The end of the year means we are almost exactly at the halfway point of the Premier League campaign.
So what better time than this to hand out our awards for the campaign so far?
Disagree with our selections? Let us know in the comments below!
Our Premier League half-season awards for 2024/25
Player of the Season 👏
Perhaps the simplest selection in our awards. Mohamed Salah has been head and shoulders above the competition this season to fire Liverpool to a lead in the title race. Salah’s brilliance was hardly a secret but he’s elevated himself to a new level in 2024/25.
The Egyptian has 16 goals and 11 assists from just 17 appearances, with no player having ever produced more goal involvements before the turn of the year. He’s averaged a goal or assist every 55 minutes for the Reds, who have performed like champions elect in recent weeks. Salah’s stunning season has propelled their push for the Premier League title, in a record-breaking start to the campaign.
27 – Mohamed Salah has been involved in 27 Premier League goals this season (16 goals, 11 assists), the most ever by a player from the start of a season until the end of December in Premier League history. King. pic.twitter.com/KJ6VpzTQuu
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2024
If he can maintain this level, there’s a strong chance Salah will equal Thierry Henry’s record of four Golden Boots and become the first footballer in history to win the PFA Player of the Year award three times.
Somehow, still, a new contract has not been sorted.
Read – Premier League Awards: Give it to bloody, Gordon!
Young Player of the Season 👶
For the sake of argument, we’ll keep the criteria for this award in line with the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Morgan Rogers takes the crown, following a breakout season at Aston Villa. The midfielder has been a breath of fresh air, an engrossing mix of powerful running and balletic footwork. Signed from the Championship in January, he’s fast proven himself to be a Premier League player and earned an England debut earlier this year.
Morgan Rogers has scored and assisted in a Premier League game for the first time in his career, and he’s done it against his former club.
He’s the youngest Aston Villa player to both score and assist against the reigning champions in the competition’s history.😏 pic.twitter.com/0HXMdmYtLR
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 21, 2024
He’s scored five times and laid on three assists for Unai Emery’s team, though it’s the sight of him shrugging off challengers during marauding runs that has got fans on their feet. He’s a huge talent.
Surprise of the Season 🤯
Manchester City’s dominance of the Premier League has been to such an extent that English football was in danger of earning the dreaded Farmers League tag. Four titles on the bounce, six of the last seven, and a treble for good measure paints a picture of City’s stranglehold on the division.
Their spectacular fall from grace this season was one few saw coming. Sure, Rodri’s season-ending injury was a seismic blow, but did anyone really envisage this drop-off? Pep Guardiola’s team have won just one of their last 13 games in all competitions and are as close to the relegation places as they are to the top.
If the Premier League season started in November, Manchester City would be bottom of the table 👀 pic.twitter.com/aHCiHjNg6J
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 22, 2024
Their title defence appears all but mathematically over, while even Champions League football will be a challenge based on recent results and performances.
Read – Man City crisis has echoes of Liverpool’s ‘bad champions’
Manager of the Season 👔
If you had predicted Nottingham Forest to be in the top four at this stage of the season, you’re either a Premier League prophet or boast Garibaldi Red-tinted glasses. Among the pre-season favourites for the drop after a 17th-placed finish last season, Forest have been one of the stories of the season.
Nuno Espirito Santo deserves the Manager of the Season award for the campaign so far, having lifted the Tricky Trees into the dreamland of the Champions League places. Smart signings (not always associated with Forest of late), and a well-drilled tactical set-up have Forest flying high. They’re the only team to have beaten leaders Liverpool, earned a first win at Manchester United in 30 years, and have taken the scalps of Aston Villa and Spurs.
Nottingham Forest already have the same amount of Premier League wins this season as they did in the entire 2023/24 campaign (9).
What a job Nuno Espírito Santo is doing 👏 pic.twitter.com/vjDuhUu97F
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 21, 2024
An honourable mention for Arne Slot after a stunning start at Liverpool, while Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva deserve applause.
Signing of the Season 🤑
Nikola Milenkovic takes our Signing of the Season award for his role in Nottingham Forest’s remarkable campaign. The Serbian centre-back appeared a coup in the summer and has lived up to that billing.
In Nuno Espirito Santo’s pragmatic side, he has excelled, boasting brilliant box-defending and presence in both penalty areas. His no-nonsense defending has been the perfect complement for Murillo, in a centre-back partnership that is matching most in the Premier League right now. Amid the inflated fees across Europe, his £12m price tag has been a snip.
Read – Power Rankings: Barcelona tumble, Atleti march on
Biggest Improvement This Season 📈
Liverpool’s failure to sign Martin Zubimendi in the summer was mocked but when one door closes, another opens. Ryan Gravenberch has grasped an unforeseen opportunity to emerge as one of the players of the season. After an underwhelming first campaign at Anfield, he’s been transformed into a deep-lying number six.
He’s played almost every minute, becoming an indispensable part of Arne Slot’s side. With press resistance, a 6ft 3 in frame and duel-winning ability, the 22-year-old could be the solution for seasons to come. He ranks second in the Premier League for interceptions in 2024/25.
🇳🇱🔎 Ryan Gravenberch is the only midfielder in the Top 5 Leagues to rank in the 80+ percentile for duel win rate, defensive actions, and progressive runs
→ 98th percentile for duel win rate
→ 84th percentile for defensive actions
→ 83rd percentile for progressive runs— DataMB (@DataMB_) December 26, 2024
Goal of the Season 😍
Harry Wilson has quite the catalogue of spectacular strikes.
The Welshman has not played as much football as he would have liked this season but has made a habit of saving Fulham from the bench. Wilson scored twice to turn defeat into victory against Brentford in November and his equaliser was out of this world.
An improvised backheel brought the hosts level at Craven Cottage and set the stage for a dramatic comeback win.
Pure poetry. 🤌 pic.twitter.com/ZcvCQirMi1
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) November 5, 2024
Game of the Season 🏟
Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea, December 8th 2024
Tottenham might not be the best team in the Premier League under Ange Postecoglou but there’s an argument that they are the most entertaining.
Not for the first time, Spurs were involved in an absolute classic as Chelsea arrived in North London earlier this month. Spurs were in need of a result and got off to a dream start when Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski scored inside the opening 11 minutes. Both goals came from Marc Cucurella’s mistakes, with the hosts ruthlessly punishing the Spaniard’s slips.
Jadon Sancho’s brilliant goal pulled one back for Chelsea, who took control as Spurs lost Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to injuries. Cole Palmer confidently slammed in an equaliser from the penalty spot, before Enzo Fernandez drilled in to complete the turnaround.
Palmer’s second penalty, an audacious Panenka effort, sealed the win, though Heung-min Son set up a nervy finish in stoppage time. Chelsea held on to edge a seven-goal thriller against their fierce rivals.
Read – 5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶
See Also – Our Premier League pre-season predictions revisited
