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The battle for Premier League supremacy is well underway and it's already turning out to be a fascinating season. Liverpool and Manchester City were widely regarded as the pre-tournament favourites and the two sides have begun the season in scintillating fashion, as the title race looks set to go down to the wire once again.
Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City and Frank Lampard's young guns at Chelsea have taken the league by storm and have managed to capitalize on the shortcomings of the other big sides. Aside from the title race, there will also be a battle for the most prestigious personal accolade in the country. The PFA Player of the Year award is awarded in April to the most consistent individual performer of the season and the decorated award has been snapped up by Liverpool players in each of the last two Premier League seasons.
Virgil Van Dijk was crowned the PFA player of the year last season following his brilliant showings in the heart of the Liverpool defence, as they amassed a record-breaking haul of 97 points in the league. Before a hamstring injury derailed his season, it could be argued that Joel Matip was the unsung hero of the Liverpool side this season and the Cameroonian was just as influential as van Dijk, if not more.
Manchester City haven't hit top gear due to their long list of injuries but have still managed to amass 34 goals in the league and are spearheaded by their evergreen goal-scoring machine, Sergio Aguero who has racked up 9 goals already.
It's been a mixed season for the big London clubs so far. Tottenham Hotspur were expected to mount a title challenge but the Liliwhites are languishing in the bottom half of the table. Chelsea, on the other hand, looked doomed for failure after being slapped with a transfer ban but the Blues have exceeded expectations so far this season. Arsenal were piped to kick on under Unai Emery this season after an eventful transfer window, but the Gunners have been underwhelming, to say the least.
Aside from these aforementioned honourable mentions, we've shortlisted five players who are early contenders for the PFA Player of the Year award.
#5 Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
If last season was the breakout season for the 21-year-old from the Liverpool academy, this season he is starting to show signs as to why he is one of the best young players in the world. Named in the PFA Team of the Year and the PFA Young Player of the Year awards last season due to impressive showing in the league where he broke the PL assists record, he is well and truly on course to fare even better this time around.
His pinpoint crosses and defence-splitting passes set him apart from the rest and his set-piece technique coupled with his ability to either foot is astonishing. Liverpool are at their best when Alexander-Arnold is on song cause it can be argued he is their most creative player.
Aside from his attacking prowess, what has surprised everyone this season is his is major improvement defensively. His recoveries, clearances and interceptions are significantly better than last season and at the moment, he is one of the best players on and off the ball.
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#4 Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City
Manchester City have already lost 2 games this season against Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers and the one thing common in both of them was the absence of their play maker, Kevin de Bruyne. After suffering injuries throughout last season, De Bruyne started the season in scintillating style and looked like he was returning to his best.
Unlike last season, where Manchester City didn't have to depend a lot on him on their path to the domestic treble due to their excellent squad, the scenario is a bit different this season. The injury list is piling up for Pep Guardiola and City have looked out of sorts without the Belgian playing. De Bruyne started the season in stupendous form and has already racked up 9 assists, 5 more than his closest competitor Harvey Barnes.
If De Bruyne manages to stay fit for the rest of the season, Thierry Henry's record of 20 assists in a single season could well be broken.
#3 Jamie Vardy - Leicester City
With Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all in woeful form, Leicester City have capitalized and made an impressive start to the season and are in the driving seat to break into the top six. Scoring a whopping 27 goals in the league already, they are led by none other than their talisman, Jamie Vardy.
For someone who will turn 33 soon and relies on his pace to run behind the opposition defence, a decline is naturally expected but Vardy is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon and become the first player to reach double figures for league goals this season.
Vardy doesn't have too many tricks up his sleeve but when it comes to high aggression display of raw pace and direct play, he's still a menace for the opposition defence. If Leicester City are to break into the top 4, they need their talisman to continue his rich vein of form.
#2 Raheem Sterling - Manchester City
Raheem Sterling has been one of the standout players for Manchester City this season and has carried on from where he left off last season. After narrowly missing out on the PFA POTY award last season to Virgil van Dijk, Sterling has made it a mission to showcase his credibility to win it this time around.
An orthodox winger who transitioned into an inside forward under Pep, Sterling is slowly starting to touch brilliant consistency levels in the goal scoring department. He has not been clinical enough in front of goal but he's more than made up for it by creating a fair number of chances for the team. Sterling has been more goals this calender year than the likes of Lionel Messi, Roberto Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo, a staggering return for someone who is yet to enter his prime.
He has started this season with in sensational form and with 7 goals already, Sterling will be pivotal to Manchester City's title hopes.
#1 Sadio Mane - Liverpool
The ultimate workhorse of this fascinating Liverpool squad under Jurgen Klopp, Sadio Mane has undoubtedly been the best player in the league so far and is playing like a man possessed. Winning the golden boot last season hasn't halted him and his rich vein of form has continued this season. He's already racked up 6 goals and 4 assists and has spearheaded Liverpool's title charge, as the Reds have opened up a six-point lead in the Premier League summit.
He has been on an upward spiral since his arrival from Southampton and is now showing signs of being one of the most potent attackers in world football. His capability to score or create a moment of magic even on a quiet game is remarkable, to say the least, making him one of the biggest match-winners in the league.
His number of tackles, duels won, interceptions and recoveries in defensive areas are considerably higher than what they were at this stage last season. If Liverpool are to win their long-awaited PL trophy, Mane needs to carry on his run of good form.
