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It has been an eventful season so far in the Premier League. After 14 rounds of games, a clear picture has begun to emerge about what the table may look like come June 2019.
As expected, defending champions, Manchester City are leading the pack. Pep Guardiola's team has been scintillating without having to get into 2nd gear in most matches. These include ties against fellow supposed "Big 6" teams like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool has continued to hang on to the Cityzens' coat-tail despite an attack that has not been firing on all cylinders. Arsenal and Chelsea under new managers; Unai Emery and Maurizio Sarri have also been doing very well.
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The promoted teams; Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cardiff City, and Fulham have found the going tough despite a great start by Nuno Espirito Santo's Wolves. The Cottagers i.e. Fulham are last on the Premier League table, a situation which cost Slavisa Jokanovic his job.
As is common every season, some players have been easily distinguishable from the others. They have been at the forefront of everything good their teams have done so far.
Here is a look at 5 players who may be in with a shout for the title of best player in the Premier League come the end of the season:
#5 Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
The Dutchman had been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League during his days at Southampton. Following his world record (for a defender) transfer to Anfield, the 27-year-old has gotten even better.
Identified by Jurgen Klopp as the man to fix what had become a recurring issue for the Reds, not even the German could have guessed the impact Van Dijk has had.
Unflappable, strong, brilliant in the air, aggressive and a great reader of the game, he has added steel and most importantly, organization to the Liverpool defence. Gone is the backline that was conceding lots of silly goals.
With Van Dijk orchestrating, the defence is the meanest in the league with only 5 goals conceded in 14 matches. Youngster, Joe Gomez has grown exponentially playing alongside the Dutchman.
The backline has been the main reason why the Reds have continued to stay close to Manchester City. If Liverpool is to break its Premier League hoodoo, Van Dijk would be a central figure.
#4 Leroy Sané (Manchester City)
Currently regarded as one of the best young players in world football, Sané has been one of the most watchable wingers for years now.
Being dropped from the Germany squad for the World Cup seemed to have affected his confidence early on. This led to him being dropped by Guardiola who took issues with his attitude in training.
This kick-up the backside was exactly what Sané needed. He has returned to the Manchester City First XI with a vengeance and has been almost unstoppable.
Deployed on the left flank, his combination plays with Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, the two Silvas: Bernardo and David have been cutting teams open time and again. Sané's defensive work has gotten really better this season as he has been using his electric pace to fall back and help out the team.
In 12 games, only 7 has come as starts. In this time, he has scored 5 and made 5 assists. The 22-year-old is well on his way to winning the Young Player of the Year gong for the second consecutive season and may pick up the Player of the Year gong as well.
#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Knowledgeable pundits have had Aubamenyang down as a world-class striker ever since he started putting up ridiculous numbers for Borussia Dortmund.
The Gabonese international has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water. Displaying a ferocious mix of pace, power, skill, and technique, he has been difficult to live with.
After joining from Dortmund in January for £55m plus £5m in add-ons, he has wasted no time in becoming one of the league's pre-eminent strikers.
Despite playing on the left wings at times this season to accommodate strike partner, Alexandre Lacazette, Aubameyang has been deadly in front of goal. He is the first player to hit double figures in the league this season (10).
This makes it 22 goals in just 32 games in the league as an Arsenal player, a quite astonishing return. He has backed himself to finish among the top scorers come the end of the season. On this form, he can win more than the top scorer award with the Player of the Year award a distinct possibility.
#2 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
The jewel in Chelsea's crown and the one constant in a fluctuating team, Hazard has become the central figure in the Blues' improbable title chase for the Premier League.
For a team filled with seasoned internationals including World Cup winners, the dependence on the Belgian captain has been baffling. Such is his importance that when he is on song, Sarri's men are purring and vice versa.
His low centre of gravity, dribbling, technique, and finishing have been in full display this season. Playing a free role and shorn of the defensive work he was burdened by under Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, he has been like a man reborn.
In 13 games so far, Hazard has delivered 7 goals and 5 assists. The 27-year-old has been at the heart of everything good the Blues have done; he has been the best advertisement for Sarriball so far.
He has made a huge case for winning his second Player of the Year and will take some beating.
#1 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Even though he had an excellent campaign last time around, few would have had the 23-year-old as the Cityzens' main man. This was due to the presence of players like David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Aguero and others meant Sterling was not given his due praise.
This has not deterred him as he has continued the new season the same way he ended the last. Leaving defenders trailing in his wake and taking up great goalscoring positions, the former Liverpool man has been on fire this season.
Another year of continued development under Guardiola has made him more intelligent, better at using the ball and improved in various aspects. Sterling's decision making has been of the highest quality so far.
In the 12 games he has featured in, he has delivered prominently with 8 goals and 5 assists. With the manager rotating every other part of the team except the wingers, Sterling will have a lot of time to show how worthy he is of the Player of the Year award.
