The Fans' Footballer of the Year top 20 shortlist has been revealed, though it is of little surprise which talent come out on top.
Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool's shining light throughout what has been a difficult 2021 for a club marred by a defensive injury crisis that nearly scuppered their Champions League qualification hopes.
Liverpool's No.11 has reclaimed his crown for a second successive year after being honoured with the gong in 2020.
The Egyptian has bagged 22 goals in 24 games this season alone, not taking into consideration the five months of 2021 played last season as Liverpool finished third.
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While Salah's form has been nothing short of world class, Liverpool's talisman is not the only player to enjoy a stellar 2021.
With that being said, here is the top 20 players shortlisted for the Fans' Footballer of the Year award in full.
1 - Mohamed Salah
There are very few superlatives left that could possibly do Salah's performances justice, such is the brilliance of Liverpool's attacking lynchpin.
The 29-year-old has a number of standout moments throughout the calendar year, but perhaps few more stunning than his goal in the demolition of Watford at Vicarage Road earlier this season.
Salah was swarmed by a series of Hornets players, swatting them aside one by one before curling a spectacular effort beyond Ben Foster.
Salah's goal against Newcastle last week ensured he equalled Jamie Vardy’s record of scoring or assisting in 15 consecutive Premier League games - the kind of figures only a Premier League icon could return.
2 - Declan Rice
2021 marks the year Decan Rice's ability became startlingly clear to the rest of the footballing world, not just those of a West Ham persuasion.
Rice has been voted runner-up in our Fans’ Footballer of the Year award after a 12 month period that has seen him help guide England to their first major tournament in final in more than half a century.
At club level, Rice has been just as brilliant, donning the West Ham captain's armband after displacing Mark Noble from the starting line-up.
3 - Bruno Fernandes
Many may argue that the Manchester United midfield talisman has struggled to hit the heights of 2020, but that is not to suggest he hasn't been brilliant in his first full year as a Red Devil.
Come May 2021, Fernandes finished the season as United's top scorer, behind only Salah and Harry Kane in the league's goal-scoring charts.
Fernandes effectively carried his side to the Europa League final, only to suffer a penalty shout-out heartbreak at the final hurdle.
An opening day hat-trick against Leeds this term the notable highlight for the Portugal international so far.
4 - Phil Foden
2021 has seen Foden enjoy regular football for both club and country, though his injury at Euro 2020 seemed to take the gloss off what has been an otherwise tremendous year.
Crowned both the Premier League Young Player of the Season and PFA Young Player of the Year for his efforts last season, there are few who have ever boasted Foden's talent at such a young age.
His ability to play just about everywhere in an attacking sense has proved crucial to Man City at times, while that same versatility will surely make him the player England build around for years to come.
5 - Edouard Mendy
The ultimate tribute to Mendy's ability between the sticks for Chelsea this year has been he plays in the same league as both Alisson and Ederson, yet enjoyed a comfortably better 12 months than both.
Keeping nine clean sheets en route to Chelsea's Champions League glory, Mendy looks like the first world-class goalkeeper the Blues have enjoyed since the man who made the recommendation to sign him in Petr Cech.
Mendy's form has shown little sign of waning this season, keeping nine cleen sheets from the opening 15 games, the £22m Chelsea forked out to buy him looks more of a bargain with each passing match-week.
6 - Mason Mount
The jewel in Chelsea's glittering crown of youth talent, Mount has gone on to become one of the finest exports of the club's academy since its inception.
Despite his age, Mount has proven he is a man for the big occasion time and time again - particularly during last season's Champions League success.
S trikes in the quarter-final against Porto and semi-final against Real Madrid helped book the Blues place in the final, where Mount would go on to get the crucial assist for Kai Havertz's winner.
7 - Ruben Dias
The defensive bedrock for a team littered with star-studded attacking talent, Dias doesn't always steal the headlines but is often faultless at the back.
The £61m Portugal international was crucial in City's memorable League and Cup double, as well as reaching the Champions League final.
N amed the FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season, central defender Dias has provided Virgil van Dijk with worthy competition for the status of best centre-back in the league.
8 - Kevin De Bruyne
Unfortunately for the Belgian superstar, much of Kevin De Bruyne's 2021 has been marred by persistent injuries.
And yet, the former Chelsea man has still bagged 17 goals across this year to accompany his Premier League and Carabao Cup medals.
Widely viewed as the best attacking midfielder in the league, De Bruyne's fitness could prove the difference as City aim for their fourth league title in five seasons.
9 - Jorginho
Potentially the most controversial inclusion shortlisted, Jorginho is one of the most divisive talents in the Premier League.
Praised by some for keeping thing ticking over perfectly for his Chelsea side, others claim the Italian midfielder simpy does not do enough in terms of chance creation, let alone goals and assists.
Despite this, the Italian was ranked third in the running for the Ballon d'Or after lifting plenty of silverware in 2021 including the Champions League and Euro 2020.
The midfielder was also named in both the Champions League and EURO 2020 teams of the tournament.
10 - Joao Cancelo
Toppling the likes of De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in the assisting charts, Cancelo is reupholstering the idea of what many expect from their full-backs.
His technical prowess ensures he is able to operate as both a left and right-back, able to chip in with the odd screamer from time to time as well.
Cancelo's assist for Raheem Sterling in the recent home win over Everton was dubbed the 'pass of the year' by many.
11 - Michail Antonio
The second West Ham star to make the list, Antonio has surprised many with his 2021 form, bagging plenty of crucial goals against top opposition.
Just two games into the current league season, Antonio became West Ham’s top Premier League goal-scorer of all time following a brace against Leicester City.
There are few things the Hammers faithful love more than a player clearly giving it his all and running himself into the ground for the badge, something Antonio does every week without fail.
12 - Harry Kane
It has very much been a year of two halves for the England skipper, Kane starting this year in traditional fashion with goals aplenty.
By the time the final of Euro 2021 had finished, Kane had ended the season with 39 goals for club and country.
Though that kind of form has continued at international level, Kane has just two Premier League goals so far for Spurs this term, the first coming in October before a second in late-December.
13 - N'Golo Kante
Large parts of 2021 was business as usual for Kante, the Frenchman's highlight coming in the form of Champions League glory.
One of the few Premier League talents seemingly universally liked, Kante has established himself as one of the best central midfielders on the planet.
Kante has arguably played the best footballer of his career under Thomas Tuchel, becoming most likely the first name on the team-sheet for the German.
14 - Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo's inclusion on this list is absolutely staggering when considering he didn't play his first Premier League game of the year until September.
His return to Old Trafford shook the footballing world to its core, the king returning to the stomping ground that helped propel him to worldwide superstardom.
He picked up where he left off in Manchester, notching 7 goals in 13 games in the Premier League alone to offer up a reminder of why he is viewed as one of, if not the best to ever step foot on a football pitch.
15 - Marcus Rashford
2021 has seen Rashford become a hero for his off-field activity as well as his on-field antics.
Always looking to right wrongs with his campaigning away from football, Rashford is still viewed as one of the most important cogs in United's attacking machine.
A regular for country as well as club, Rashford was forced to sit out for three months after Euro 2020 having been told to undergo shoulder surgery.
16 - Trent Alexander-Arnold
Much like Cancelo, Alexander-Arnold has led to a change in outlook on right-backs and what is expected of them.
Alexander-Arnold's playing style is particularly unique, more like David Beckham with his pinpoint crossing and free-kick goals than a traditional right-back in the Gary Neville sense.
Still just 23, Alexander-Arnold already has some of the game's biggest honours under his belt with plenty more still expected to come.
17 - Jack Grealish
It may come as a surprise that the most expensive footballer in British history hasn't ranked higher, but take nothing away from Grealish who has enjoyed a transformative year for his career.
Making the bold decision to bid farewell to his boyhood club in Aston Villa, Grealish has become a regular for both Man City and England after his £100m switch.
At just 26, Grealish still has his best years ahead of him, a thought that will no doubt excite the Etihad faithful.
18 - Ilkay Gundogan
Gundogan's best performances came during the beginning of 2021, establishing himself as one of City's most important players at the turn of the year.
However, the German international remains a class act and has helped his side to crucial victories both this season and last against fellow big-six opposition including Liverpool and Chelsea.
In a side that often plays without a traditional striker, Gundogan's goals from midfield are worth their weight in gold.
19 - Son Heung-Min
The other half of Spurs' potent attacking double act, Son has stepped up in the face of Kane's poor form in front of goal for much of this season.
While there is plenty speculation over Kane's future, Son has penned a new contract with the club meaning he is likely to remain in north London for years to come.
This could eventually lead to the side being built around the South Korea international, rather than the England captain.
20 - Youri Tielemans
Often singled out as Leicester City's most stylish player, the Belgian wrote his name in Foxes history with his FA Cup final screamer against Chelsea back in May.
Technically superb with an eye for a goal, the Belgian has helped Brendan Rodgers side topple a number of big teams this year.
Tielemans' name is regularly touted with a move to one of the league's 'big-six' sides, something that could concern the Leicester hierarchy as their own form continues to struggle approaching the new year.
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