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With more than half the Premier League season complete, we have a basic idea of the title contenders. Well, for this season, it's Manchester City and the other top four contenders because it doesn't seem like the Cityzens are going to relinquish their lead any time soon.
Along the way, we have seen some stellar performances from a number of players for their respective squads this season. Of course, there are a few that stand out - a cut above the rest. The ones fans pay good money to watch every week.
Here are the top five players who are a shoo-in for the Player of the Year award for the 2017/18 season.
#5 Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
This was the season where Jose Mourinho was supposed to bring the league title to Old Trafford. A five-year wait for the trophy the Red Devils have won 20 times before was supposed to en, what with it being Mourinho's second season where he has always enjoyed success at his previous clubs.
They started well, staying at the summit of the table before they fell away in the September-November period with losses to Chelsea and even newly-promoted Huddersfield Town.
The difference between these two periods? Paul Pogba. The French midfielder was sidelined for weeks with a hamstring injury and it cost United points.
The 24-year-old is the glue that holds this team together. He is the creative fulcrum around which the attack pivots and his ability to carry the ball forward unchallenged remains one of his best traits.
"I think he is happy with the way the team is playing and he's happy because the team is changing the profile and the profile is going more in his direction." - Mourinho
There's no question he is now the undisputed star of the team - transfer fee be damned. His constant movement also helps United defensively and his hardworking nature shines through with 32 successful tackles and interceptions in only 13 appearances.
But his biggest contribution is the fact that he leads the league with 9 assists having played far fewer games than the rest of his peers.
If United are to reel in City this season, Pogba will not only have to remain injury-free but also avoid suspensions. It cost United dearly in the Manchester Derby when he was sent off in the match prior to the City game where, again, he had two assists against Arsenal but also two yellow cards.
#4 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
It was too much to burden an English youngster with a £49m price tag at the time. Raheem Sterling had his reasons to leave Liverpool but struggled for consistency at Manchester City.
But one season was all Pep Guardiola needed to mould him into the perfect player for City's system. Playing in a false-nine role at times that made Lionel Messi one of the greatest of all time, Sterling has thrived for City.
Of course, he is no Messi. But at 23, the sky is the limit for the speedy forward who has played across the front three.
His best position is on the right (when Gabriel Jesus or Sergio Aguero starts up front while Leroy Sane plays on the left).
His ability to cut inside and make the right decision in the final third has improved vastly under the Catalan manager's guidance and it comes as no surprise that he leads the City goal scoring charts with 14 goals in the league (Aguero is second with 13).
#3 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
For all the goals Harry Kane scores at Tottenham Hotspur, the only trophies he has to show for it are two Premier League Golden Boots. But one thing that cannot be denied is that the English striker is improving each and every season.
2014/15 saw him score 21 league goals, 2015/16 saw that go up to 25, and last season saw him take that tally up to 29. He also set a new record for most goals in a calendar year when he scored 39 league goals in the calendar year 2017.
However, the only reason he doesn't find himself higher up the list is Spurs' current position in the table. The north London side are fifth - 18 points off the top of the table.
Kane may very well end up winning the Golden Boot again - he already has 20 goals to his name.
But with only two goals against the rest of the top six sides, it only suggests that he has been somewhat of a flat-track bully this season - especially with the gap between the top sides and mid-table clubs widening every season.
#2 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah arrived in Liverpool amidst much fanfare even though he wasn't the top priority at the time - retaining Philippe Coutinho was. But the Reds had done their business well, spending £34m to bring him back to the Premier League from AS Roma.
The former Chelsea winger was never given a chance at Stamford Bridge but has since answered his critics who thought he wasn't built for the Premier League. And how!
There was a point this season when he was ahead of everyone in the goal scoring charts before Kane reclaimed the throne. However, Salah has been far more instrumental in the Anfield club's progress this season under Jurgen Klopp.
With 18 goals (four goals against other top six sides), the Egyptian became a serious contender for the Player of the Year award. The busy festive period didn't seem to tire him and he was involved in 14 goals in his last 10 fixtures (10 goals and 4 assists).
It is why the Merseyside club climbed back into the top four and reeled in Manchester United. Klopp's side are third - three points behind arch-rivals United.
Although the title is probably a step too far at this stage, they can be assured of Champions League football again with the rebuilding process almost complete.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Yet another former Chelsea player who returned to the Premier League with another side is Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian's ability to turn the game on its head is the key characteristic that sets him apart from many other playmakers in the league.
The 26-year-old has matured during his time away from England. That one season with Wolfsburg saw him win the Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2014/15 and City saw the potential he had to be a world beater.
He has consistently impressed since his arrival but Pep Guardiola has elevated his game to never-seen-before levels that can only leave Chelsea wondering what could have been had they retained him.
De Bruyne has 6 goals and 9 assists (season high) this season. What makes him stand out is that he consistently delivers against the top sides. Two assists against Liverpool, a winner against former club Chelsea, and a goal each against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Even when City finally lost their first game against Liverpool, De Bruyne was the only player looking to do some damage at Anfield with his constant movement and vision. Even without his partner-in-crime David Silva, De Bruyne is still capable of running the midfield on his own.
And nobody has created more chances in the league than De Bruyne - 69 chances so far - ahead of Cesc Fabregas, Mesut Ozil, and Christian Eriksen.
With City on course to win the Premier League title - what with a 12-point lead with 15 games left - nobody will question De Bruyne if he wins the Player of the Year award.
