Pundits pick their best player, manager and signing of the season, and choose their favourite match and goal of an enthralling 2023/24 so far.
EA SPORTS Player of the Season... so far
Michael Owen: Mo Salah is having another great season but I'm going for Jarrod Bowen. He has been hugely influential in West Ham’s success. Playing from the right, through the middle or a hybrid of the two, he is their chief goal threat. He’s been incredibly efficient in front of goal and already has 11 Premier League goals - just one short of his personal best of 12 in a single top-flight season.
Karen Carney: Trent Alexander Arnold. It's great to see him take up even more freedom in the inverted full-back role. His creativity is second to none and his passing range is exceptional. He narrowly beats Salah.
Matt Holland: Salah. Top of the goals and assists charts. The main reason Liverpool are top of the league.
Leon Osman: Salah. If your team is top of the table at the new year and you’re top of both the goal scoring charts and the assists charts, it’s fair to say you’re having a good season.
Darren Bent: Salah. Consistent and Liverpool's go-to player.
Don Hutchison: Virgil van Dijk. Back to his very best after ACL operation. I know how it feels to play after that brutal operation.
Barclays Manager of the season... so far
Owen: Unai Emery. I covered Aston Villa a lot in pre-season and tipped them to disrupt the top four, and so far the good form they showed at the end of last season has continued. Emery has got them playing a really distinct style of football that is enjoyable to watch and he is doing a great job of improving players.
Carney: Its a tough one between Ange Postecoglou and Jurgen Klopp. The way Postecoglou has come in and changed Spurs' style, losing their best player, and dealt with injuries, he has done an unbelievable job. But I have to pick Klopp, to transition a team in the way he has after such a difficult season last year and to be in the position they are in. Their player recruitment has been excellent. I really think they could go all the way this year and if they were to do what an achievement that would be.
Holland: Emery. No one would have had Aston Villa second in the Premier League after 20 games, and particularly after a heavy defeat to Newcastle on the opening day!
Osman: Emery. Who would have thought Villa would be second at the new year? The fact they're in a title race shows the job he’s doing.
Bent: Emery. He's completely changed Villa as a team, making them title contenders.
Hutchison: Emery for getting Villa into second from top.
Review the season so far
Budweiser Goal of the season... so far
Owen: Alejandro Garnacho v Everton.
Carney: Garnacho v Everton.
Holland: Garnacho at Everton.
Osman: Garnacho v Everton. Wow.
Bent: Garnacho v Everton.
Hutchison: Garnacho at Goodison.
Match of the season... so far
Owen: Spurs 1-4 Chelsea.
Carney: Luton 3-4 Arsenal.
Holland: Chelsea 4-4 Man City.
Osman: Man City 3-3 Spurs.
Bent: Spurs 1-4 Chelsea.
Hutchison: Liverpool 4-3 Fulham.
Signing of the season... so far
Owen: Guglielmo Vicario.
Carney: James Maddison and Vicario have been great. But I'm going Ross Barkley. If Luton are to stay up he will have a huge part to play in it. He was a free transfer and he looks confident and getting back to his best form.
Holland: Vicario.
Osman: Mohammed Kudus.
Bent: Kudus.
Hutchison: Declan Rice. £100million could be cheap.
