Who Will win the 2021/22 PFA POTY Award?

As the odds suggest, Mohamed Salah has been the standout player in the 2021/22 Premier League, with the Egyptian netting 22 goals and providing 13 assists at present. Salah came flying out the blocks this season, scoring 15 times before the turn of the year, however, has slowed down in 2022, now just one clear at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 22 goals.

The forward has been part of a Liverpool side that has been immense on all fronts, claiming both domestic cups, reaching a Champions League final, and while likely to narrowly miss out on the league, will have pushed Manchester City to the wire.

Whilst achievements outside the league technically shouldn’t be considered in POTY voting, it’s hard to ignore Salah’s season, with the Reds forward now the outright favourite to collect the award for a second time – the first being his debut season for Liverpool back in 2017/18.

Unsurprisingly, Man City maestro Kevin De Bruyne is second in line for this season's POTY as when fit, the Belgian has been instrumental to what looks like another league-winning campaign for the Citizens.

De Bruyne’s first half of 2021/22 was injury-ridden, as the midfielder registered just five goals and one assist before the start of 2022. However, since then, the Belgian has only missed one game, contributing to a further 16 goals, and joining Frank Lampard and Georginio Wijnaldum as the only midfielders to score four times in a Premier League match with his recent quadruple against Wolves.

Sofascore rates De Bruyne as the league’s best player this season, and when he’s been fit it’s hard to argue otherwise, with the Belgian likely helping deliver Pep Guardiola’s side the title for the second season running.

As shown by the odds, outside the two favourites, the remaining candidates for POTY are significant outsiders. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t deter from the fact that Harry Kane, and the two following players on this list have still enjoyed fine seasons, and are deserving of a mention for the award.

After a slow start to the 2021/22 campaign, Kane’s second half of the season has been electric, entering Tottenham’s final game against Norwich with 24 goal contributions in 36 appearances. The Englishman has been unplayable at times this season, with the forward's standout performance coming in Spurs’ 3-2 win at City where Kane bagged a brace.

Kane has been imperative for Antonio Conte and Tottenham, and whilst he is unlikely to win the award, certainly deserves his place amongst this season's top performers.

At 22/1, Bernardo Silva is the second Manchester City player to grace this list. The midfielder has been a constant in Guardiola’s side this season, featuring in all but three of City’s 37 league games having played a multitude of roles and positions.

Silva’s eight league goals mark his best return in a Premier League season, and as well as assisting four times, the Portuguese midfielder has been crucial in implementing City’s all-action style of play through his range of passing and expert close control.

Considering Silva looked set to leave City last summer for Atletico Madrid, to perform to the standard he has this season is undoubtedly impressive, however unfortunately for Silva, if this year’s accolade was to go to a Man City midfielder, De Bruyne would almost certainly be the recipient.

After being side-lined the majority of last season through injury, Virgil van Dijk has reminded Liverpool fans exactly what they were missing in 2021/22. The Dutchman has been ever-present in the Reds defence alongside Joel Matip or Ibrahima Konate, helping Jurgen Klopp’s side challenge for an unprecedented quadruple.

Alongside Man City, Liverpool share the league’s best defensive record in conceding just 24 goals. This significantly improves on last season's 42 goals shipped, highlighting just how important van Dijk is to Klopp’s side.

At 25/1, van Dijk’s odds of winning a second POTY award are relatively high considering the stellar season the former Southampton defender has had at Anfield once again.

Much to many people’s bewilderment, South Korean forward Son currently lies at 40/1 to be chosen as this season’s PFA Player of the Year.

Son has been nothing short of sensational for Tottenham Hotspur this campaign throughout their woes under Nuno Espirito Santo and in their recent highs under current boss Antonio Conte.

The 29-year-old former Bayer Leverkusen man is just one goal behind Salah in the Golden Boot race and with playing Norwich City on the final day of the season this weekend, will likely fancy his chances of achieving this personal accolade.

Like Salah, Son has played 34 games in arguably a more dysfunctional side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, scoring 21 and assisting seven, playing a huge part in Spurs’ revitalization under Conte as they look on course to seal a return to Champions League football.

Son’s odds could potentially be slashed if he wins the Premier League Golden Boot on Sunday, but, for now, he is priced at 40/1 to be named as PFA POTY.