The 2021-22 Premier League campaign is quickly winding down, with Liverpool and Manchester City battling it out for the title race. As of right now, the Citizens are just one point ahead of the Reds with nine games left in the season.
Throughout the term, there have been a number of breathtaking performances from various different players, whether it's in the final third or defensively.
That being said, let's take a look at 3 players who could win Premier League Player of the Year at the season's end.
3 players who could win Premier League Player of the Year
Mo Salah, Liverpool
Salah is once again flying high for Liverpool, leading the Premier League with 20 goals this term. On a weekly basis, the Egyptian international is absolutely clinical in front of goal, creating havoc amongst opposing backlines. While Salah will likely win the Golden Boot, he does a lot more than just score goals. Salah has also tallied 10 assists for the Reds, possessing an impressive eye for a pass and forming an electric partnership with the likes of fellow attackers Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Liverpool new boy Luis Diaz.
Salah won Premier League Player of the Year before and is currently the frontrunner for the award. He'll continue to be a massive part of Jurgen Klopp's side as they look to snatch the title away from City. If the goals and assists keep pouring in, we could really see him pull off the double in individual silverware.
Kevin De Bruyne, Man City
De Bruyne is arguably the most gifted midfielder in world football. He's the heartbeat of Man City's attack thanks to his ability to thread a needle with a pass. Like Salah, the Belgian international has captured this honor before, but on two occasions. From a numbers standpoint, nothing really stands out drastically for De Bruyne this term. He's netted nine times and supplied just three assists, but his importance to Pep Guardiola's squad goes so much further than stats.
The 30-year-old is a wizard with the ball at his feet. He is almost always the main catalyst on the counter-attack, creating the necessary space to open up pockets for his teammates to make runs. The likes of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva wouldn't be able to thrive in the final third if it wasn't for De Bruyne. He is an extremely smart player who fits perfectly into Pep's system.
Just like Salah, De Bruyne's involvement in City's pursuit of another Premier League title will play an integral part in his chances of winning this piece of hardware.
Declan Rice, West Ham
Sure, he doesn't play for a massive club, but Declan Rice has been fantastic for West Ham, who are fighting tooth and nail for a spot in Europe. The Englishman is attracting the interest of many different Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester United, but the Hammers are poised to keep the hard-working midfielder.
Rice isn't one to bag a ton of goals or lay on countless assists. Instead, he focuses on his work rate from box to box. Rice ranks 8th in the top flight with 65 tackles and is never afraid to put his body on the line. He is truly the engine of David Moyes' team in the middle of the pitch every single match. The 23-year-old is also a very bright player and has wonderful anticipation, notching 47 interceptions this term. Just one goal and four assists isn't much, but Rice is extremely crucial to West Ham's success on both ends. He is the definition of a No.6.
Again, if the Hammers potentially creep into the top-four, it would help his chances to win Premier League Player of the Year. He's more of a dark horse at this point, but it's not impossible.
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