6. Adam Lallana
Not to many people knew what this lad was capable of at the start of the season, people are aware now. He has played in every one of Southampton’s 35 Premier league games so far this season, racking up an impressive 9 goals from midfield. He has burst on the international scene with England and is a dead cert to be on the plane to Brazil for England. The 25-year-old has more tactical ability that most England players lack and has a great creative ability to set other players up. The best clubs in the Premier League have put Lallana on their wanted list with Manchester United and Liverpool showing strong interest. Southampton have had a good season and have produced a number of good players with Lallana being the stand out performer, he doesn’t quite match up to the seasons that other players have had but does thoroughly deserve his place in the top six.
5. Daniel Sturridge
The first of three Liverpool players listed for the Player of the Year award is Daniel Sturridge who has had a great season at the Merseyside club. Sturridge has scored an impressive 20 goals in just 26 league appearances, with a further 7 assists to add to that. Sturridge is another certainty to be on the plane to Brazil for England and will most likely be in the starting eleven. Sturridge could have been higher on the list but his season has been derailed by a number of injuries, although none to serious. Sturridge is a striker that will drift in and out of games but give the lad one chance and he will punish you with his finishing ability. Liverpool picked up a real bargain in signing Sturridge for just 12million from Chelsea and has proved his doubters wrong this season playing a key role in Liverpool’s title bid.
4. Eden Hazard
It took Hazard a while to adjust to English football after his 32million move from Lille to Chelsea, but this season he has been a revelation for Chelsea. Chelsea often play three attacking midfielders behind the striker and Hazard is always one of them. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho likes to swap and change with the team resting key players but with Hazard he knows he has to play the Belgium winger. Hazard has scored a total of 14 goals in 33 league appearances, and is still at the tender age of just 23 years of age. Hazard has all the qualities to be potentially one of the best footballers in the world in a couple of years, he has pace, can finish and can dribble with the ball past the best defenders in the world.
3. Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure has revelled in the fact that new Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has given the three time African player of the year more licence to go further up the field. The manager has been rewarded in his decision with Toure, 30, scoring 18 goals in 31 league appearances. His best goal tally previously was 6 league goals in Man City’s previous three seasons, tripling his previous goal tally for City. Toure is has got raw power and very surprising speed for a man of his size. Yaya Toure has led Man City on a title charge, but whenever he has been missing, not surprising, Man City have not played as well. Often at times this season he has switched between attack and defence depending on the game, but usually has licence to be a box-to-box midfield and roam the field.
2. Steven Gerrard
Nobody thought Steven Gerrard could have a season like he has at the age of 33,but Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers decision to play Gerrard in a deeper role for the Reds has worked a treat. Gerrard does not need to run as much as he used to and he can sit back and supply the balls for players of the calibre of Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling etc. The Liverpool skipper has scored 13 goals this season, his second best total in the Premier League. With 10 assists this season he has been a creative force for Liverpool in their overall game. When Liverpool have needed a cool head to convert vital penalties in big games Gerrard has stepped up to the park to convert them. It’s not just his overall game as the reason he is this high on the list it’s his leadership on and off pitch. Liverpool have a relatively young and inexperienced team and need to have a leader on the pitch to get them through the games, this was emphasised most in the emotion and the team huddle led by Gerrard at the end of the critical Manchester City win telling the other players to go into the next game exactly the same. The skipper has had a great influence in Liverpool’s title bid and even non-Liverpool fans want Gerrard to finally claim a Premier League winners medal.
1. Luis Suarez
Surely this is the year that Luis Suarez can win the player of the year award after having a remarkable season at Liverpool. Suarez was well on course to possibly winning it last season, but the now infamous moment of madness with Ivanovic caused Suarez to be banned for 10 games. Suarez has scored an incredible 30 goals in 30 league appearances, having missed the first five games of the season due to the ban. Suarez is currently regarded by many as the third best player in world football, behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Uruguayan deserves credit for turning his career around with dazzling performances on the pitch, having been looking like Suarez would Leave Liverpool in the summer. But, recently he has signed a new contract at Anfield and he couldn’t look happier as Liverpool lead the league currently by five points. The 27-year-old has notched 12 assists this season to top both the scorers and the assists charts currently. Suarez has earned peoples respect on the pitch and deservedly deserves to win the player of the year award.
There are whispers on Merseyside that Liverpool have added Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez to their transfer list of attacking players.
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