Who will claim the individual accolades come the end of the season? See who our writers have predicted as the 2025/26 campaign edges ever closer.
Top scorer
Adrian Clarke: Erling Haaland
If Manchester City’s main man can avoid injuries, he will score a hatful of goals. A freshened-up City team, and the return of Rodri should ensure Haaland fills his boots.
Adrian Kajumba: Haaland
As the prolific spearhead of a Man City side who (surely) will not be as disappointing as they were last season, fitness-permitting, normal service should resume for Haaland, the Golden Boot winner in his first two seasons in English football.
Alex Keble: Haaland
If Man City are reinvigorated, so too will be Haaland, not least because (judging by the addition of the ball-carrying duo of Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders) Pep Guardiola’s likely tactical evolution is towards a more direct style of football that suits Haaland’s attributes. Viktor Gyokeres (and Alexander Isak if he does move to Liverpool) will need time to settle, while Mohamed Salah’s season will be interrupted by the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) early next year.
Ben Bloom: Haaland
Haaland is the best striker in the Premier League and I just don’t think what happened last season – Man City suffering an extraordinary slump and Salah going berserk in front of goal – will happen again. Haaland still scored 22 goals in a “bad” year.
Dan Edwards: Haaland
Haaland scores a goal every 95 minutes on average in the Premier League, comfortably the best rate in the competition’s history among players with 50+ starts. If he stays fit, he will outscore entire teams over the full season.
Ninad Barbadikar: Haaland
With Omar Marmoush and Cherki now in the side to replace Kevin De Bruyne’s creative influence, there’s no reason why the Norwegian goal-machine can’t get back to his best.
Verdict: Top scorer
Clarke: Haaland
Kajumba: Haaland
Keble: Haaland
Bloom: Haaland
Edwards: Haaland
Barbadikar: Haaland
Top assister
Adrian Clarke: Bukayo Saka
He was on course to win last season’s Golden Playmaker award until injury put him out for months. This time around he can get 15-20 assists.
Adrian Kajumba: Cole Palmer
Palmer’s finish to last season - inspiring Chelsea to two trophies - suggested he had put a largely underwhelming campaign behind him. Chelsea are a rising force and he has more finishers to supply - the ingredients are there for an assist-filled campaign.
Alex Keble: Mohamed Salah
Even if he misses most of January on international duty Salah can rack up huge assist numbers this season, getting somewhere close to the chart-topping 18 he provided in 2024/25. Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and possibly Isak will all be new (and improved) targets for Salah to hit.
Ben Bloom: Saka
There are a few other leading candidates, notably last year’s winner Salah, Palmer and Bruno Fernandes. Hampered by injury troubles and the fact that Arsenal played without a proper No 9 last year, I’m going for Saka to top the pile this season.
Dan Edwards: Salah
Salah won the Playmaker of the Season award for the second time last season, and I expect the same again from one of the most well-rounded attackers in the competition’s history. Salah will be keen to get his new attacking companions confident early on and will have to take on even more of a creative burden with the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Ninad Barbadikar: Florian Wirtz
For the last three seasons, Wirtz has been one of the most creative players in the Bundesliga and has topped all chance-creation-related metrics in Germany. With the hugely impressive talent surrounding him at Liverpool, the German will be a favourite for top assister this season.
Verdict: Top assister
Clarke: Saka
Kajumba: Palmer
Keble: Salah
Bloom: Saka
Edwards: Salah
Barbadikar: Wirtz
Most clean sheets
Adrian Clarke: David Raya
Arsenal’s solid defence will be the backbone of their title challenge, and Raya is always in the mix for the Golden Glove prize. If James Trafford becomes Man City’s No 1, he will go close but right now that’s unknown.
Adrian Kajumba: Raya
Raya has claimed the Golden Glove in each of the last two seasons and Arsenal should be no worse defensively in the coming season.
Alex Keble: Raya
Arsenal have conceded the fewest goals in each of the last two seasons and should again, mainly because Mikel Arteta is highly unlikely to make his system any more open this year despite new attacking signings. The addition of Martin Zubimendi, too, means even fewer opposition attacks will reach Raya’s goal.
Ben Bloom: Raya
A tricky one to predict (who would have selected Matz Sels ahead of 2024/25?), with Raya the obvious selection and safest bet. Among the less likely candidates, Nick Pope and Emi Martinez could be up there.
Dan Edwards: Raya
Arsenal have the best defensive fundamentals of any side in the division, and Raya is a goalkeeper with few weaknesses. While some of the other top sides may rotate goalkeepers, Raya should start nearly every game.
Ninad Barbadikar: Raya
Given Arsenal are likely to be the best defence in the league this season, I back Raya. Of all the 'keepers in the league, he’s the most-rounded shot-stopper and after sharing the award with Sels last season, the Spaniard should win the award outright this time around.
Verdict: Most clean sheets
Clarke: Raya
Kajumba: Raya
Keble: Raya
Bloom: Raya
Edwards: Raya
Barbadikar: Raya
Player of the Season
Adrian Clarke: Declan Rice
During the second half of last season Rice was in majestic form, and once he’s match-fit I expect him to dominate opponents on a regular basis. If Arsenal are to win the title, he will have to have a stellar campaign.
Adrian Kajumba: Palmer
Liverpool’s title triumph will be a team effort with the headlines shared, opening the door for another standout individual to win this award. That man will be Palmer.
Alex Keble: Haaland
His all-round performances might not be the most eye-catching, but if Man City win the title and Haaland is top goalscorer, as I’ve predicted, the panel won’t be able to ignore the obvious choice. If Guardiola’s reboot works, Haaland is on for another 30+ goal season.
Ben Bloom: Palmer
The Chelsea man is just incredibly talented. At the turn of the calendar year last season his numbers were ridiculous. He then went off the boil, but if Chelsea are to improve this season – and I think they will – he will surely be at the heart.
Dan Edwards: Haaland
You can’t predict City to win the league and Haaland to be top scorer without then backing Haaland to win Player of the Season. The last five awards have won by players from teams who also won the league that season – should Haaland surpass 30 goals, the award is his.
Ninad Barbadikar: Wirtz
Given the world-class quality he brings to the Premier League, I back Wirtz. He reached double figures for both goals and assists in his final two seasons at Bayer Leverkusen, and with him likely to repeat the same for Liverpool, he will be a favourite for this award.
Verdict: Player of the Season
Clarke: Rice
Kajumba: Palmer
Keble: Haaland
Bloom: Palmer
Edwards: Haaland
Barbadikar: Wirtz
Manager of the Season
Adrian Clarke: Ruben Amorim
I’m going for an incredibly bold prediction here, but if Manchester United challenge for a top four or five place it will be an astonishing turnaround for Amorim, under difficult circumstances. United were so poor in 2024/25, but if they make huge improvements (which they can), I feel the Portuguese boss will get lots of deserved credit.
Adrian Kajumba: Arne Slot
If it is a second title in his second season in English football, it will be almost impossible to look beyond Slot to be crowned as the division’s best manager.
Alex Keble: Pep Guardiola
Should Man City win the title, they will have had to overcome possibly the strongest field in a generation. Guardiola has never rebuilt a team before, either, so a sixth Premier League crown would make him the worthy recipient of this award.
Ben Bloom: Daniel Farke
Based on my predictions for finishing positions (Man City as champions), I’d expect Guardiola to be at the forefront of manager-of-the-season conversations. But that’s a bit dull, so I’ll plump for Farke instead. He’s done some impressive stuff at Leeds, and I fancy them having a decent crack at the top half of the table.
Dan Edwards: Thomas Frank
Frank is one of the best managers around and I expect him to completely transform Spurs next season, turning them into a cohesive attacking unit while adding defensive nous. His work with an injury-plagued Brentford squad last season deserved more credit.
Ninad Barbadikar: Frank
The Dane has done an excellent job for years with Brentford and will undoubtedly make Spurs one of the most difficult teams to face this season. The influence of his personality and tactical identity will take Spurs far this season and that’s why he get my backing.
Verdict: Manager of the Season
Clarke: Amorim
Kajumba: Slot
Keble: Guardiola
Bloom: Farke
Edwards: Frank
Barbadikar: Frank
Young Player of the Season
Adrian Clarke: Adam Wharton
I’m a huge fan of Crystal Palace's Wharton, who is getting better and better with every passing week. He is good enough to be the Eagles talisman this season, and he will surely force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad too.
Adrian Kajumba: Rayan Cherki
Gifted attacking midfielder Cherki has the talent to really light up the Premier League. If he displays all his qualities, fans will be in for a treat while he will be in line for at least this award come the end of the campaign.
Alex Keble: Cherki
Man City fans - and the Premier League as a whole - are going to fall in love with Cherki this year. A dazzling playmaker more in the mould of Lionel Messi than De Bruyne, whom he replaces in the Man City line-up, Cherki should hit the ground running in England.
Ben Bloom: Myles Lewis-Skelly
It’s an interesting quirk that three standout players eligible for this award are left-backs: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Milos Kerkez and Lewis Hall. I can see the Arsenal man making a big impact this campaign and potentially winning this unless Lucas Bergvall does something considerable at Spurs (which he might).
Dan Edwards: Carlos Baleba
Baleba is already an incredibly gifted midfielder, but by the end of the season Brighton & Hove Albion will be receiving offers into nine figures to acquire his services. He will be the centrepiece of a fantastic Brighton team that could threaten the European positions.
Ninad Barbadikar: Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo has come up with some seriously huge moments for Man Utd since making his debut, and with him becoming more of a mainstay in the first team under Amorim, expect his career trajectory to go higher and further this term.
Verdict: Young Player of the Season
Clarke: Wharton
Kajumba: Cherki
Keble: Cherki
Bloom: Lewis-Skelly
Edwards: Baleba
Barbadikar: Mainoo