8 nominees for 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Season

The Premier League still has yet to see its champions. Arsenal lead the way with 83 points, one more than Manchester City, who have played a game less. Trailing in their wake are Liverpool, who bid farewell to Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season and, with 79 points, will need to experience a miracle in the remaining two games to emerge with the title under their belts. This, on a collective level. On an individual level, the English top flight has named its eight candidates for the Player of the Season award.

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

In another season in which he is not a young talent looking to establish himself, but a key player for Pep Guardiola, he has triumphed against greater competition. The worst affected by the Catalan manager's wealth of assets has been Jack Grealish, whose minutes on the pitch have diminished. His team-mate, on the other hand, has maintained a status inherent in the Sky Blues' first post-treble year.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

His statistics continue to be insane, although this season he has uncovered a potential deficiency in games against the big teams. Whether this is a result of the increased scrutiny he is under, his own demerit or a mixture of both is a matter for analysts and fans to determine or opine on. The fact is that the domestic arena has, once again, been a shooting range for him. 25 goals in 28 games.

Akeksander Isak (Newcastle)

He has been losing space in the spotlight as the 'Magpies' have slipped down the table, but he has maintained a role as a key striker for the revamped Newcastle. He was one of the major investments of the wealthy ownership that took over the club and is showing a keen ability to combine physical power with pace. His versatility is his main asset.

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

This award will be chosen by the fans. If they have an interesting criteria, it is quite likely that they will choose the Norwegian. He has dominated Mikel Arteta's midfield with a recital of controls, of interpretations in complex match situations and of solutions when surrounded that are very difficult to see in the world. To crown it all, the statistics endorse him, although his style does not need data to know the contrast: it is enough to see him in action.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

The former Manchester City man has become Mauricio Pochettino's best player in record time. His impact has been such that, when his manager has not been able to count on him, the team's performances have been greatly affected. With no space under Pep Guardiola, he is another of the great English talents of this decade thanks to his adaptation to a modern football that does not conceive of the classic anchor positions.

Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Quality touches, dribbling and cutbacks are all the rage, but there are few who have mastered these aspects of the game and can also defend. He has settled in perfectly to his change of team in the Premier League, where he previously played for West Ham United, and has shaped the midfield on which the Gunners are founded in this period of their constant bid for glory. Odegaard owes much of his freedom of movement to him.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

It is in hard times that leaders are known. This cliché applies perfectly to the Dutchman, who overcame an anterior cruciate ligament tear some time ago in the prime of his career and has returned to being one of England's most decisive assets. Jurgen Klopp will leave the club at the end of the season and he will remain one of the bosses at Anfield. He scored the winner for the Reds in the EFL Cup final, although this should not count towards the award.

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

He's not the favourite, but who cares? Unai Emery has been able to rely on him to lead the attack for his project in Birmingham, where he was there before the Spanish tactician with good performances in front of goal. In an era of absolute goal beasts such as Haaland and Mbappe, the Torquay native, who has moved through a number of positions in his career, is evidence that the middle ground is only average when compared to the stratospheric: his 19 goals and 12 assists in 35 domestic games are not exactly the norm.