Jamie Carragher names three contenders for Premier League player of the season – and says winner will decide the title

JAMIE CARRAGHER believes title glory could decide which of three stars becomes Premier League player of the year.

Carra named Virgil van Dijk from leaders Liverpool, Declan Rice of second-placed Arsenal and Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

The Times

Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Man City star Phil Foden are England colleagues but major rivals for the Prem crown this season[/caption]

Rex

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is the third player singled out by Jamie Carragher[/caption]

But the Anfield legend reckons there is one major difference between his trio of stand-out performers.

The ex-England defender rates only Foden as replaceable – and that is purely because he also claims City have the strongest squad.

Each of Carragher‘s three picks has a special reason for relishing one of the tightest title fights in years.

Van Dijk hopes to ensure Jurgen Klopp‘s nine-year reign at Liverpool ends with his second English top-flight crown.

Meanwhile, Rice is keen to underline his superb first season following a record-breaking summer move from West Ham with his first Prem title.

And Foden is hungry to cap his emergence from out of Kevin De Bruyne‘s shadow – while boosting his bid for a key role at Euro 2024 for England.

Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph: “We rarely have this situation in the Premier League and it should be savoured, with all three clubs hopefully remaining in contention until the end

“It is a tribute to the way in which Liverpool and Arsenal are run that for all City’s financial advantage, their title wins have been prevented from becoming an annual procession.”

But he added: “The difference between City, Liverpool and Arsenal is this: take Van Dijk or Rice out of their side, and neither club would be contenders.

“City would still be thriving without Foden. That is a reflection of the depth of their squad rather than intended to downplay his brilliance.”

The Etihad playmaker, 23, is still battling to cement a regular first-choice spot with the Three Lions.

But Carra, 46, said: “I have long championed Foden.

“In terms of pure talent, he is England’s best player, and a break from tradition in terms of what he brings to his club and country.”

Nonetheless, Carragher reckons Rice could be “the final piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal” – after his “bargain” £105million arrival.

He hailed the anchorman for adding “steeliness to the spine” of the Gunners.

KEN MACPHERSON

Carragher says the winner of the Prem and player of the year are closely linked[/caption]