There are five months of the season left of a topsy-turvy league campaign where some players have stood out above others.
talkSPORT Drive hosts Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein decided to look at the best of the bunch and there were surprise omissions.
Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer was overlooked by Bent with the Drive presenters allowed to choose from the league’s biggest names at the peak of their powers, irrespective of current form and injuries.
This left the door open to stars who have shone in recent years, but may not necessarily be enjoying their greatest season this term.
And while some players were unanimous picks, others sparked more debate between the pair, as they questioned who really comes out on top.
Up first was Bent, who named the following Premier League heroes on his list…
5. Bukayo Saka
The Arsenal star was in fifth place.
Arguably the Gunners’ most important player, Saka has registered a combined 22 goals and assists this campaign.
He was also on track to beat Thierry Henry’s record of 20 league assists before sustaining a hamstring injury which will see him ruled out for over two months.
Bent said of him: “Bukayo Saka. Incredible. Been brilliant this season, getting better and better every season.
“Big, big blow for Arsenal getting injured. But before he got injured, unstoppable. Unstoppable.”
4. Erling Haaland
Number four on Bent’s list was Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland, who has been the league’s deadliest finisher by some distance his arrival in England in 2022.
In his debut campaign on English soil, the Norwegian smashed the record for the most goals in an English top-flight season, netting 36 times in just 35 games.
And despite both Haaland and Man City failing to live up to their usual standards this term, his selection was a no-brainer for Bent.
The former Tottenham striker explained: “Haaland. He’s not been at his best, and he still sits behind [Mohamed] Salah.
“When Haaland is on fire, we saw what he can do in terms of records, just shattering records left, right and centre.
“He got 52 in his first season for City, in all competitions.”
3. Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool captain and rock at the back, Virgil van Dijk was ranked third by Bent, who has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Premier League history during his time at Anfield.
Since his arrival in 2018, the Dutchman has been crucial in restoring the Merseyside giants to football’s elite in both England and Europe.
Crowned the PFA Player’s Player of the Year for 2018/19 in the same season he lifted the Champions League title, van Dijk guided the Reds to a first league title in 30 years in 2020.
He has been in formidable form this season, playing his part in eight clean sheet displays for Liverpool, who boast a six-point lead at the top of the table.
On van Dijk, Bent said: “[He is] still a Rolls Royce of a centre-half, still the benchmark of any centre-half in the division.
He then told Goldstein: “You could stand and play next to him and you’d look incredible, because he’s that good.”
2. Rodri
Second best in Bent’s eyes was Man City midfielder Rodri, despite being crowned the best men’s player of 2024 when he received the Ballon d’Or award in October.
The Spaniard helped club and country to win the Premier League and Euro 2024 last year, and the talkSPORT host was full of praise for him.
He said of the four-time English champion: “I think Rodri is formidable. Whatever team he plays in, they win.
“Ballon d’Or winner, he has been brilliant. From the moment he got to City, he became their main man, took over from Fernandinho.
“He’s been the guy.”
1. Mohamed Salah
Bent’s outstanding top-flight player will come as little surprise, as he opted for the Premier League’s leading goalscorer and assist provider this season.
Salah has established himself as Liverpool’s main man since his arrival on Merseyside in 2018.
During this time, he has inspired the Reds to both Premier League and Champions League glory, scoring over 232 goals in all competitions in the process.
And the Egyptian King has been at his scintillating best this season, firing his side to the top of the league with a stunning 18 goals and 13 assists at the halfway point.
On his selection, Bent simply said: “Mohamed Salah. He has to be, I mean, the guy’s just getting better with age.”
But Bent’s co-host Goldstein was not entirely in agreement with all of his choices here.
While Rodri, Haaland, Salah and van Dijk all made his top five, the Drive presenter questioned his colleague’s exclusion of Chelsea and England star Palmer.
Having landed last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year award in a stunning debut season at Stamford Bridge, the playmaker has continued this campaign in devastating fashion.
With 13 goals and six assists to his name already, Palmer was a shoe-in for Goldstein, who told Bent: “Palmer’s better than Saka.”