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The 2020-21 Premier League has had its fair share of surprises. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a shorter-than-usual turnaround before the start of the ongoing season, an intriguing title race is now taking shape.
Reigning champions Liverpool once again look like the team to beat in the Premier League this season but are unlikely to have a straightforward title defence. The Reds have already endured two defeats and could be usurped at the league summit by Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
The Old Trafford club have put behind their indifferent home form to surge to joint-top of the Premier League, with 2016 champions Leicester City only a point behind.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who were denied a Premier League three-peat by a rampaging Liverpool last season, are beginning to move up the league table after an underwhelming start to their campaign. They trail the Merseyside giants by four points but have two games in hand.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur are level on points with City, with the top five teams in this season's Premier League separated by only four points.
On that note, let us have a look at five players who could play key roles for their sides in the Premier League title race this season.
Five players who could play pivotal roles in an intriguing 2020-21 Premier League title race
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic throwing the football calendar into disarray, some top players have hit the ground running. Their form and performances during the remainder of the current campaign could be key in determining the outcome of what appears to be one of the most open Premier League title races in years.
Without further ado, let us have a look at five such players in no particular order.
#5 Fabinho (Liverpool)
Fabinho has been a key player for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2018.
The defensive midfielder, who played 28 Premier League games apiece in the last seasons, has been slotted to the centre of the Liverpool defence by Klopp following injuries to defensive mainstays Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip.
Liverpool have been uncharacteristically sloppy at the back this season and have lacked their usual fluency up front too. Fabinho's presence could, therefore, be pivotal to the club's chances of a successful Premier League title defence.
The 27-year-old particularly impressed in the win against Chelsea, completing the most passes, recoveries, interceptions and clearances in that game.
It was a performance that drew words of rich applause from Klopp, who said in the aftermath of the game:
"If Sadio wouldn't have scored two goals, I think Fab would be a proper contender for man of the match. I loved his performance, he played outstanding. He helped us a lot with the ball and in defending as well, so yes, a proper performance."
With Van Dijk and Matip ruled out for large swathes of the season, Fabinho could continue to ply his trade at centre-back for the Premier League giants, who will look to keep out a plethora of contenders who are too close to them in the league table at the moment.
#4 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Marcus Rashford has undoubtedly been the best player under Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is trying to inspire an unexpected title run for the beleaguered club.
After their wretched run at home, where they failed to win their first four league games in a season for the first time in almost five decades, Manchester United's stunning exploits on the road and improving form at home have ignited hopes of the club's first Premier League win in eight years.
One player - Marcus Rashford - has particularly starred in the club's recent resurgence. The 23-year-old, who scored 17 Premier League goals last season, has already racked up seven goals and as many assists in the competitions this campaign.
Solskjaer recently spoke about Rashford's impact even when the player is not scoring goals, saying in this regard:
"Both as a player and person he has been absolutely brilliant. We are very proud of him as a person and a player. He was always a threat. We create chances for him and he creates them for others."
Rashford's form could indeed be key to Manchester United's hopes of living up to their darkhorse tag and going all the way in the Premier League this season.
#3 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah is undoubtedly one of the key players in Jurgen Klopp's star-studded Liverpool team that won their first title in the Premier League era.
Though the Egyptian winger scored only 19 league goals last campaign - down from his tallies of 32 and 22 respectively conjured in his previous two seasons in the competition - Liverpool cantered to their first league triumph in three decades.
This season, Salah seems to be back to his goal-scoring ways despite not being in the best of form. Nevertheless, he opened the Premier League season with a hat-trick against Leeds United and has also made an impact off the bench as Liverpool once again look like the team to beat in the English top flight.
Jurgen Klopp was not particularly enthused with reports linking Salah with a move away from Anfield in the summer, observing in this regard:
"No, Spanish football is not for me,’ why should he say that? The only thing he said was we shall see, and it is in the club’s hands. It is 100% true, and it is about having talks about the future. It is really all fine. Mo is a very important player for me obviously, but this story around is not.”
#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Despite a rather underwhelming year for Manchester City in the Premier League - they were denied a three-peat by Liverpool and endured an indifferent start to the 2020-21 campaign - Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the club's star performers.
The Belgian playmaker, who was the only player last year to tally more than a hundred chances in the Premier League, is the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Manchester City team.
The 29-year-old has already conjured eight assists in the 2020-21 Premier League and could break the competition's record for most in a season by the end of the campaign. If that happens, City could harbour genuine hopes of usurping the Premier League title from the grasp of Liverpool.
Guardiola undoubtedly wants his most prized asset to commit his future to the Premier League club, saying in this regard:
"I am pretty sure he will stay but at the same time we have to respect the process. I don't know what is going on, as I didn't speak with (City director of football) Txiki (Begiristain). But he (De Bruyne) knows how we appreciate him, not just as a football player but as a person. He is very important for the club. I am not worried. But at the end, of course, it is his decision."
#1 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes has been a whiff of fresh air since arriving at Manchester United last year.
The Portuguese playmaker has almost singlehandedly transformed the flagging fortunes of a largely mediocre club, helping the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League on the last day of the season.
Carrying on his fine form in the 2020-21 campaign too, Fernandes has already bettered his tally from last season, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists to lead Manchester United's unexpected Premier League title charge.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waxed lyrical about the player, saying in this regard:
“Sometimes I might tear my hair out and say that there’s an easier pass ... but you can’t take that away from Bruno. You want him to be the X-factor who has players ahead of him making runs so I’m pleased with his influence this season and this year."
If Fernandes continues his fine form in the remainder of the season, Manchester United could celebrate their first Premier League title since the departure of their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
