The PFA Premier League Player of the Year award is the greatest prize a player can win besides the league title itself. The honour intends to recognise the most outstanding player who made the biggest impact throughout the season.
This year, the race for the award remains wide open due to the three-way title battle between Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. The narrative that plays out at the top of the table could influence the award’s destiny.
Here we will discuss one player from each of the teams who is positioned strongly in the race for the PFA award. If any of them could make a title-winning impact in the latter stages of the season, then the award could well be theirs.
Rodri Hernandez
Rodri Hernandez has been a vital part of the Manchester City team for many seasons now. He’s crucial when it comes to dictating the tempo of City’s fixtures, as well as breaking up the play.
The Spaniard’s all-action style in midfield has powered Pep Guardiola’s charge to a potential fourth title in a row this year. His efforts are reflected in Premier League online bets as he is one of the favourites to win the PFA Player of the Year award offered at 13/5.
The Premier League tips suggest Rodri’s team have a strong chance of winning the league yet again this year, which could improve the chances of the award going to a member of the Cityzens.
Despite Rodri’s primary defensive role, he’s also accumulated many goal contributions this campaign. The five goals and three assists he recorded in his opening 20 appearances are what arguably make his season more impressive than any of his teammates’.
PEP 💬 Rodri’s so important, definitely. But that’s so simplistic to say one player. I will say it’s not just that, there are many factors. There are games and moments where he didn’t play in previous seasons but we were really good. Maybe there’s a lack of consistency in our… pic.twitter.com/sTezIV7NEk
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 8, 2023
Guardiola’s team could make history with a fourth straight league success this year, and if any player is to be credited individually for that, the all-action Rodri is a strong shout.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah could make history this year by becoming the first player ever to win the award for a third time – he won his first in 2017/18 and added his second in 2021/22.
The Egyptian will probably need to be his team’s most influential player in beating City to the title if he’s to have genuine hopes though. Salah is a 6/1 outsider to be named the Player of the Year award winner, but if his goals ultimately lead Liverpool to the title, then the picture could drastically change.
Happy. New. Year. pic.twitter.com/rGvptFkymA
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) January 1, 2024
With 14 goals and eight assists in his opening 20 appearances this season, his impact is clearly on a league-leading level. Similarly to Rodri, Salah’s chances could be elevated by his team securing the league trophy – as he stands out as Liverpool’s starman.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice only joined Arsenal last summer, yet he has already cemented himself as their most impressive player. He has emerged as the team’s only realistic candidate to be named the 2023/24 PFA Player of the Year offered for a price of 15/2.
Rice is a deep-lying midfielder who gets involved with the goals and assists – like the frontrunner Rodri. He managed eight goal contributions over the opening 24 fixtures of the season.
Individually, it’s hard to argue his impact has matched the likes of Rodri and Salah’s this campaign. However, if he could find an even higher level of form and end Arsenal’s 20-year title drought, then he would be firmly in the running at the end of the season.
Ahead of the last few months of the season, the award looks likely to head into the hands of a City player. Salah or Rice would have to hit remarkable levels of late form to truly challenge several of Guardiola’s stars for the award.
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