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#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.
