PFA Player of the Year: Man of the moment Sterling a bet at 3/1

Virgil van Dijk has looked a shoo-in for Player of the Season for some weeks now, but England and Man City star Raheem Sterling is making a late charge and is still worth backing at 3/1.

The PFA Player of the Year is always a hotly contested award. Players in the running for the league title or top goalscorer are generally at the top of the list but it's not always the case, so there is often value to be had.

Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool) - 4/9

Virgil Van Dijk is the odds-on favourite to win the award and it's not hard to see why; since joining Liverpool in January 2018, he's been the rock at the heart of their now parsimonious defence.

In the full season without Van Dijk (2016-2017 season), the Reds finished a respectable fourth in the Premier League table but conceded 42 goals. This year, that number is down to 18 with only seven games until the end of the season. Not only that, they are yet to lose at Anfield this season and their biggest defeat of the season? A 1-2 scoreline. He has, most importantly, catapulted the Merseyside team to their first title challenge in four years.

So how can he not win?

Well, has completely changed Liverpool's defence, defenders don't usually find their way at the top of their teammates' vote; the last defender to win was John Terry all the way back in 2004-05.

Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 3/1

In at second favourite, and shortening all the time - backed into 3/1 from 4/1 after scoring again for England on Monday - is Manchester City's Raheem Sterling. The first England player to score a hat-trick for club and country in the same month since Alan Shearer in September 1999, is quickly becoming a fans' favourite across the country.

Not so long ago he was being made a scapegoat for any failure - mainly in the tabloids admittedly -but anyone who has watched him play would know that he'd shine for any team he represents.

Sterling has had a hand in seven goals in his last four England games, as many as in his previous 31 appearances and scored the third most goals and second most assists in the Premier League this season.

So the stats are there and given his treatment by the press, many players may decide the 24-year-old deserves the recognition for a wonderful season. At 3/1, he's a tempting bet to pip Van Dijk for the honours.

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) - 14/1

There's someone who has more goals than Sterling in the City squad that you could argue deserves it more than Sterling. Sergio Aguero heads the race for the Top Goalscorer netting 18 goals so far this season, including hat-tricks against two top-six teams (Arsenal and Chelsea) in consecutive weeks.

Despite winning the league in 2013-2014 and in 2017-2018, as well as the Golden Boot in 2014-2015, the Argentinian has never won the POTY trophy. There was a school of thought earlier in the season that this might count in favour if Aguero when it came to voting, but it looks like Sterling will get more of the sentimental vote now.

Source: betting.betfair.com