Manchester City’s Norwegian terminator came out on top in 2022-23, but is being pushed all the way by a club colleague this time around
The 2023-24 Premier League season is now edging towards a dramatic conclusion, with Manchester City in sight of a record-breaking fourth consecutive title. Erling Haaland is once again leading the way in the goalscoring stakes, which still makes him a favourite to defend his Premier League Player of the Season crown from 2022-23, but he hasn’t quite managed to reach the same ridiculously high standards.
A host of contenders for Haaland’s throne have emerged from Liverpool and Arsenal, though both clubs are now at risk of being cut adrift by the champions, while Unai Emery’s swashbuckling Aston Villa side have surprised everyone. Tottenham, led by their own innovator Ange Postecoglou, are now the only team who can stop Villa landing the final Champions League spot, and that race promises to be every bit as exciting as the one for the title.
A number of summer signings have become vital players at their new clubs, while certain players have benefitted from a managerial change or improved injury situation to rediscover their best form or reach an even higher level. And with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea still struggling for consistency, plenty of surprise names are also pushing to knock Haaland off his perch.
GOAL has rated the best performers so far to figure out who should be the frontrunners for the 2023-24 Premier League Player of the Season award as the finishing line approaches…
16Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) ⬇️
West Ham are no longer riding the wave of their 2022-23 Europa Conference League success, but they are still in the mix for a top-seven finish under David Moyes. A lot of the credit must go to Bowen, who scored the winner in their now famous final victory over Fiorentina last May, as he’s improved his finishing to help the Hammers become one of the most effective counter-attacking sides in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old is already up to 15 Premier League goals this season, nine more than he managed in the whole of last term, and has managed to set up another five as the focal point in the Hammers’ attack. Bowen has forced his way into the England squad as a result, and could start attracting interest from top clubs if he continues on his current trajectory.
15Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) ⬇️
Nunez struggled to adapt to the pace of English football in his debut year at Anfield, but has gradually transformed into Liverpool’s master of chaos, and opposition defences have had a torrid time trying to keep him at bay. A haul of 19 goal contributions from 30 Premier League appearances proves that Nunez has added end product to his game, even if he doesn’t always make the right decision in the final third.
It’s very difficult to predict what Nunez will do when he gets a sight of goal, which is part of the reason he is so thrilling to watch, and it’s frightening to think how much potential he still has left to unlock at the age of 24.
Liverpool fans have taken Nunez into their hearts because of his fearless, explosive style of play, and he has a bright future ahead at Anfield. He was guilty of missing a boat-load of chances as the Reds dropped points against Manchester United and Crystal Palace, though, and clearly still has rough edges to sharpen in order to become a title winner and genuine Player of the Year contender.
14Son Heung-min (Tottenham) ⬇️
There was a lot of pressure on Son to deliver for Spurs this season. After Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich, the South Korean became the main man in the team, which was further underlined by Ange Postecoglou’s decision to hand him the captaincy.
By his own admission, the 2022-23 campaign was Son’s most disappointing in a Tottenham shirt to date. However, the 31-year-old has shown he still has plenty left in the tank while swapping between his usual position on the left and a central striker role this term.
Son has hit 15 goals, including a vital late efforts against Crystal Palace and Luton in March, showing once again that he is peerless when it comes to the art of finishing. Postecoglou will need him to keep sprinkling his magic if the north London outfit are to regain a place in the Champions League, though Spurs will have to bounce back quickly after a worrying 4-0 defeat at Newcastle.
13Alexander Isak (Newcastle) 🌟
Alexander Isak’s first two seasons in the Premier League have been significantly disrupted by injury, which makes his haul of 27 goals in 46 appearances all the more remarkable. Seventeen of those efforts have come this term, with Newcastle’s initial £60 million ($75m) investment in the forward now looking like a steal, and he only needs one more to break Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s record as the highest scoring Swedish player in a single Premier League season.
Comparisons between Isak and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry have also been drawn because of the Newcastle star’s elegance on the ball and composure in the final third. After seeing Isak hit a stunning brace against Spurs, former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said on TNT Sports: “He is so calm when he gets in those positions. He cut [Mickey] Van de Ven up a few times… You always know he is going to score, he has great feet and leads the line. He’s not got the blistering pace Henry had, but the calmness in front of goal.”
All the top Premier League clubs are now interested in Isak, and Newcastle may have a fight on their hands to keep hold of him in the summer. If the 24-year-old can finally put his fitness problems behind him, there is no limit to what he could achieve in the coming years.
12Ruben Dias (Manchester City) ⬆️
City are still among the best defensive sides in England, which is mainly down to the presence of Dias, who is one of the few players in Guardiola’s line-up that doesn’t seem to be at risk of rotation. The Portuguese is a master defender with superb positional sense and excellent technical qualities, and always takes on a leading role in his partnerships with Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake.
John Stones’ continued struggles with injury have robbed Dias of his main right-hand man, and he had his share of setbacks earlier in the season, but it’s impossible to keep such a smooth operator down for long. If City are to make more history come May, Dias will be front and centre once again as the general in Guardiola’s ranks.
11Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) ⬇️
So many people wrote Virgil van Dijk off after a dismal 2022-23 season, but he’s shown that class is permanent over the past nine months, rolling back the years to lead Klopp’s new crop of ‘mentality monsters’.
There isn’t a more complete defender in the game than Van Dijk when he’s firing on all cylinders, and that has been the case almost every time he’s taken to the pitch this term, as he’s dominated in one-on-one duels and won everything in the air while setting the tone for Liverpool’s attacks with his composure and quality on the ball.
Klopp’s shock decision to step down as head coach at the end of the season only seemed to give Van Dijk another injection of motivation, as evidenced by his stunning performance in the Reds’ Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea, which he capped by heading in the winning goal.
The Dutchman will want to help Klopp sign off with a second Premier League crown, but a rare off day in the shock defeat to Palace has left Liverpool playing catch-up. It will now be the 32-year-old’s responsibility to make sure that the Reds’ season doesn’t completely collapse, and there is no better man for the job.
10Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) ↔️
“The way he behaves himself in front of the group and the standards that he sets are outstanding,” Mikel Arteta said after Martin Odegaard’s Man-of-the-Match performance for Arsenal against Luton on April 3. “He’s a really important player. We needed that balance. Martin is vital to connect everything in the way we play.”
Odegaard hit his seventh Premier League goal of the season in that 2-0 home victory, and produced another masterclass in a 3-0 win at Brighton just three days later. The Norwegian never made the grade at Real Madrid, but they must now be rueing their decision to give up on him so soon, as he’s proven himself as one of the best playmakers in Europe at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal know they can rely on Odegaard to take the ball under pressure and make things happen, while he also makes a vital contribution with his work rate out of possession, setting a shining example for his team-mates. Arteta received fierce criticism for taking Odegaard off in the Gunners’ shock defeat to Aston Villa, which just goes to show how highly-regarded he is among supporters, too, and he has the potential to go on and become a club legend.
9Rodri (Manchester City) ⬆️
odri’s status as the best defensive midfielder in Europe is unquestionable. The Spaniard was the driving force behind City’s run to the treble, and even scored the winner in the Champions League final. The 27-year-old looks as motivated as ever in 2023-24 too, with his tenacity and energy setting the tone for City amid their pursuit of even more silverware.
Guardiola initially brought in Rodri as a successor to Fernandinho, but he must now be classed as a huge upgrade on the Brazilian. The former Atletico Madrid man has no flaws in his game and City usually suffer when he is absent, as illustrated when Guardiola’s side slumped to back-to-back defeats against Wolves and Arsenal in October without their star midfielder.
City did hand Rodri a deserved rest in their rout of Luton Town, but need him to maintain discipline so that they are not hampered by any further suspensions, especially given the fact he is also making such an important contribution going forward. Rodri has hit seven Premier League goals in 2023-24, with his latest superb strike setting City on their way to a vital win at Aston Villa, and he can always be relied upon to seize the initiative in the tightest matches.
8William Saliba (Arsenal) ⬇️
Arsenal have been able to launch an even stronger title challenge this season with Saliba providing a rock solid base in the heart of the defence. The Frenchman was in the treatment room for the business end of the 2022-23 campaign and the Gunners fell apart in his absence, but he has returned in better shape than ever before.
Arteta’s side have the best defensive record in the division so far this term, which is largely thanks to Saliba’s immense displays. The 23-year-old is a master when it comes to timing tackles and has the cool head to help Arsenal turn defence to attack within the blink of an eye.
No one is more important to the collective cause than Saliba, but he is now facing his biggest test yet in an Arsenal shirt. He didn’t cover himself in glory during the Gunners’ damaging 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, and will need to show real strength of character to lift the team if they are to have any hope of catching City at the top of the table.
7Cole Palmer (Chelsea) ⬆️
Palmer made the brave decision to leave Man City last summer in search of regular minutes, and has since proven to be the bargain of the season for Chelsea at £42.5 million ($54m). The 21-year-old has been the biggest bright spark throughout another frustrating campaign for the Blues, showing maturity and skill belying his tender age while taking on a leading role in Mauricio Pochettino’s set-up.
The Argentine has deployed Palmer in a number of different positions, and he’s risen to the challenge each time, with his brilliance on the ball adding a new dimension to Chelsea’s attack. Palmer can execute a defence-splitting pass from anywhere on the pitch and has a real eye for goal, which has earned him senior recognition for England.
Chelsea still have a long way to go before they can challenge the elite again, but they have one of the most exciting talents in Europe on their hands in Palmer, and it will be fascinating to see how he continues to develop in the coming months at Stamford Bridge.
6Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) ↔️
aka deservedly scooped the 2022-23 PFA Young Player of the Year award after spearheading Arsenal’s surprise title charge, and may just be in with a shout of landing the senior prize this time around, having made another huge stride forward under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have paced themselves far better this season, with Saka proving to be the difference-maker at the top end of the pitch once again. The 22-year-old can score from any angle and has the creative qualities to open up defences at will, which is why he has already posted 22 goal contributions this term.
Arteta is now having to manage Saka’s minutes more effectively due to burnout concerns, but he will continue to be Arsenal’s most important player in the biggest games, as he blocks out the critics who claim he is still not “world-class”. That debate will rage on if the Gunners fail to win the title again, but Saka’s presence alone means that they cannot yet be written off.
5Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) ⬇️
alah’s status as a Liverpool legend has long been secured, and he proved his loyalty to the club beyond all reasonable doubt when Al-Ittihad came calling in the summer window. A lucrative move to Saudi Arabia was on the table, but Salah stayed put, and has since shown his unique value to Klopp’s side once again.
Salah has recorded 16 goals and nine assists to help Liverpool re-emerge as title contenders, and the 31-year-old will still be backing himself to beat Haaland to the Golden Boot, despite his side’s alarming recent form. Winning a second Premier League winners’ medal would cement his status among the greatest players to ever grace English football, but he does still seem to be struggling for rhythm after suffering an unfortunate AFCON injury with Egypt.
Klopp’s nine-year reign may not end in glory now that City have reclaimed their spot at the Premier League summit. It would, however, be foolish to dismiss Salah as a spent force, and Liverpool supporters will be praying that he reaches his best level again down the home straight.
4Declan Rice (Arsenal) ⬇️
Arsenal’s club-record £105m ($131m) signing, Rice has been at instant hit since swapping West Ham for the bright lights at the Emirates Stadium, having opted for a move across London instead of joining up with Guardiola’s winning machine at City. Rice is already the first name on Arteta’s team-sheet, and endeared himself to supporters with a crucial late goal for the Gunners that set them on their way to a home win over Manchester United in August.
The 25-year-old is unmatched when it comes to ball recoveries and interceptions, but he also carries a real threat going forward – as evidenced by his stunning long-range efforts against Chelsea and West Ham. The England international also showed off his dead-ball expertise in the 6-0 demolition of his former club at the London Stadium as he notched two assists, having been appointed Arsenal’s new permanent corner-taker at the turn of the year.
Rice’s willingness to embrace extra responsibility is what really makes him special, and his infectious energy has lifted Arsenal to another level. Winning a first Premier League crown since 2003-04 may still be a pipedream for the Gunners after their loss to Villa, and Rice was along those to let his standards slip, but he remains arguably the best all-round midfielder in the country right now.
3Erling Haaland (Manchester City) ⬆️
Haaland is on course to win a second-successive Golden Boot with 20 league goals to his name in the current campaign, despite being absent in December and January due to injury, though the 23-year-old has largely flattered to deceive since his return.
More and more questions are being asked over Haaland’s lack of involvement in general play, with Manchester United legend Roy Keane claiming he “looked like a League Two player” during City’s recent 0-0 draw with Arsenal. It is certainly fair to say that the Norway international needs to work on the technical side of his game, but as Guardiola has pointed out, he’s still the best striker in the world.
Even when he’s on the periphery of games, Haaland will still get chances because of his intelligent movement and natural intuition in and around the box. He’s also a strong character who doesn’t let negative comments bring him down and instead uses them as fuel, which is why City’s rivals would be foolish to let their guard down.
Haaland remains the most deadly weapon in Guardiola’s arsenal, as he proved once again by scoring in City’s back-to-back wins over Palace and Luton, and he’s poised to finish the campaign in explosive fashion.
2Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) ⬆️
Watkins has been Villa’s main source of goals since his arrival at the club in 2020, and bagged 15 during the club’s run to a top-seven finish last season, but he is now taking his game to new heights under Emery.
The 28-year-old is already up to 19 goals this term, with his latest superb finish capping off Villa’s massive victory over Arsenal at the Emirates, while he’s also managed to lay on another 10 for his team-mates, catching the eye of England boss Gareth Southgate in the process.
Villa have fallen off the pace at the top of table, which was always a likely scenario given their lack of squad depth, but they are still very much in the battle for a top-four finish thanks to Watkins’ ruthlessness. And if the Villa talisman can keep delivering the goods, he will surely book a seat on the plane to Germany with his country this summer.
1Phil Foden (Manchester City) ↔️
City have been blessed with a host of creative geniuses during the Guardiola era, but Foden is well on his way to eclipsing all of them. At just 23, he already looks like a complete player, and is now the one City turn to to open games up with his agility and speed of thought in possession.
Foden has 14 Premier League goals to his name already this season, his best-ever total, and there could be plenty more to come if he stays fit. The England man has become the most feared member of an all-star City team and looks unstoppable right now, with his latest stellar showing coming in the 4-1 win over Villa, which saw him net his second hat-trick of the season.
Guardiola took the decision to rest Foden for City’s last two Premier League games while juggling Champions League commitments, which could end up being a masterstroke, as he should now be ready to make a decisive impact in both competitions once again.
England’s status as favourites for the Euros also has a lot to do with Foden, who sits in the world-class bracket already and has all the attributes to go on and become one of the greatest players of his generation – with the 2024 Ballon d’Or now firmly within his sights.