Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka, and Mohamed Salah were left off of Rio Ferdinand’s shortlist for the Premier League player of the year honours.
Together, the three have racked up 69 goals and assists this season, making them among the finest players in the Premier League.
Before sustaining a hamstring injury in January, Salah propelled Liverpool to the top of the Premier. The Reds will be hopeful that the Egypt international returns from the treatment room soon as the title chase picks up pace.
Haaland has kept up his outstanding leadership of Pep Guardiola’s front line, putting up strong performances against Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool. The Norwegian attacker is still among the division’s most dangerous players, despite having squandered a number of significant opportunities.
Saka, meanwhile, has supported Arsenal in their quest for title with some audacious efforts against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Last season, the Gunners came close to winning the league, but they gave in to pressure and lost first place to Man City, who won the treble.
Ferdinand rejected all three of them as candidates for player of the season when he spoke on TNT Sports prior to City’s match with Copenhagen in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.
Rather, the former Manchester United defender identified Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden as the sole contenders for the honour.
Ferdinand said when asked if Foden was this term’s player of the season: “I would say yes. He is in that mix, definitely. When you think about Player of the Season, who else is there? No one is jumping off the page.
“Ollie Watkins maybe? I think this guy is top of the tree at the moment, but there is still a long way to go in the season and you have got to produce on the home straight. He’s used to it, he’s experienced enough and he’s in the driving seat for that trophy.”
In the Premier League and the Champions League combined, Foden has 15 goals and 10 assists. He has been City’s outstanding performer this season.
While Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who is leading his team’s charge to a top-four finish in the Premier League this season, has scored 16 goals and 10 assists in the league.
