Eden Hazard Is Statistically The Premier League's Best Player

Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling might be everyone's favourites to win the PFA Player of the Year awards after yesterday's nomination announcement but according to the stats Eden Hazard is actually the best player in the Premier League.

All season Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling have been in direct competition. For most of the season it has been over their teams winning the Premier League title but it's also been about the Player of the Year award.

For Liverpool Van Dijk has completely transformed them in the past 18 months. Since last season they've gone from the team who felt like they had to score five to be in with a chance of winning a game to the team with the best defensive record.

Sterling hasn't changed Manchester City this season, they didn't need much changing anyway considering their record breaking season last year, but he has become integral to Pep Guardiola's team.

Yesterday the nominations for the PFA Player's Player of the Year award was announced and Van Dijk is expected to beat Sterling to the award, with the winger taking the FWA version later in the year.

The Chelsea forward's 16 goals and 12 assists means he's ahead of all his rivals in contributing to goals, even with Sergio Aguero, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Harry Kane and Sterling scoring more than him.

The Belgian has just one season left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and the stats show why it's so important for the Blues to keep hold of him but it's looking increasingly unlikely with Real Madrid reportedly linked.

Interestingly the stats suggest that, despite all the talk, Van Dijk isn't even Liverpool's best player with Salah ahead of him in the statistical rankings.

Of course many might point out that Paul Pogba's place in sixth on that list proves that stats can't always be listened to, especially with nominee Bernardo Silva absent from the statistical top 10.

Who do you think has been the best player this season?