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The Premier League is said to be the most competitive league in football. However, this season, Manchester City have made a mockery of that statement. Comfortably ahead of their challengers and primed to break the 100 point barrier, The Citizens have played some beautiful football and are deserving leaders.
Unsurprisingly, the list is dominated by Manchester City players. While teams in the top 5 like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also find representation on this list, Arsenal's struggles this season have been reflected by the fact that not even a single Arsenal player makes the top 10.
Without much ado, let us take a look at the 10 best players in the Premier League this season.
#10 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Eden Hazard, like Chelsea this season, has not been at his best. However, the Belgian superstar has shown glimpses of his full capabilities. Having scored 11 goals and assisted a further 3 in 26 appearances so far, Chelsea will be hoping that their 27-year-old star fires on all cylinders at the business end of the season.
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Undoubtedly Chelsea's most potent attacking threat, Conte has used his star man in a variety of positions ranging from left wing, attacking midfielder and even as a false 9. Extremely skilled and blessed with electric pace, Hazard will be itching to get back to the form he showed last year.
In a season when he and his team have not been at their best, Hazard still makes it to the top 10, which shows how skilled and talented the 27-year-old superstar actually is.
#9 Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur)
One of the most underrated and versatile footballers in the Premier League at the moment, Son Heung-Min has been absolutely brilliant and vital for Tottenham Hotspur this season. Combining excellently with the likes of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, Son has used his pace and dribbling skills to get into some excellent positions and has scored some vital goals for Spurs this season.
In 29 appearances so far, the South Korean has managed to score 12 goals and grabbed 4 assists as well. In a team filled with players like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, and Dele Alli, Son's contributions often go under the radar, but he is definitely one of Mauricio Pochettino's most valued players.
In fact, in an earlier press conference (after a wonderful performance by Son), Pochettino showed his praise for the talented 25-year-old:
“It was a great performance, but it's not only today,” Pochettino said of the forward.
“It's three months we've been talking about Sonny's performance. He's showing he's more mature than last season and his performances are helping the team a lot."
#8 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling did not have the best of starts to his Manchester City career. After initially struggling to nail down a regular starting spot, the 23-year-old England international has finally started to fulfil his immense potential this season.
One of Pep Guardiola's most trusted players, Sterling has popped up time and again to score some timely and crucial goals even scoring some last minute winners to help City on their path to dominance.
Blessed with a good touch, excellent dribbling skills and electric pace, Sterling's only weakness was his finishing. However, this season, the pacy winger has been one of City's most effective players, scoring 15 goals and grabbing a further 7 assists.
With City aiming to win the treble this season, Guardiola will be hoping that Sterling continues his good form and scores some important goals at the business end of the season.
#7 Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
While the likes of Mohamed Salah have run away with all the plaudits this season at Liverpool, Roberto Firmino is probably the most important player for Jurgen Klopp's unique system of gegenpressing to work.
Always running tirelessly and pressing from the front, Firmino's determined displays, tackles, and intelligent passing have helped the likes of Sadio Mane and Salah to find space and score plenty of goals.
The Brazilian star has not been too shabby in front of goal himself. Having scored 14 goals and assisted a further 7 in the Premier League so far, Firmino has also formed an excellent partnership with Mane and Salah thus making him indispensable to the current Liverpool squad.
Firmino's importance to Liverpool can be seen by Jurgen Klopp's quotes in a recent interview with the Daily Mail
"Mo Salah, world class, but not every day. Sadio Mane, world class, but not every day. Roberto Firmino, world class, pretty much every day,"
#6 Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
One of the Premier League's greatest ever strikers, Sergio Aguero, for some reason, never seems to get the attention he deserves. While the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva have been absolutely magnificent this season, Aguero has ruthlessly plundered goals as well having scored 21 in 24 league appearances.
While Pep Guardiola might have rotated him with Gabriel Jesus at the beginning of the season, an unfortunate injury to the Brazilian saw Aguero start a number of games consecutively for City and the Argentine has shown just how lethal he can be in front of goal when given the chance.
Arguably Manchester City's greatest ever player, Sergio Aguero will be keen on ending the season with more silverware and goals after already winning the English League Cup this season.
#5 David De Gea (Manchester United)
'Dave saves' has become a common chant at Manchester United and boy has David De Gea saved Manchester United this season. A supreme shot-stopper and arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, De Gea has time and again helped Manchester United maintain clean sheets by pulling off some truly stunning saves.
Winner of Manchester United's Player Of The Year for 3 seasons in a row, the Spaniard is well on his way to being crowned his club's best player once again. While United's defence has blown hot and cold this season, one man who has been absolutely consistent and as solid as a rock has been the Spanish shot-stopper.
The 27-year-old has 15 clean sheets this season and is just ahead of his rival Ederson (14 clean sheets) in the race for the Golden Glove. De Gea is undoubtedly the best player in the Manchester United squad.
#4 David Silva (Manchester City)
Manchester City have played some beautiful and elegant football this season and, perhaps, the one person who most epitomises the City style of play is 32-year-old Spanish midfielder, David Silva.
The former Valencia man has been simply superb this season, dictating play with his intelligent and incisive passing. In just 24 appearances in the Premier League, Silva has already got 9 assists and scored 8 goals making him one of the most productive players in this free-flowing City side.
One of the best passers in the game at the moment, Silva has been like a man reborn under Pep Guardiola this season. Capable of unlocking defences with a single through-ball and blessed with excellent dribbling ability, Silva will be hoping to end the season on a strong note and win multiple honours with City at the end of the season.
#3 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane has proved all his critics wrong with his wonderful performances in the last few seasons.
Initially dismissed as a one season wonder, Kane has time and again shown that he is among the elite forwards of world football with his stunning performances for Tottenham Hotspur so much so that Pep Guardiola even called Spurs 'that Harry Kane team' in a press conference last year.
Unsurprisingly, Kane has been linked with a number of top European clubs, but the England international himself looked forward to playing in Tottenham's new stadium next season. Speaking in a recent interview, the 24-year-old striker said:
“I remember sitting at White Hart Lane as a fan growing up and watching Tottenham play so to now be part of the team moving into this new stadium is really exciting,” said Kane.
“I can’t wait to see a load of fans inside and what that will look like. I can’t wait to be out there scoring some goals. To think we’re not that far away now is incredible.”
England's greatest hope at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Harry Kane will be hoping to recover soon from an ankle injury and get back to increasing his incredible 24 goal tally in the Premier League.
#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Undoubtedly the jewel in the Manchester City crown, Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the key reasons behind Manchester City's dominance this season. A complete midfielder, the Belgian maestro has arguably taken his game to the next level under Pep Guardiola.
The 26-year-old Belgian playmaker, along with Mohamed Salah, is already the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award and it is easy to see why.
Having scored 7 and assisted another 14 goals, De Bruyne has dovetailed excellently with the likes of Sterling, Leroy Sane and Aguero, and his intelligent and incisive passing has often broken through stubborn defences.
With Manchester City having all but already sealed the Premier League title, De Bruyne will be looking forward to continuing his excellent personal form and cement his place as the best midfielder in Europe this season.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah has undoubtedly been the best signing of this season. The Liverpool forward has surprised everyone with the impact he has had and seems to be showing no signs of slowing down. Playing as a winger, it is astonishing that the Egyptian is the favourite to win the Golden Boot this season.
Cutting in from the right-hand side, the left-footed winger has scored all types of goals, and defenders have struggled to cope with his quick pace, tricky feet, and insane dribbling skills. Salah's stats this season are honestly incredible. Having scored 28 goals and assisted 9 more, the 25-year-old has even been compared to Lionel Messi for his wonderful performances.
With Salah not looking like slowing down anytime soon, the Egyptian forward has a real shot at overtaking the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and win the European Golden Shoe at the end of the season.
