As we start gearing up for the title run in and a relegation battle, we should remember that April is also the start of the Premier League award season.

With that in mind, I thought I’d identify four players that have caught my eye this term and who could be in the mix when the Player of the Year nominees are announced.

SERGIO AGUERO – MANCHESTER CITY

It’s crazy to think that the Man City striker hasn’t picked up the honour before, especially when you consider the Argentine’s regular goalscoring feats at the Etihad Stadium since his arrival in 2011.

If anything Aguero is actually playing better now than he’s ever done previously.

A big part of that is down to his working relationship with manager Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard seemed unsure about Sergio and paid a big fee to bring in young Brazilian hotshot Gabriel Jesus. Aguero didn’t sulk though, instead he got his head down and became a better all round forward.

This season the hitman currently leads the Premier League scoring charts with eighteen goals in twenty-six appearances. He’s also managed to help the team’s cause with six assists.

He’s City’s all-time leading goalscorer and earlier in this campaign he bagged a hat-trick and he equalled Alan Shearer’s record for the most hat-tricks in the Premier League.

But after that record, Sergio stated it was nice but his focus was always on the team (Source – The Independent):

“I am happy for the hat-trick and to break records in the Premier League and for the club.”

That will be music to Pep’s ears.

Aguero has been undroppable and almost unstoppable this season.

The thirty year old is a difference maker and just seems to be getting better. It could be the perfect time to recognise his enduring talent by giving him the Player of the Year award!

VIRGIL VAN DIJK – LIVERPOOL 

Liverpool have enjoyed a tremendous season thus far and a big part of that is down to their £75m record signing Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman joined in January 2018, seamlessly fitted into The Reds back four and automatically became the defensive leader that Jurgen Klopp’s side craved.

No team in England’s top flight has a better defensive record than Liverpool this season, they’ve conceded just eighteen goals in thirty-one games. While new goalkeeper Alisson has also played a major part in that, I don’t think many can argue that Van Dijk is the glue that keeps the backline together.

He’s been an ever present this term in the league. Injury issues have meant that he’s had various partners at the back but he has remained calm and got the best out of all his centre-back teammates.

As well as being a Rolls-Royce type defender, making immaculate interceptions and clearances, he’s also a player that can play out from the back. According to Whoscored, he’s got an 89% passing success rate. His range of passing can be fantastic for a defender!

Virgil is also a defender that can be a handful in the other penalty area too, having scored three Premier League goals already in this campaign.

These big player honours usually get bossed by the creative mavericks and the prolific goalscorers but Virgil van Dijk has shown us that the art in defending hasn’t totally disappeared and that could see him rewarded when the awards are being handed out!

RAHEEM STERLING – MANCHESTER CITY 

The English international has become a top class player under Pep Guardiola at Man City. Not just in flashes but in the majority of games too. He’s a man that will step up when his team need him, especially in the big moments.

Raheem works extremely hard for the team and he’ll fight till very end. Not just in the league but also in the Champions League.

The forward has also contributed for him national team, doing well as England reached the semi-final during last summer’s World Cup and scoring a hat-trick in his country’s recent win over the Czech Republic.

Domestically the twenty-four year old has been sensational.

He’s been equally as good on either wing too. In twenty-seven games (twenty-four starts) Sterling has contributed phenomenally with fifteen goals and nine assists.

His directness puts defences on the back foot and his discipline to keep to his role also has to be admired.

Raheem Sterling has come of age this season; he’s a constant threat, has the confidence to take chances on and has improved in every area of his game. His consistency has been great this season and could see him rewarded with a personnel accolade to go along with the team trophies he’s helped secure for his club.

EDEN HAZARD – CHELSEA 

There’s always a player that misses out on these awards because their best form happened at the start of the season.

Eden Hazard has been terrific once again for Chelsea this year but at times his fine form has been overshadowed by his team’s poor collective form.

At the start of the campaign, Eden was almost winning games on his own. New boss Maurizio Sarri had given the Belgian the freedom to shine as the side’s creative genius. But as Chelsea started to struggle Sarri would start to tinker and he’d use Hazard as a false nine at times and that’s not the star’s favoured position.

He’s still the performer that The Blues will look to if they need inspiration and he has been by far and away their top player.

No Premier League player has produced more than Hazard’s eleven assists so far this season and he’s also Chelsea top scorer with thirteen goals.

The forward has the ability to damage any opposition team. He can dibble beyond defenders at will and can pop up at any given time and save Chelsea.

Will probably miss out due to his team’s failings rather than his own. England will miss him terribly if he signs for Real Madrid in the summer.

Posted on March 24th, 2019 by scott
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