Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne are currently the frontrunners for the individual PFA Player of the Year award, but history suggests that it could be the former who prevails.
Salah’s four-goal heroics against Watford at the weekend means the attacker has now scored 36 goals in 41 games across all competitions this season, which is the best ever tally by a Liverpool player in a debut season at Anfield.
The Egyptian has struck 28 times in the Premier League alone and is on course to beat Tottenham striker Harry Kane to the golden boot.
Meanwhile, midfield playmaker De Bruyne has been influential for champions-elect Man City, scoring 11 goals and supplying 19 assists in all competitions.
There isn’t much to split the pair in terms of whose had a better season, but if you delve deeper there is a strange statistic which highlights how Man City have been snubbed in the past.
A Sky Blues player has not won the individual award during the Premier League era despite them winning the title twice in the past, meaning the likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany have all missed out.
Robin van Persie won the award the first time City won the league in the 2011/12 season and two seasons later it was Luis Suarez who bagged the individual award whilst City were top of the league.
Liverpool have not lifted the top-flight title since the introduction of the Premier League in 1992, but Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez have both been awarded with the PFA crown, when Liverpool finished third and second in the league respectively.
Man City fans would have every right to be left furious if once again one of their talisman was overlooked.
Only four players have won the award on more than one occasion, with Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale the esteemed quartet.
Man City fans will of course much prefer a Premier League title over an individual award for one of their players, but want their key men to be recognised for their stellar performances.
The heights that De Bruyne has reached this season have been sensational and remarkably he has a lot in common with Liverpool counterpart Salah.
Both were on the books with reigning Premier League champions Chelsea and sold on by then manager Jose Mourinho after being deemed not good enough to play at Stamford Bridge.
However, the duo have had the final laugh at Mourinho as they are now two of the elite stars in England and tearing up defences on a regular basis.
Who do you think should be crowned the POTY?
sportbible.com
