If you can sift your way through the endless stream of over-the-top reaction to Liverpool’s winner against Nottingham Forest, chances are the next story you’ll find is something about Phil Foden. The Manchester City star is certainly the flavor of the month right now.
And, in fairness, with good reason. The 23-year-old is in the form of his life right now, and he showed that in the Manchester derby on Sunday as he fired City to victory to victory with two goals.
Foden has 18 goals — already a personal best — and 10 assists so far this season, and is being talked about as a potential Player of the Year winner. At the moment, his manager doesn’t rank anyone higher.
“What can I say? He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable,” Pep Guardiola said after the win over Manchester United.
Foden is certainly the form player in the league, but is he the best? And does he deserve to be crowned as such at the end of the season?
Much will depend on his form between now and the end of the campaign. Recency bias tends to play a big role in the end-of-season awards, so in that sense, he might well be timing his run perfectly.
But there’s a very real argument to be made for him not even being the best player at City. Rodri is the current favorite to win the PFA Player of the Season award, and it’s easy to see why when you look at City’s record with and without him in the team.
Not only that, but Foden and Rodri will come up against another player this weekend who should be in the running for the same accolades — even if the bookmakers don’t particularly rate his chances.
Virgil van Dijk has bounced back spectacularly from what was a disappointing campaign last season. Already he has captained Liverpool to one trophy — and picked up the man of the match award in the Carabao Cup final in the process — and could well lead the Reds to another three.
The Dutchman has been superb this season, once again looking the commanding figure at the back for Liverpool. He is hindered, through no fault of his own, by his position though.
A quick glance at the favorites (as per SkyBet) for the Player of the Year award shows Van Dijk is the highest-rated defender in the Premier League. He’s only just placed ahead of Kevin De Bruyne though, who has played just 13 games, while William Saliba, heralded as one of Arsenal’s most important players, is considered a rank outsider on par with Aston Villa’s John McGinn.
Forwards inevitably get the most attention for these awards, but Van Dijk can tip the scales in his favor this weekend. With City coming to Anfield, it’s the perfect opportunity for the 32-year-old to show just why he should be considered ahead of Foden and Rodri.
If — and it is still a big if — Liverpool does go on to win the Premier League, there can surely be no more deserving winner. Now it’s time for Van Dijk to show exactly why.