Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk have been praised amid a difficult season for the Reds under Arne Slot this year, with much improvement required this summer
10:07, 13 May 2026
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is the favorite to be named Player of the Year
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is the favorite to be named Player of the Year(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has been tipped to challenge Bruno Fernandes for the Premier League's Player of the Year award after an impressive season under Arne Slot.
Szoboszlai has hit double figures for goals and assists in all competitions and has been a standout performer in a tough campaign for the Reds generally. His energy has been vital in the center of the field, with Liverpool looking set to qualify for the Champions League and tee up another big summer.
So far, there has been no breakthrough in contract negotiations with the Hungarian, but he wants to stay at Anfield, and talks have been held with his representatives in recent months.
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"I understand Gabriel being talked about as the player of the season for his defending and goalscoring and his role at Arsenal, but for me it should be Bruno Fernandes," ex-Manchester United defender Jaap Stam said.
"I think another player who could be up there is Dominik Szoboszlai from Liverpool. I'm not sure if they talk about him for this award."
Szoboszlai was not the only Liverpool man picked out for praise, despite the team's struggles for consistency over the last few months.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate form a Liverpool defensive wall
Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate form a Liverpool defensive wall(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside via Getty Images)
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk has been criticized in some quarters this season — and the Dutch media tends not to be kind to its stars — but Stam is a big fan.
He is predicting that the Liverpool ace will carry his country a long way at this summer's World Cup, which will be held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
"I think Virgil is the most important player for us in Holland," Stam, speaking to ComeOn, continued.
"He's got the experience and he uses that experience to play. You can see that in every game that he plays for the national team. He's guiding them.
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"Everybody is following him as a player. When they talk to him, when they look at him, they all find him exceptional in how he is as a player, but also as a person. His personality is great.
"He's the player for the Netherlands to help them out in the right way. The confidence in Virgil is still very high for everybody in Holland, also for myself."
Liverpool.com says: Fernandes has had a brilliant season, but no players have really stood out as much as usual. No one has gotten even close to the levels that Mohamed Salah reached last term, for instance.
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As for Van Dijk, the narrative that he has declined is overblown. He isn't at his peak these days, but he is still a top operator. He just hasn't been helped by what has been going on around him.