Eight-Man Shortlist Released For Premier League Player Of The Season
The Premier League have shortlisted eight players to battle it out for its player of the year award.
Last year's winner Erling Haaland has once again been nominated, alongside his Manchester City teammate Phil Foden.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is also nominated as is Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Virgil Van Dijk and Cole Palmer complete the list.
Isak has scored 20 goals and provided one assist for Newcastle this season. The Sweden forward is the first Newcastle player to reach 20 goals in the top flight since Alan Shearer in the 2002/2003 season.
In just 28 matches, Haaland has found the back of the net 25 times and added five assists for Manchester City.
Odegaard has led the charge superbly for an Arsenal side gunning for a first Premier League title in two decades. The Norwegian has eight goals and eight assists in 33 appearances for Mikel Arteta's side.
Palmer has been Chelsea's best player in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, making 30 goal contributions, including 21 goals scored.
Rice has also enjoyed a superb first season at Arsenal which has seen him score seven times and add eight assists for the league leaders.
16 goals and eight assists have been enough to get Foden earn a nomination in the shortlist as well while Watkins has led the line superbly for top four hopefuls Aston Villa. The 28-year-old has scored 19 goals and leads the assists chart with 12.
Van Dijk, who won the award in 2019, has been colossal at the back for Liverpool. The Dutchman has held off the opposition from scoring in eight of the 34 games he has played while chipping in with two goals and two assists.
The winner will be revealed on May 18.
