JAMES OLLEY: Mohamed Salah, LiverpoolThere’s being innovative, and then there’s being contrary for the sake of it. Sometimes the obvious answer is the right one.
It is probably too easy to normalise Liverpool’s pre-eminence given how long they’ve been clear at the top of the table, but let’s not forget how few people expected this after Jurgen Klopp left. I certainly didn’t. Incoming manager Arne Slot needed the big characters in the dressing room to step up and give him credibility as Klopp’s successor. Salah, along with Van Dijk — a worthy rival for this award — has done just that. His 46 goal involvements is one short of the all-time Premier League record, including nine match-winning goals.
At the time of writing, Arsenal have conceded four fewer league goals but Liverpool have scored 17 more. Arsenal have drawn 13 games because they did not possess a match-winner of their own, with Bukayo Saka absent for so much of the season and yet to prove himself year-on-year as a game-defining great. Saka is on the way there, but Salah has occupied that status for years and, perhaps this season more than ever, he has made the difference.
You can keep your Salahs and Van Dijks from the best team in the country by a mile. You can keep Fernandes (is this a joke, Mark?), with Man United 15th in the table (!!). You can keep all the other contenders — the likes of Matheus Cunha , Isak, William Saliba , Bryan Mbeumo and others — because the player of the year in England can only be Chris Wood.
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In Klopp’s final season as Liverpool manager, Gravenberch found himself more often than not watching on from the bench, starting just 12 league matches in the 2023-24 campaign. Klopp favoured Wataru Endo in that anchor role, and there were suggestions Gravenberch would have to look for a new club in order to push on in his career But Slot turned to Gravenberch as their specialist No. 6, and the impact was remarkable.
If you’re assessing the crux of the Liverpool team that won the league this season, then you’re looking at the spine of Van Dijk, Gravenberch and Salah.
Salah was exceptional, but Gab has and James have already mowed that lawn and Rob has opted for Van Dijk, so it’s time for Gravenberch to be recognised.
The Netherlands international went from outsider, to the answer to Liverpool’s midfield conundrum. He made himself indispensable, and he’s a major reason behind why Liverpool dominated the league this season.
BETH LINDOP: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool I mean, there’s only one right answer, isn’t there? Liverpool have been far and away the best team in the Premier League, and so it’s only right this individual accolade goes to the player who has been most influential in their pursuit of a 20th league title.
After a disappointing end to last season, Salah took to social media and sent an impassioned message to Liverpool supporters, vowing to “fight like hell” to bring more success to Anfield. Nearly 12 months on, it’s fair to say the Egypt international has made good on that promise, having so far notched an impressive 28 goals and 18 assists in the top flight.
His sheer will to win has, at times, dragged his team over the line in difficult games, and he has sent a host of records tumbling, moving up to third on Liverpool’s list of all-time top scorers and becoming the highest scoring foreign player in Premier League history.
While honourable mentions go to Van Dijk and Gravenberch for their commendable efforts, Salah is the standout choice.
ROB DAWSON: Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool Individual awards shouldn’t always be based on the numbers of goals and assists. It’s important to recognise the contribution of some of the other players who are key to successful teams.
At Liverpool — the Premier League’s best this season — two of those are Van Dijk and Gravenberch. Salah steals the headlines week after week because he’s Liverpool’s best attacking player, but what Slot and his players have been able to achieve would not have been possible without the Dutch pair.
Van Dijk first. He’s the best defender in the league and his leadership has been crucial during the transition from Klopp to Slot. It also won’t have been easy to continually set the standard on the pitch and in the dressing room while his own future has been up in the air.
Gravenberch has been impressive in a different way. Many Liverpool fans would have told you last summer that signing a central midfielder was crucial to their campaign. It didn’t happen, but rather than Gravenberch simply filling a hole in the team, he’s excelled in one of the most important roles on the pitch to a point that Liverpool have been able to win the title. That’s a phenomenal achievement for a player who was almost being written off a year ago.
Van Dijk just edges it in the Player of the Year vote because of his overall influence on and off the pitch, but Gravenberch runs him close, with an honourable mention to Salah.
