We're through three months of the campaign and already some of the top-flight's stars are making a run for individual awards
We're just over a quarter of the way into the Premier League season, and would you believe it, neither Manchester City or Arsenal are leading the standards. Instead, Arne Slot's Liverpool have proven the team to beat to this point, with the Reds advancing to the November international break five points clear at the top.
Elsewhere, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are among the surprise packages to this point, while Fulham and Brighton are also finding rewards for their adventurous football. Manchester United and Tottenham, though impressive in short bursts, are flattering to deceive to this point.
But which individuals have stood out the most this term? Phil Foden took home the Premier League Player of the Season award for 2023-24, but his incredibly slow start to this campaign means we are in line to crown a new king of the league come May.
GOAL will be tracking the race throughout the campaign – here's how our top 10 looks right now:
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images Sport10Curtis Jones (Liverpool) 🆕
No one ever really doubted whether Curtis Jones had the talent or not to make it at Liverpool, there were merely questions over his fitness and ability to stay clear of injury.
As it turns out, when Jones is able to string a few games together, he's one hell of a player and the perfect profile for new head coach Slot. The 23-year-old is in line to receive his first England cap at senior level for his efforts at club level, a just reward for this rich vein of form.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport9Danny Welbeck (Brighton) 🆕
What a lovely, lovely career arc Danny Welbeck has enjoyed. The veteran striker has been around the block at some of England's biggest clubs, and is now enjoying himself as the adult head in the room at a young Brighton – he's even older than his new manager, Fabian Hurzeler!
The former England forward (should it really be 'former'?) has contributed six goals and two assists for the Seagulls, who go into the November international break sitting outside the top three on goal difference only. Welbeck's experience is proving an invaluable intangible down on the south coast.
Getty Images Sport8Luis Diaz (Liverpool) ⬇️
Luis Diaz's direction of travel in these rankings is a harsh representation of the season he's had so far and what's happened since our previous update. He hasn't necessarily put a foot wrong, it's more that other players have done more to warrant a higher spot.
Let's not focus on the negatives, though. Diaz is having a wonderful season back at the forefront of Liverpool's attack, reinvigorated and reenergised after summer moves to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and even Manchester City failed to materialise.
Getty Images Sport7Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) 🆕
Even the most optimistic of Nottingham Forest fans must be surprised with how smoothly they've navigated the opening months of the new season. Nuno Espirito Santo's side look a completely different outfit this term.
Spearheading their efforts has been October's Premier League Player of the Month Chris Wood, who isn't actually too far away from joining the division's 100 club, and at this rate is likely to go down as New Zealand's best-ever footballer.
