Sadio Mane Now Clear Favorite to Win England’s PFA Player of the Year
- Senegalese wing star driving Liverpool’s rampant season on all fronts
- Latest stand-out display came against former club Red Bull Salzburg
- Anfield teammates van Dijk and Salah won prize in last two seasons
Sadio Mane was described this week as “the best player in the world.” The praise came from one of his former coaches at Red Bull Salzburg, Christophe Freund.
In return, Mane went out and turned on a performance for Liverpool against his Austrian former club in the Champions League on Tuesday which earned him the Man of the Match award from the BBC.
It was another stellar night in a season in which Mane has become favored to lift England’s Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year Award, with his price at +150 to win the prestigious accolade next April.
PFA 2019-20 Player of the Year Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sadio Mane | +150 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | +550 |
| Jamie Vardy | +700 |
| Raheem Sterling | +900 |
| Virgil van Dijk | +1200 |
| Mohamed Salah | +1200 |
| Fabinho | +2000 |
| Roberto Firmino | +2500 |
| Sergio Aguero | +2500 |
| David Silva | +4000 |
Odds taken Dec. 11.
Fourth in FIFA’s Ballon d’Or
Senegalese winger Mane, 27, recently finished fourth in the voting for the annual Ballon d’Or award given by FIFA.
With Liverpool runaway leaders in the EPL, their most influential forward looks sure to be rewarded by his fellow players in England for spear-heading the club’s rampant drive towards their first league title in 30 years.
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City was favored before the season started at+700, with Mane at +2000. Now Belgian De Bruyne is placed second in the odds at +550 with Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy in third at +700 even though he was not mentioned in the betting favorites at the beginning of the season.
De Bruyne’s City teammate Raheem Sterling is rated fourth at +900 with last year’s PFA award winner Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool and his Anfield teammate Mohamed Salah at +1200.
Can’t believe when we first signed him from Southampton I thought £36m was overpriced and we could do much better.
He’s proved me completely wrong and every single part of his game he excels at.
It’s scary how good Sadio Mane is. The best winger in world football. pic.twitter.com/qBAh5rLm7n
— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) December 9, 2019
He offers much more as a complete modern player who has pace, intelligence, relentless athleticism, invention and the capability to be a lurking threat to defenses at all times.
In all competitions, Mane has scored 13 goals and delivered eight assists this season so far.
He offers much more as a complete modern player who has pace, intelligence, relentless athleticism, invention and the capability to be a lurking threat to defenses at all times.
After finishing as a joint-EPL top scorer last season with 22 goals, he is earning rave reviews as the most important attacking figure in the Liverpool team this season.
Vardy, however, could be the rival who runs Mane most close for the prize because second-placed Leicester are presently offering the most serious challenge to Liverpool’s title hopes.
Vardy Leads EPL Goal Charts
Vardy was the leading goal-scorer in the EPL after 19 fixtures with a tally of 16.
If Leicester are in contention next spring for another surprise title win to match their triumph of 2016, Vardy could have a chance of winning the individual award.
Yet Liverpool’s form on all fronts is so consistent currently that it is difficult to look beyond one of Jurgen Klopp’s players when assessing who is most likely to lift the PFA award.
City’s form has dipped in recent weeks with only two wins in the last seven matches in all competitions. With their title hopes receding, it seems unlikely that De Bruyne or Sterling will challenge for the prize.
Ilkay Gundogan gives reason for Man City falling well behind Liverpool in title race https://t.co/z6HmknUClL pic.twitter.com/cjj2dE6Zyh
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) December 11, 2019
More likely, Mane might be run close by one of his Anfield teammates.
With Liverpool major favorites to be in place next April to finish first, an imminent title win would make Mane’s case even stronger.
Defender Virgil van Dijk won the award last season. Salah lifted it in 2017-18.
This was despite the fact that City won the title in both those seasons. With Liverpool major favorites to be in place next April to finish first, an imminent title win would make Mane’s case even stronger.
Pick: Sadio Mane (+150)
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
