Every Premier League club’s Player of the Year for 2022/23: Salah misses out for Liverpool; Man Utd choice easy

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. TEAMtalk montage.

The 2022/23 Premier League campaign is drawing to a close and we’re now approaching awards season.

Despite the fact that a six-week World Cup was sandwiched into the middle of the season, 2022/23 has provided plenty of entertaining and high-quality football in England’s top flight.

Manchester City and Arsenal are still battling it out for the top prize but individual awards will also be handed out to players.

We’ve taken a look at every Premier League side and identified their standout performer in 2022/23.

Arsenal – Bukayo Saka

Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli all deserve honourable mentions but Saka has been Arsenal’s talisman in 2022/23.

The 21-year-old winger has been directly involved in 24 goals in 34 Premier League appearances this season, registering 13 goals and 11 assists.

He’s one of just six players to have reached double figures for both goals and assists in one of Europe’s top five leagues in 2022/23 after Lionel Messi, Neymar, Antoine Griezmann, Randal Kolo Muani and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins

Watkins struggled at the start of the season but has flourished under Unai Emery, registering 12 goals and four assists in his last 20 Premier League appearances.

His recent form has reportedly attracted interest from German giants Bayern Munich but Villa are unsurprisingly looking to tie down the striker to a new deal.

Bournemouth – Philip Billing

After winning promotion in 2021/22, Billing has been a key figure in a Bournemouth team that look to have defied the odds in the relegation battle.

The versatile midfielder does a lot of defensive work and has also chipped in with seven Premier League goals, including winners against Liverpool and Leicester City.

Brentford – Ivan Toney

Toney is expected to serve a lengthy ban for his alleged breaches of the FA’s betting rules and Brentford will undoubtedly struggle to replace their No.17.

The striker has been outscored by just Harry Kane and Erling Haaland in the Premier League thus far this season, bagging a hugely impressive 20 goals in his 32 appearances.

Brighton – Kaoru Mitoma

Lewis Dunk, Moises Caicedo, Solly March and Alexis Mac Allister have all played a key role in Brighton’s unlikely charge into the European places but Mitoma just comes out on top.

The Japan international has enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough season at the Amex, providing 10 goals and seven assists in all competitions while tormenting defenders in one-on-one duels.

Chelsea – Thiago Silva

There are not many Chelsea players that can look back on the 2022/23 campaign with much fondness but Silva has probably been the best of a bad bunch.

The 38-year-old continues to defy his age and remains first choice in central defence despite the recent arrivals of Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.

Crystal Palace – Cheick Doucoure

A £22m signing from Lens, Doucoure is enjoying an impressive debut season at Palace and has already established himself as one of the side’s most crucial components.

He provides a tenacious and physical presence in midfield and his defensive work has allowed Palace’s talented attacking players to express themselves up front.

Everton – Jordan Pickford

Pickford picked up Everton’s Player of the Season award in 2021/22 and has been their standout performer once again in 2022/23.

The goalkeeper has been kept busy this season, making an impressive 114 saves in the Premier League. Only two other goalkeepers, David Raya of Brentford and Fulham’s Bernd Leno, have made more stops than Pickford.

Fulham – Joao Palhinha

Palhinha joined Fulham from Sporting CP in a £17.2m deal last summer and has a genuine case for being one of the best signings of the season.

The 27-year-old midfielder has made more successful tackles (129) than any other player in the Premier League this season and his physical presence has been a key part of Fulham’s success.

Youri Tielemans and Joao Palhinha, Leicester vs Fulham

Leeds United – Tyler Adams

Adams joined Leeds from Red Bull Leipzig last summer and his impressive performances have helped fill the void left by Kalvin Phillips’ departure.

The midfielder is currently on the sidelines after undergoing hamstring surgery and Leeds have really struggled without him.

“The injury to Tyler Adams did not help us because we don’t have so many players of this profile in central midfield,” former Leeds manager Javi Gracia told The Athletic.

“He is a player who really makes a difference when it comes to interceptions and recoveries and he really covers ground. It was a big blow to lose him for the season.”

Leicester City – James Maddison

Maddison has been a shining light in an otherwise torrid season for Leicester City, registering nine goals and eight assists in 26 Premier League appearances.

The Foxes probably wouldn’t be in a relegation battle if he’d been fully fit all season as they have earned just six points from a possible 24 when the midfielder has been unavailable.

Liverpool – Alisson Becker

While we haven’t ignored Mohamed Salah’s goalscoring exploits, Alisson comes out on top as he has bailed out his teammates with a string of brilliant saves in 2022/23.

“He is for sure the most consistent player we have this season,” Jurgen Klopp said. “That’s actually not bad news, it’s good news, because if we are not in a great shape and the level of the goalie drops as well then we would have been completely lost.”

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

City have a star-studded squad but there’s no doubting that Haaland deserves their Player of the Year award in 2022/23.

The Norway international, who joined City in a £51m deal last summer, has already broken several records and recently hit goal number 51 of a remarkable debut campaign.

Manchester United – Marcus Rashford

After struggling for form and confidence throughout the 2021/22 campaign, Rashford has bounced back and hit new heights under Erik ten Hag.

The 25-year-old helped his side end their six-year trophy drought and has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season, becoming the first United player to hit that figure since Robin van Persie in 2012/13.

Newcastle United – Joelinton

Alexander Isak has been in great goalscoring form in recent weeks and Bruno Guimaraes continues to shine but Joelinton has arguably been the driving force behind Newcastle’s success this season.

“Joe has been very consistent for us this year,” Eddie Howe said. “In and out of possession, I think he’s been very good, and his game has gone onto another level.

“He’s played various roles and has a great mentality. He wants to win in every moment, compete in training and games, and is very consistent with his attitude.”

Nottingham Forest – Brennan Johnson

Forest have made 30 first-team signings since they got promoted but academy graduate Brennan Johnson is still their talisman.

The Wales international has eight goals and two assists in the Premier League – meaning that he has been directly involved in winning 13 of the 30 points that Forest have picked up in 2022/23.

“Just imagine where we’d be without him,” Steve Cooper said. “I love working with Brennan, I see how hungry he is to do well.”

Southampton – James Ward-Prowse

Southampton’s 11-year stay in the Premier League looks set to end in the coming weeks but it’s not down to a lack of effort from Ward-Prowse.

The club captain has led by example as an ever-present for the Saints, registering seven goals and two assists in 34 Premier League appearances while forming an impressive midfield partnership with Romeo Lavia.

James Ward-Prowse and Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Tottenham – Harry Kane

Despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future in north London, Kane has managed to maintain his usual high standards in 2022/23.

The 29-year-old has 27 goals and five assists in all competitions and is almost single-handedly keeping Spurs in the European places.

West Ham United – Declan Rice

Having won West Ham’s Player of the Year award in 2019/20 and 2021/22, Rice looks set to pick up the trophy for a third time.

The Hammers have endured a disappointing and underwhelming Premier League campaign but their club captain continues to go from strength to strength and is attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

Wolves – Ruben Neves

Neves looks set to leave Wolves at the end of the season amid reported interest from Barcelona, and he’s signing off in style.

The Portugal international has developed into one of the most all-round midfielders in the Premier League and is also Wolves’ joint-top goalscorer in 2022/23.

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