Kevin De Bruyne 4-1 Favorite for 2020/21 PFA Player of the Year; Trent Alexander-Arnold +450 for PFA Young POY

• Kevin De Bruyne is favored to win the English PFA Player of the Year Award at 4-1 odds
• Trent Alexander-Arnold is favored to win the Young Player of the Year Award at +450
• See the odds and our best bets for each award here

As we approach the start of the new English Premier League season, now’s a good time to also look at the runners and riders for the PFA’s Player and Young Player of the Year awards. The 2019/20 award was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the winners of the 2018/19 awards – Virgil van Dijk for the senior award and Raheem Sterling for the young player award – both remain in contention again this season.

We’ll list the top 20 for both awards with their respective odds, preview the field, see if there some good outsiders to consider, and offer a pick.

English PFA Player of the Year 2020/21 Odds

Odds taken on September 8.

De Bruyne the Favorite

Kevin De Bruyne starts the season as favorite for the main award, having been widely expected to have collected the 2019/20 award had the season been completed as planned.

At 29-years-old, the Man City lynchpin is now in his prime and is regarded as one of the best in the world on the international and domestic stage, and with pressure on Pep Guardiola to regain the Premier League title back from Liverpool’s grasp, City and De Bruyne are looking for this to be a big season. If he stays fit and healthy, the Belgian will be the one to beat for this award and anyone who beats him will likely win it. If City dominates, then expect De Bruyne to also.

Who Can Gatecrash the Party?

The big question will be if any of the chasing pack can push City and Liverpool and, if so, who will it be. Manchester United finished last season strongly, earning themselves a place in the 2020/21 Champions League in the process, and if they can be that team then it will be Bruno Fernandes leading the charge. The 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder was outstanding in United’s run-in and if he’s able to take that form into the new season he could yet be the one to pip De Bruyne. Worth noting too is that a fit-and-firing Paul Pogba at United would also be among the contenders, especially if United have a good season.

On the premise that Liverpool will again be a major force, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane will again be in the mix, along with Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with van Dijk – the current trophy holder – particularly good value at 20/1.

England Stars in Contention

There are also a group of young England stars in contention, with Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, and Phil Foden among the group of favorites – all in with a shout if their respective teams have a good season – and a good season for Chelsea would also bring Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic into the frame.

For those who fancy an outsider, Marcus Rashford at 25/1 is well worth considering, so too Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who will be in the mix if Arsenal are able to put pressure on City and Liverpool.

Pick: Raheem Sterling (+1100)

English PFA Young Player of the Year 2020/21 Odds

Odds taken on September 8

TAA in the Box Seat

Unsurprisingly, Alexander-Arnold leads the betting for the Young Player award and, like de Bruyne in the senior category, is the one to beat. His outstanding 2019/20 looks likely to continue into 2020/21 and if the Liverpool juggernaut continues on its current unstoppable path, then he will be at the forefront. Another Anfield name to look out for, and who offers far better value than Alexander-Arnold, is Joe Gomez, who’s now established himself at van Dijk’s central defensive partner. At 25/1 Gomez is well worth a look.

England Bad Boys

Two Manchester-based England bad boys – Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden – are in the group just behind Alexander-Arnold but, for me, Rashford is a better bet, especially if United – as described above – are the team to get among City and Liverpool at the top of the EPL. The England international is maturing on and off the pitch and everything points to this being a massive season for Rashford.

Best of the Rest

Given that it’s often attacking players rather than defenders who collect these awards – van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold being the exceptions – Chelsea’s Pulisic will be in the mix for this one if the Blues have the season that their summer signing suggest they could have. Along with Mason Mount and, possibly, Callum Hudson-Odoi, a good campaign for Chelsea will drag these lads into the frame.

For an outsider for the Young Player award, look no further than Leicester City’s James Maddison at 16/1.

Pick: Joe Gomez (+2500)

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