Five unlucky stars have been overlooked in the Premier League Player of the Season shortlist

The 2023-24 Premier League season is drawing to a close and the annual awards will be decided before the close of play on 19 May.

Eight outstanding stars in this category have been nominated for the coveted Player of the Season award but there are some notable ones who are not on the list.

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One of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Martin Odegaard, Cole Palmer, Alexander Isak, Declan Rice, Virgil van Dijk and Ollie Watkins will be crowned after impressing their sides but the revelation has left many fans on social media upset with the decision. process.

Not everyone can be nominated for this award although the numbers suggest that there have been glaring mistakes made by those who have the power to choose.

We take a look at five Premier League players who deserve a place on the Player of the Season shortlist.

Eight outstanding nominees, but there could be one winner…

Time to vote for your 2023/24 @EASPORTSFC Player of the Season 😍 #PLAwards

– Premier League (@premierleague) May 9, 2024

Look at Saka

The Arsenal man is one goal away from matching his haul of 17 goals from the 2022-23 campaign and although he has not been at his best this season, he has been instrumental in raising the club's title challenge.

The 22-year-old has 25 goals in 34 Premier League appearances and is the club's top scorer.

After making the list last year, he was replaced by Odegaard and Rice as Arsenal representatives in 2023-24.

His consistency and availability despite being on the receiving end of several tough challenges every game has brought the Gunners up to speed under Mikel Arteta and his absence as a nominee is no doubt cruel.

Rodri

Perhaps the most shocking absentee from the player of the season list is Man City midfielder Rodri.

No player in the competition has more passes or touches than the Spanish international and remains unbeaten in every league game he has played this season.

Despite his strong performance in defending the champions, Rodri has seven goals and nine assists under Pep Guardiola.

If City do win their fourth title in a row, it will look strange given his influence in the heart of the midfielders.

Rodri has the same number of defeats as the Premier League player of the season this season (0). 🤪

He is the only player who:

◉ 20+ shots on target
◉ 20+ opportunities created
◉ 20+ air duels won
◉ 20+ completed takes
◉ 20+ custom fights
◉ 20+ encounter… pic.twitter.com/Kj9MiPCIuN

– Squawka (@Squawka) May 9, 2024

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was named Manager of the Season, but top scorer Dominic Solanke missed out on the man of the match award.

The in-form Cherry enjoyed his best campaign in front of goal, scoring 18 goals in 36 games and averaging a goal every 178 minutes.

An England call-up is not out of the question for the 26-year-old ahead of Euro 2024 but the presence of Harry Kane up front will make it difficult for Solanke to get many minutes on the pitch for his country.

As the fifth leading goalscorer in the league he will feel bad that his performance was not given the credit he deserved.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool's title challenge may have faded but Mohamed Salah's brilliance in the final third has not.

Despite his recent injury and slow return to form for the Merseyside club, he still has 18 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League.

He is one of three players to reach double figures in goals and assists in the top flight this season, which is impressive given that he hasn't featured much in 2024.

Salah has won the Player of the Season award twice but will have no chance of a third in Jurgen Klopp's final campaign as Reds manager.

Gabriel

Best tackles in the Premier League this season (attempted 50+):

◎ 94% – Ezri Konsa
◎ 90.2% – Gabriel Magalhães
◎ 86.7% – Tyrick Mitchell
◎ 86.5% – Calvin Bassey
◎ 85.9% – Josh Brownhill pic.twitter.com/FKope8AxgB

– WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 9, 2024

Half of Arsenal's squad could have been shortlisted for Player of the Season but alongside Saka, defender Gabriel will likely feel disappointed at not being included.

The Brazilian has been part of the division's best record-setting defense – keeping 17 clean sheets and conceding just 28 goals.

Alongside William Saliba, he forms one part of the world's most formidable defensive partnership and has bagged four crucial goals for the Gunners.

He is certainly giving Van Dijk a run for his money when it comes to the best defenders this season.