In a surprising twist to the 2024–25 Premier League season accolades, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been left out of the six-man shortlist for the prestigious PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, despite leading his team to a dominant title win. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has made the list, sparking debate among fans and pundits alike.
🏆 The Final Six: Who Made the Cut
The shortlist, voted by fellow Premier League players, includes:
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 29 goals, 18 assists
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) – 5 goals, 5 assists
- Declan Rice (Arsenal) – 9 goals, 10 assists
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – 15 goals, 9 assists
- Alexander Isak (Newcastle) – 23 goals
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) – 8 goals, 10 assists
❌ Van Dijk’s Omission Raises Eyebrows
Van Dijk, who played 37 of 38 league matches and anchored the league’s second-best defense, was widely regarded as the top-performing defender of the season. His leadership was instrumental in Liverpool clinching the title with four games to spare. Yet, no defenders were included in the final shortlist.
“Bruno led his team to 15th. Van Dijk led his team to first but is not here. Make it make sense,” one fan posted on X.
⚽ Salah the Frontrunner
Salah, already a two-time winner of the award, is the heavy favorite to claim a record third title after equaling the Premier League record for most goal contributions in a season (47).
The winner will be announced at the PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester on August 19.
Stay tuned for updates from the PFA Awards night.
