to a memorable final. Mohammed Salah himself was instrumental in his club reaching the final, notably scoring against Premier League rivals Man City in the quarter-finals.
In terms of league form, the Anfield club finished fourth and will enter 2019 top of the league, even if they lose Matchday 19. It could be the first title win since 1990 for them, and their first league win of the Premier League era. The summer window showed a huge outlay from the club, notably on Keita, Shaqiri, Fabinho, and Allison, which was in addition to Virgil van Dijk earlier in the year. Liverpool now, under manager Jurgen Klopp, has a firm footing to win the league for the first time in a generation.
So then, who has been their player of 2018? For me, it's a simple choice, and whilst van Dijk has been stellar, and Allison has been an enhancement over Karius, it is none other than Mo Salah.
The recent BBC African player of the year has been a major attacking influence to Liverpool, and will surely contest again to retain his PL Golden Boot. He is also the star of the Egyptian national side, though he didn't shine to the extent of his club form. Salah also set a record in his 17/18 Golden Boot win, in that he scored the most goals to win the award in a 38-game season. He clearly is an African star, and a prime asset for Liverpool, and the league overall.
Honourable mentions:
Virgil van Dijk
Sadio Mane
Roberto Firmino
Jordan Henderson
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Allison Becker
Chelsea
Ngolo Kante
Chelsea won the FA Cup in 2018, but their Premier League retention campaign was far from impressive. Defeating former manager, and club legend, Jose Mourinho in the FA Cup final was one thing. But finishing fifth in the league was another.
League winning manager Antonio Conte left the club in the summer, with Napoli boss Mauricio Sarri taking his place. Sarri and his noted "Sarriball" initially took good effect, until their unbeaten run ended at Tottenham Hotspur.
Moreover, some of Chelsea's players excelled at the World Cup, including Ngolo Kante and Olivier Giroud with France, and Eden Hazard with Belgium which attained third place.
The standout player though, I feel, is Ngolo Kante.
Hazard dipped a little since the title win in 2017, though Kante overall has been the most consistent. He is arguably the best in the world of his position, and his rise to the pinnacle of world football is mesmerising. He was largely unknown a few years ago but then won back to back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea, and a World Cup with his country.
His presence on the pitch, and his relaxed persona off it, all lend to his class.
Honourable mentions:
Eden Hazard
Marcus Alonso
Cesar Azpilicueta
Pedro
Willian
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Arsenal
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal has had a very turbulent 2018. Long-standing and legendary manager Arsene Wenger stood down in April 2018, amidst some speculation that he was sacked and actually didn't resign. Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan signed in January 2018, whilst Arsenal had a busy summer window, with Torreira, Guendouzi, Leno, Lichtsteiner and Sokratis all incoming. The club performed poorly in the FA Cup, losing to Nottingham Forest of the Championship in the Third Round, and was humbled in the League Cup final to league champions Manchester City. They also lost to eventual Europa League winners Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals and finished sixth in the league - the lowest finish since 1995.
What's more is that Unai Emery replaced Wenger as head coach, and thus far the team has performed ably, as at Matchday 19, the club is on the verge of the top four, and in reach to Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the reckoning. This is on the back of a 22-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which ended in defeat to Southampton in the League.
Over the calendar year, Arsenal may have had fluctuating times both on and off the pitch. But, this doesn't mean players individually haven't performed, or not contributed positively to the team. Ozil has done well in cases, and Lacazette has been a constant performer in the period. Newer additions like Torreira and Guendouzi have also given Arsenal a new midfield dimension. In my mind though, the outstanding Arsenal player of 2018 has been Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He has continued his immense scoring record from the Bundesliga and his prior club Borussia Dortmund and has scored (prior to Matchday 19) 22 Premier League goals in 31 games. He is firmly in the mix with Liverpool's Mo Salah and Tottenham's Harry Kane, for the Premier League Golden Boot.
Some also say he only scores tap-ins, but goals vs. Spurs, Fulham, and Cardiff City all showed his capacity for long-range efforts. Aubameyang clearly has much to offer Arsenal and is categorically showing his attacking prowess and quality.
He is certainly an heir to Arsenal striking greats like Thierry Henry and Ian Wright, who also topped domestic scoring charts at their times at the club.
Honourable mentions:
Alexandre Lacazette
Lucas Torreira
Sokratis Papastathopolous
Mesut Ozil
Nacho Monreal
Aaron Ramsey
