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The five favourites for the PFA Player of the Year award

The PFA Player of the Year award is English football’s highest individual honour, recognition as the league’s finest from your fellow professionals.

Phil Foden scooped the award last season after inspiring Manchester City’s title success, but who are the favourites to claim the 2024/25 accolade?

Liverpool’s lightning start to the season has their big names in the conversation, while there are Arsenal and Chelsea stars also in contention. Incredibly, no Manchester City player makes the top five with the champions having endured a torrid run of late. UsingSoccer odds on UnitBet Australia, we’ve looked at the five frontrunners for the award.

Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool (16/1)

Virgil van Dijk is one of just three defenders to have won the PFA Player of the Year award in the Premier League era, having scooped the prize in 2018/19. The Dutch defender followed Paul McGrath and John Terry in being voted the Premier League’s best after leading Liverpool to Champions League success.

Fast forward six years and the 33-year-old remains arguably the best centre-back in the game. He has been integral in the club’s title challenge with Liverpool boasting the division’s best defensive record.

Martin Odegaard – Arsenal (16/1)

Martin Odegaard sits among the most watchable footballers in Europe with almost everything good Arsenal do flowing through the Norwegian. His recent return from injury has lifted the level of Mikel Arteta’s team. Having struggled before his return from an injury layoff, a transformation of fortunes could see Odegaard cited as the catalyst.

Bukayo Saka – Arsenal (7/1)

Bukayo Saka has set his sights on a Premier League record.

The Arsenal winger has 10 assists for the season and counting, with the single-season record of 20 – held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne – a viable ambition before the campaign’s end. Saka has showcased such incredible consistency since breaking into the Arsenal side that it’s easy to forget he only turned 23 in September. He’s a contender to add the PFA Player of the Year to his PFA Young Player title won in 2022/23.

Bukayo Saka has registered 22 goal contributions across all competitions this season.

Only Mo Salah has more among Premier League players 👏 pic.twitter.com/5ZCFfsETRk

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 18, 2024

Cole Palmer – Chelsea (9/2)

Last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year is another aiming for senior recognition this season.

Cole Palmer has been a revelation in a Chelsea shirt with no player in the Premier League directly involved in more goals since his debut for the Blues last season. His inventive genius on the pitch and authentic off-the-pitch personality have made Palmer a real favourite.

Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (1/1)

Mohamed Salah is the favourite for the award after a scintillating start to the season for Liverpool.

The ‘Egyptian King’ has 13 goals and nine assists in just 15 league appearances, with the former a leading total in the Premier League. He’s averaged a Premier League goal involvement every 60 minutes to fire Liverpool to the top of the division.

⚽️ 16 goals

🅰️ 13 assists

Mohamed Salah is on CRAZY form this season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mSPkmb51BY

— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 14, 2024

Salah is chasing history this season. A fourth Premier League Golden Boot would equal Thierry Henry’s record, while he could become the first-ever three-time winner of the PFA Palyer of the Year award, after recognition in 2017/18 and 2021/22. Mark Hughes, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Kevin De Bruyne and Salah have won previously won the award on two occasions.