It’s been one of the more interesting seasons in recent years, with the fight for the European spots still in full flow, and those plying their trade in the Championship next season pretty much confirmed.
That’s often the reverse of usual, but one of the benefits of that is the standout performances from players at clubs like Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Newcastle. But do any of those break into the Premier League power rankings for this season? Our resident expert, Kate Richardson, runs down her top picks for Player of the Season come just a few weeks time…
Premier League Power Rankings: Our top picks for 2024/25
Mo Salah
We may as well start with the obvious choice. He’s the top scorer by a mile, broken records for the most goal involvements in Premier League history and has catapulted Liverpool to the title.
He’s become a given to score and is making Liverpool one of the most predictable teams to bet on for many years, helping them win time and time again. In fact, his side have been on the 17 game football mega jackpot prediction by MightyTips regularly and Baxter, their predictor, hasn’t backed Liverpool to lose once.
Nor would you not back Salah to win Player of the Season. He’s a staggering 1/40 with some bookmakers!
Virgil van Dijk
Staying with the league leaders, Virgil van Dijk has refound his form to become one of the best defenders in the Premier League, and perhaps even one of the top defenders in Premier League history, after another fine season.
The Reds are conceding less than a goal a game and the Dutchman is a big part of that. A league title could be the perfect way to sign off his time with Liverpool, with the 33-year-old out of contract in the summer, but rumours are that he may sign on the dotted line for a further two years.
His love for Liverpool is clear to see, recently saying: “Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool that is just part of me.
“That’s why I’m always proud when I wear that shirt, go out there and try to be the best version of myself in terms of the football player that I am.”
Sounds like he’ll be wearing that captain’s armband at Anfield again next year!
Alexander Isak
Newcastle have really found their groove under Eddie Howe this season and alongside lifting the League Cup, they’re in a great position to seal a top five spot and Champions League football next season.
The main man helping fire them is Alexander Isak, the Swedish striker who has picked up 20 goals and six assists in just 28 games. He’s been a real standout performer this season and, worryingly for Newcastle fans, is linked to several clubs who are willing to pay big bucks for him, including Liverpool. According to reports, “they may make a £130 million offer for the 25-year-old, which perhaps says all you need to know about the impact he’s had on the division this year.”
On the flip side, keep hold of him, do some good business in the summer, and The Magpies could be a solid force to be reckoned with next season.
Cole Palmer
It’s fair to say Cole Palmer is one of the best England players right now in the top flight. You may have said the best players in the world at one point earlier this season, but in recent months the Chelsea man’s stock has fallen.
Cole Palmer still makes the list as a potential candidate after impressing most of the year, but his performances of late have been closer to average. He’s not scored in three months and looks to be lacking confidence. It is worth noting though, that his teammates may also play a part in that. Between December and February, he created more chances than any other player in Europe, yet none were converted.
He’s got a few more weeks to turn it around. Do so and help the Blues reach the Champions League spots, and he’ll be back in the race.
Morgan Gibbs-White
The year Nottingham Forest are having is nothing short of remarkable. Nuno Espirito Santos’ men sit third in the league and have a great chance of securing Champions League football next season. One of their leaders, Morgan Gibbs-White has been instrumental in that, marshalling the heart of the midfield.
His performances this season have earned him an England call-up, while there’s also a lot of interest from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City who are monitoring him.
However, what the manager, Gibbs-White and other key performers at Forest have done is create a tight knit group who are loving every second of the ride. Paul Robinson, the former England goalkeeper believes that goes a long way in keeping people at the club: “I don’t think he [Nuno] has an issue with keeping hold of any of those players because they’re putting together, they’re a part of something really special at the moment at Nottingham Forest, and going into the Champions League is going to appeal to all of those players.”
The Best of the Rest?
There are, of course, plenty of other candidates too. Gibbs-White’s teammate Chris Wood is the league’s fourth top scorer and has also been instrumental in the club’s success.
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice have produced real high quality performances across the season and will certainly be in the Team of the Season when that gets announced.
It’s still all to play for though with a few weeks to go, and with the European spots especially still to play for, we may see one or two players shine and just edge out the other contenders come the end of May.
