The midterms: Who has set the pace at the Premier League turn?
Chris Top And Clockwise Forest’s Salah; Wood Mo Arsenal’s From Gravenberch; Cole Palmer; Nottingham Ryan Bukayo Liverpool’s Saka Chelsea’s Left:
Nobody wins anything in December, as the saying goes - but they forgot about the our Halfway House Awards. Here’s our verdict on who would lift the individual trophies, if the were votes were being counted before the bells welcome in 2025…
An impressive 15 goals and 11 assists before Christmas (in just 16 appearances) put the Egyptian right at the top of the pile when it comes to goal contributions this season.
So, it’s almost unfathomable that he’s spent most of his post-match interviews talking about how this could be his last season at Anfield.
Thankfully, Liverpool seem to have woken up to the threat of losing their best player and it looks odds-on he’ll sign an extension in 2025. That’s crucial when you consider how much he offers to Arne Slot’s team.
Salah has been as good as ever this campaign, perhaps even better, driving Liverpool to become title favourites - a point underlined by another star showing in a remarkable 6-3 victory at Tottenham in the last game before the turkey was roasted.
He has also scored in all the big games against Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
It’s not easy replacing a footballing legend – just look at the mess Manchester United have made of life since Alex Ferguson retired.
So, the way Arne Slot has coolly, calmly and without any fuss continued life after Jurgen Klopp at Anfield is truly impressive.
If anything, he has improved the team – adding more layers to their playing style. Liverpool can still go heavy metal when they need to – but they are quite happy to play concerto when they music slows down.
The way he handles the media is effortless, coming across as down to earth and with a genuine sense of humour. Nothing seems to ruffle him.
Oh, and we haven’t mentioned that he’s made Liverpool title contenders - four points clear and looking imperious. What an appointment.
Eleven goals and six assists before Christmas, all in the Premier League – and this guy is still only 22 years old. Quite remarkable.
That tally includes four in one glorious match against Brighton, which the Blues won 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
At his best he appears almost unstoppable, able to cleverly find space and drive forward, consistently delivering unerring left-foot shots that fizz into the net from all angles.
There are insiders at Stamford Bridge who believe the former Manchester City man has the potential to be a Ballon D’Or winner in future; and you wouldn’t argue against them.
He’s comfortably Chelsea’s star man and he appears to be getting even better under new manager Enzo Maresca.
OK, officially this should be Erling Haaland who has scored more goals.
But everything is relative. In his terms, the Manchester City man is having an indifferent season despite scoring 13 times, whilst journeyman Chris Wood is having the season of his life after hitting the net 10 times already in the Premier League.
It’s worth noting, too, that his goal conversation rate is almost twice that of Haaland.
Wood scored 14 goals in 16 games in all competitions before Christmas, making him the surprise package of the season at the ripe old age of 33.
He has led Forest into European contention – and who could have predicted that?
It’s clear that Cole Palmer has been the best in the league going forward, but this is the era of the defensive midfielder, so we’ve gone for something different.
Dutchman Gravenberch has been in remarkable form for Liverpool and at the heart of everything good about Arne Slot’s new-look side.
That’s all the more impressive when you remember the midfielder never really won Jurgen Klopp’s trust last season, spending much of it on the bench.
Slot saw something else in him and patience has proved a virtue. In fact, he has been so good in the holding role that any regrets on missing out on Martin Zubimendi last summer have faded quickly.
Gravenberch has made 17 appearances this season, losing only once.
Arsenal’s talisman just seems to keep on getting better, and he’s still only 23 years old.
This season he's second to Salah in the Premier League assists chart with 10, as well as scoring five goals (not including four more in the Champions League).
He is absolutely key to Arsenal’s title challenge, so a hamstring injury suffered against Crystal Palace is a major concern.
If Saka returns to action quickly and continues his form then Arsenal will be very, very close to breaking their title drought.
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The big Dutchman is back to his imperious best this season, helping Liverpool’s defence become the meanest in the Premier League – just 16 goals conceded by Christmas.
He has also contributed two important goals for the Reds, one in a draw against Arsenal and one in an impressive Champions League victory in Milan.
With 2025 on the horizon, he has only lost once in a red shirt so far this season, has contributed to seven clean sheets and has once again become the lynchpin of their title campaign.
Six clean sheets in the Premier League by Christmas, 16 goals conceded, a penalty save in the Champions League against Atalanta – and probably the save of the season so far when he somehow kept out Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa with remarkable reflexes.
That should be enough for Raya to be best goalkeeper of the season heading into 2025. All the doubters who plagued his first season at the Emirates have certainly disappeared.
The Premier League Goal of the Month for October provided double value – because it also included the pass of the season so far.
Cole Pamer was only just outside his own penalty area when he twisted to send an unbelievable left-footed pass down the left flank.
Played with pace, it curled just at the right moment to send Pedro Neto away, falling perfectly in front of him.
The former Wolves winger then slid a perfect ball across goal for Jackson to finish with aplomb. A simply stunning goal that sums up Chelsea’s season so far.
Having missed on England’s Euros squad last summer, Maddison really needed a good season to prove his doubters wrong – and he’s certainly done that.
The former Leicester man scored eight goals by Christmas, all of them in the Premier League, and they have been classy finishes. He also has four assists, once again becoming Tottenham’s most important player when it comes to creativity.
The next step would be to regain his England place ahead of the next World Cup. At 28, it’s not too late.
Ange Postecoglou promised an attacking philosophy when he arrived in North London and he hasn’t disappointed (although Spurs also let in an alarming number of goals, which seems to bring out the critics).
That mix, however, makes them hugely entertaining to watch. They have put four past Everton, West Ham, Aston Villa, Man United and, most notably, Man City away – winning them all. There has also been a 5-0 victory at Southampton.
On the other side of the coin you have to consider a crazy 4-3 home defeat against Chelsea, a 3-2 reverse at Brighton from being 2-0 ahead and a 6-3 home reverse against Liverpool. Crazy? Yes. But are you not entertained?
The County Cork man, 26, has played a huge part in Liverpool's rise to the top of the Premier League, covering admirably for the injured Alisson.
He has played eight league games (taking his Premier League career total to 23), kept three clean sheets and has yet to be on the losing side this season.
In addition, he has saved three penalties already this campaign. Against Southampton in the Premier League (although the rebound was converted), against Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League (a tournament in which he has kept another three clean sheets) and against Finland for the Republic.
Everton
Since Everton conceded 15 goals in their first eight games this season, manager Sean Dyche has slammed on the breaks to ensure they will be playing Premier League football in their new stadium next season under new owners.
There have been five goalless draws during the ensuing period, including a 0-0 against high-flying Chelsea just before Christmas.
That one was greeted as a triumph at Goodison, but it hasn’t all been that way. The same scoreline against Brentford, who had only 10 men on the pitch from the 40th minute, was greeted with boos.
Everton have scored just 14 goals in the Premier League this season. Only Southampton have managed fewer.
It's been a total mess at Old Trafford once again, despite spending big in the summer market.
Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarate, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee all arrived but none of those signings have made a significant difference and they couldn't save Erik ten Hag from the sack.
Not even the arrival of Ruben Amorim, regarded as an Old Trafford Messiah, has made a difference. No new manager bounce, only the same old poor performances - including a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.
So many different managers have been and gone since Sir Alex left in 2013, but they are still a long way off winning another title. That has to be depressing.
If you sit bottom of the table at Christmas with only six points and 11 goals, you know the writing is on the wall.
Russell Martin's obsession with playing out from the back cost him dear, but at least the Saints started life under new boss Ivan Juric with a goalless draw at Fulham. Perhaps things will improve but they are big, big favourites to be relegated.