Who is Liverpool’s Player of the Season so far?

Nicholas Hughes

• 20 Dec 2021 11:28 GMT
• 6 min read

Liverpool’s first half of the 2021/22 season has seen the Reds return to the cusp of their very best after a disappointing back half of the last campaign.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are three points away from top spot in the Premier League and won all six of their Champions League group matches, becoming the first English side to ever do so.

And with their brilliant form has come a number of outstanding individual contributions across the board, but who has been the best Liverpool player across the season so far?

3. Diogo Jota

Diogo Jota has been brilliant since joining from Wolves in 2020, but he has taken it to another level so far this season.

On a run of six goals in his last seven games at the time of writing, Jota has struck the net 10 times in 17 matches this season, moving to outright second in the Golden Boot standings.

With Roberto Firmino missing a large chunk of the season so far, the Portuguese has offered the Reds a goal-scoring threat that Firmino hasn’t been able to provide.

Jota leads the Premier League in expected goals per 90 minutes among players that have played more than 300 minutes, per Understat, while he also has the 12th highest accumulated expected assists in the league.

His ability to score goals in different ways has also been crucial, with solo efforts, headers and strikes with either foot from varying distances making him incredibly difficult to defend, with particularly brilliant goals coming in hefty wins over Arsenal and Everton.

2. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold has bounced back from a mediocre 2020/21 season in a big way.

The Scouser has been sensational, already surpassing his tally of seven assists from last season with his eighth of the campaign coming against Tottenham, and he has added two thunderous goals with a free-kick against West Ham and a long-ranger against Newcastle.

His 0.49 xA90 is the best in the league among players that have played over 300 minutes, and his total xA is far superior to anyone else’s.

The 22-year-old also averages 3.24 key passes P90 which is well clear of any of his teammates, and is taking 1.78 shots P90 from right full-back.

He was particularly exceptional in the 4-0 win over Arsenal in November with two assists, and also had a brilliant game in the 5-0 rout of Manchester United at Old Trafford. He has been a key part of Liverpool’s success domestically and in Europe so far this season.

1. Mohamed Salah

There wasn’t going to be anyone else, was there? Mohamed Salah has not only been in team-leading form, but he has been one of the very best footballers on the planet so far this season.

Not only does he comfortably lead the Premier League Golden Boot standings with 15 goals, but he also has the most assists in the league, creating nine goals for his teammates so far.

So relentless has Salah been this season, he has failed to score or assist in only three out of 24 club games in all competitions, and tied the Premier League record for 15 consecutive games with at least one goal contribution.

His form has continued into Europe as well, with only Robert Lewandowski and Sebastien Haller bettering his seven goals in the six Champions League group stage matches.

As would be expected, his 12.83 xG across the season is league-leading, and according to FBref, he has the most touches in the penalty area, is in the top five for dribbles and has the most goal-creating actions out of anyone else in the league.

His hat-trick at Old Trafford will live long in the memory, and his two outrageous solo goals – that came in back-to-back games against Manchester City and Watford – will be replayed for a long time to come.