Thirteen-time champions Real Madrid host six-time winners Liverpool FC in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 quarter-final at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in the small hours of Wednesday (as per Indian Standard Time).

Zinedine Zidane’s men are looking to defend their La Liga title as they are currently three points behind table-toppers Atletico Madrid. The Los Blancos have been in good form as they have remained unbeaten in their last 11 matches, winning nine of those fixtures. 

Real Madrid will depend on their talisman Karim Benzema, who has scored 24 goals in all competitions, including 11 in the past 10 games. Watch Real Madrid vs Liverpool live in India!

On the other hand, Liverpool will look to avenge their 3-1 loss in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League final.

The Reds, however, have struggled for consistency throughout the season as they are placed in the sixth spot in the Premier League points table and are currently two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. 

In the Real Madrid vs Liverpool head-to-head record in the UEFA Champions League, both the teams have won three games apiece in the six matches played between these two footballing giants.

Real Madrid team news

The hosts have suffered a massive blow as their talismanic captain Sergio Ramos has been ruled out of the UCL match due to a calf injury that he picked up on international duty. Not only that but his partner in central defence, Raphael Varane, will be missing the fixture as, well after testing positive for the global virus. 

Real Madrid will also miss the services of their record signing Eden Hazard, who has been ravaged by injuries since joining the club from Chelsea in 2019. Furthermore, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde have also been sidelined against Liverpool.

Liverpool FC team news

Liverpool will be without their first-choice central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. The visitors will also be without their captain Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip, which further adds to their defensive woes.

Divock Origi and Caoimhin Kelleher have also been ruled out of this UCL match.

Where to watch Real Madrid vs Liverpool live in India?

The Real Madrid vs Liverpool UCL match will be telecast live at 12:30 AM IST on Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 2 HD, Sony SIX and Sony SIX HD TV channels in India, on Wednesday, April 7.

Live streaming of Real Madrid vs Liverpool will be available on SonyLIV along with other UEFA Champions League quarter-final clashes.

SportsAdda will bring you Real Madrid vs Liverpool live scores.

For Real Madrid vs Liverpool football odds and betting, visit Sportsbet.io and look under Top Events - International Clubs - UEFA Champions League.

Feature image courtesy: Paul ELLIS / AFP

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was named the Football Writers' Association player of the year on Friday for leading the Reds to their first league title in 30 years.

The 30-year-old beat Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and teammates Virgil Van Dijk and Sadio Mane to the prize.

As well as making his presence felt in 30 Premier League games this season as Liverpool surged to the title with an 18-point lead at the top of the table, Henderson led by example off the pitch during football's three-month shutdown.

• Five key players who defined Liverpool’s title-winning season

He spearheaded the PlayersTogether initiative during the lockdown which saw players team up with to raise money for Britain's National Health Service.

"I accept it on behalf of this whole squad because without them I’m not in a position to be receiving this honour. These lads have made me a better player, a better leader and a better person," said Henderson.

“If anything, I hope those who voted for me did so partly to recognise the entire team’s contribution."

As well as the top five, 10 other players received votes from FWA members. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Raheem Sterling, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Sergio Aguero, Adama Traore, Danny Ings, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Jonny Evans were all nominated.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

Liverpool's coronation as English champions for the first time in 30 years is the culmination of a dramatic journey since Jurgen Klopp's appointment as manager in 2015.

Klopp is the charismatic face of Liverpool's transformation from top-four contenders to Champions League winners and now Premier League champions.

However, the Reds' success on the pitch has been made possible by plenty of shrewd work on signings and sales behind the scenes.

Of the 18-man squad named by Klopp in his first match in charge less than five years ago, only James Milner, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi have featured this season, in peripheral roles.

The construction of Liverpool's title-winning squad has been a steady process.

In Klopp's first summer transfer window, Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum arrived to help secure a return to the Champions League.

The next year they were joined by Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

By January 2018, a long pursuit of Virgil van Dijk resulted in the Dutchman becoming the world's most expensive defender for £75 million ($93 million).

Inspired by Salah's free-scoring form, the instant impact of Van Dijk and growing maturity of full-backs Robertson and academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool reached the Champions League final in 2018.

Two howlers from Loris Karius against Real Madrid delayed a sixth European Cup win for a year, but what happened afterwards showed the club's ruthless desire to get back to winning major trophies.

Read | Five key players who defined Liverpool’s title-winning season

Karius has never played another game for Liverpool as another world record fee, this time for a goalkeeper, was splashed on Alisson Becker from Roma.

Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri were also recruited in 2018 in a spending spree of more than £160 million.

"Maybe this season finally you demand they win," jibed then Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

Win is what they have done relentlessly for two years.

A mammoth total of 97 points was still not enough to win the title last season due to Manchester City's own stunning levels of consistency.

However, the upgrades for the 2018/19 season were rewarded in silverware with a Champions League triumph. On the way to the trophy Liverpool thumped Barcelona 4-0 in the second leg of the semi-final, even without the injured Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Money well spent

The momentum of Madrid rolled into this season, with only the global pandemic preventing possibly the earliest-ever crowning of English champions.

Yet, in an era of sheikhs and oligarchs, Liverpool's success is not in outspending their rivals, but doing so more efficiently.

According to transfer specialists Transfermarkt, Liverpool's net spend over the past five years is £109 million, less than the outlay of Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Brighton.

Read | Five unforgettable moments from Liverpool’s Premier League triumph

It is a testament to Klopp's managerial skill that the departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £142 million in January 2018 did not derail his side's progress.

Sporting director Michael Edwards has played a huge role in giving Klopp the resources he wants to work with by extracting maximum value from departures.

The sales of Mamadou Sakho, Dominic Solanke, Danny Ward, Danny Ings, Christian Benteke and Jordon Ibe have helped contribute another £120 million.

"I must also highlight the role of our sporting director, Michael Edwards in this journey so far," said Klopp when he signed a contract extension to 2024 earlier this season.

"His input and collaboration has been just as important as anyone else's in getting us into a position to compete for the game's top titles."

Having climbed the mountain, Liverpool plan on staying there.

A host of key players including Salah, Mane, Firmino, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson have signed contract extensions in the past two years.

"Liverpool's squad is young and all the key players are tied down on long contracts. They have huge potential to win more trophies," former England captain Wayne Rooney, who also skippered Liverpool's two biggest rivals, Everton and Manchester United, admitted on Sunday.

The signing of highly-rated 17-year-old Harvey Elliott and using a bargain £8 million buyout clause to secure Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg in January are further examples of Liverpool's long-term planning.

"For anyone in football who aspires to compete in an environment where every element of the organisation is at its very best �?from the support of the supporters to the vision of the owners �?there can be no better place than this," said Klopp.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Phil Noble

After a convincing 4-0 routing of Crystal Palace mid-week, all Liverpool needed from Manchester City was to drop points against Chelsea in order to lift their first league title in 30 years. So when Christian Pulisic opened the scoring for Frank Lampard in the 36th minute, the Reds�?faithful were duly on the edge of their seat.

But the game was far from finished. City responded in the second period, with none other than their former man, Kevin De Bruyne, restoring the parity by scoring a banger. But when Fernandinho was dismissed late in the game, Willian made no mistake in restoring the advantage, sending the Liverpool players, who were gathered in a hotel to watch the game, into a frenzy.

The celebration broke out into the city, as the Reds were deservedly crowned the new champions of England, with a record seven games still to be played.

Read | Five unforgettable moments from Liverpool’s Premier League triumph

Liverpool, who finished only a point behind Manchester City in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign, have lost a solitary game this season, winning a whopping 28 of the 31 Premier League fixtures.

7 �?Liverpool have won the @premierleague title with seven games still left to play �?this is the earliest title victory in English top-flight history in terms of remaining matches when crowned champions. Romped. pic.twitter.com/q3KUSEJJJy

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 25, 2020

Jurgen Klopp, who is the first German manager to win the English top-flight title in its 131-year history, has carried a distinctive identity at Liverpool; an identity of having one of the deadliest attacking trios, a defence as solid as a rock, and a midfield as commendable as a knight; a team that hasn’t lost at home in the league in three years.

The 2019/20 Premier League season has rightly been a collective effort, but keep in mind that not even a single player has put a foot wrong throughout the season. And thus, picking out five players from the group has been as arduous as it can get. But we gave it a go.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The fact that Liverpool’s most creative outlay this season has been a 21-year-old right-back is exhilarating, to say the least. And when Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring for his side against Crystal Palace this week, he became the youngest Liverpool player to score from a direct free-kick at Anfield in the Premier League since Robbie Fowler in 1995.

In fact, since making his debut in August 2016, the blistering full-back has been directly involved in 30 Premier League goals (five goals & 25 assists), at least five more than any other defender in the span. This season, he has not only accumulated 12 league assists but has also scored three goals, two more than he bagged in the previous campaign.

12 - Trent Alexander-Arnold provided 12 assists in the Premier League in 2018-19; the most by a defender in a single season in the competition’s history. Delivery. #OptaPLSeasons pic.twitter.com/NPCMUmdwhP

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 28, 2020

Alexander-Arnold’s most notable performance of the season came against Leicester City on Boxing Day, when he not only assisted twice but also came on the scoresheet with a fine finish in the corner.

A sure shot contender for the PFA Player of the Year, or even the PFA Young Player of the year.

Virgil van Dijk

A dominant and a consistent presence in the heart of Liverpool’s defence, Virgil van Dijk has brought the serenity Jurgen Klopp was so devoid of. The big Dutchman has played every single minute of the league this season and played a big role his side’s stupendous defensive record, having conceded just 21 goals so far. And for a defender to get a solitary yellow card in 31 league appearances shows how exceptional his tactical awareness has been this season.

Van Dijk, despite being at the club for just two-and-a-half years, has established himself as one of their greats. A player blessed with incredible passing ability and sheer physical might that is bound to terrorise the opponents, van Dijk is amongst several Liverpool players to be in the contention for winning the PFA award this season.

Jordan Henderson

Eight years back, Jordan Henderson was an unwanted commodity at Liverpool, with their then-manager Brendan Rodgers including him in a deal to bring Clint Dempsey to Anfield from Fulham. At present, he is the captain of the same side that lifted a UEFA Champions League trophy and a Premier League title in two years under Jurgen Klopp.

3 - Liverpool have scored 100+ goals in all competitions for a third consecutive season, the first time they have done so since 1986-87 (eight in a row). Tonne. pic.twitter.com/hFBINUccnt

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 24, 2020

Henderson’s stocks have been on a rise especially in the past couple of years and he has arguably been the most underrated player of his team. His influence can be jotted down with the fact that Liverpool’s win percentage drops almost 13 percent when he is not in the team (56 compared to 68.68 when he is in the team).

The midfielder has been a perfect carrier of the ball, linking his defence to attack, and has scored three goals coupled with five assists this season. Henderson’s role in the team is beyond the playing field, to say the least. The leadership quality he brings along which has glued the team under Klopp has been simply unmatchable.

Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah’s ridiculous return of 44 goals in his debut campaign with Liverpool set the bar so high that when he scored 27 in the 2018/19 season, the figure looked seemingly low. The fact, however, remained that no one scored more than the Egyptian that season.

15 - Mo Salah has scored 15 @premierleague goals at Anfield this season - no other player has scored more than 10 home goals in the competition this term. Indeed, the Egyptian has scored in each of his last six home league games for the Reds (seven goals). Comforts. pic.twitter.com/AkHktVMV6k

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 24, 2020

This year, the 28-year-old has accumulated 21 goals and nine assists in all competitions. Although Salah has had his fair share of lows this season, he remains Liverpool’s top-scorer of the season, and no one in the league has scored more than his seven match-winners.

Such is Salah’s quality that despite scoring 21 goals, this figure seems like a moderate return. Maybe it’s time to just appreciate what he brings, rather than collating what he has done in the past.

Sadio Mane

Salah’s statistics may well and truly shadow Sadio Mane’s return, but there is no denying the fact that the Senegalese, who rejected an offer from Manchester United to join Liverpool in 2016, is as important as the Egyptian when it comes to producing a match-winning effort.

Mane, who has scored 15 goals and assisted seven in the Premier League this season, has been an absolute workhorse for Liverpool, grinding on Klopp’s trademark high-press, and equally efficient in defending at the back.

10 - Sadio Mané is the 10th player to score in six consecutive @premierleague appearances against a single opponent, and the second to do so for Liverpool after Mo Salah v Bournemouth. Thorn. pic.twitter.com/OI9bQ19mIQ

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 24, 2020

Underrated? Truly so.

In fact, the Senegalese has time and again been the hero for his team. For instance, against Aston Villa back in November, Mane struck a 94th-minute winner, and in February this year, his goal against Norwich gave his team a deserved victory away from home.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Peter Powell, Oli Scarff, Paul Ellis

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says playing at an empty Anfield and winning the Premier League title with no fans present would be "pretty strange".

Liverpool were 25 points clear of 2019 champions Manchester City and on the verge of their first English top-flight crown for 30 years when the league was shut down due to the pandemic in March.

Clubs returned to training in small and socially distanced groups last week ahead of a proposed restart in June.

Henderson lifted the Champions League trophy in a packed stadium in Madrid last June but is preparing for a different experience this year.

"Of course it would feel different because if you win any trophy and receive it without any fans there, it would be pretty strange," he told the BBC.

The 29-year-old England international midfielder said the title race was still not over.

"We still have work to do and we still need to perform at a high level right the way until the season finishes because we want to finish as strongly as we can to make sure it is a full season," he said.

Henderson, who has been pivotal in Liverpool's renaissance under Jurgen Klopp, said he hoped there would be a title celebration with fans inside Anfield in the future if, as appears certain, they finish the job.

"Whether we win it or whatever, then (receiving) the trophy and the fans not being there... you just have to deal with it when it comes," he said.

"Hopefully it does happen. We are still in a very good position.

"It will mean we have won the Premier League and we will all be very happy but then we can look to the future -- and whenever fans are allowed back into the stadium, I am sure we will have some sort of celebration together."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

Liverpool, after a stuttering start to the last decade, have been a dominant force to be reckoned with. The club’s fortunes have turned around since Jurgen Klopp took over the reins in 2015. In his first season, the Reds made it to the finals of the League Cup and the UEFA Europa League.

A UEFA Champions League final appearance followed in 2017-18, following which they finally lifted Europe’s most coveted trophy in 2018-19. The 2019-20 season has already seen them lift the FIFA Club World Cup and looks set to end with a Premier League triumph for the Merseyside giants.

There have been some exceptional players to have walked through the doors at Anfield during the last decade. But who have been the most stand-out acquisitions for Liverpool during this period? Read on to find out�?/p>

Luis Suarez

Signed in the January transfer window in 2011 from AFC Ajax, as a replacement for the outgoing Fernando Torres, the Uruguayan had his fair share of his controversies during his time at Liverpool. But, his goal-scoring record during this period speaks for itself.

Suarez spent three and a half years at Anfield, during which he plundered 82 goals and 47 assists in 133 appearances across all competitions. That comes up almost direct involvement in goal in each of his appearance for the Reds �?prolific indeed.

Led by his 31 goals, Liverpool came ever so close to winning the Premier League for the first time ever in 2013-14. The Reds sold him to Barcelona in 2014, but the Uruguayan striker will be fondly remembered, especially for his sensational exploits in 2013-14.

Jordan Henderson

The English midfielder, signed from Sunderland in an 18 million deal in 2011, wasn’t always held in high regard at Anfield. In fact, for much of his early tenure, Jordan Henderson was often criticized by the fans. But that has changed drastically in recent years, with the midfielder now a favourite among the Kop!

Henderson might not be someone who dazzles fans with his skills and trickery, but his commitment and his passion for the badge, coupled with the way he marshals his troops on the field, has made him an integral member of Klopp’s team.

Henderson is the longest-serving player on Liverpool’s roster currently with 359 appearances, scoring 28 goals and notching up 50 assists. The 29-year-old will go down as a Champions League winning captain in Liverpool’s history and if the Premier League season resumes, he will also go down as the man who led the Reds to their first ever Premier League title triumph.

Sadio Mane

One of the many players to have made the move from Southampton to Liverpool in recent years, Sadio Mane signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2016 and has since grown from strength to strength, establishing himself as one of the deadliest attackers in the Premier League and Europe.

The Senegalese speedster has been one of the chief driving forces behind Klopp’s brigade enjoying such success in recent seasons. So far, the 27-year-old has scored 77 goals and set up 34 more for his teammates, getting his hands on a Champions League winners�?medal last season.

The 2018-19 campaign also saw him win the Premier League Golden Boot as well and given his performances this season, Mane is a top contender to win the PFA Player of the Year award.

Mohamed Salah

Another of Klopp’s acquisitions that has helped change the landscape at Anfield, Mohamed Salah has been the biggest spark leading the charge for Liverpool in the past couple of seasons. Signed from AS Roma for a �?2 million transfer fee, there was some skepticism early on due to his failed stint at Chelsea.

But Salah dispelled any such concerns in his debut season with the Reds, amassing a whopping 44 goals in all competitions, leading them to the finals of the Champions League. He followed it up with another fine campaign last time out, making it two Premier League Golden Boots in two seasons with the Merseysiders, while also firing his side to the Champions League, scoring a goal in the final against Spurs.

Salah has continued in the same vein of form this term as well. During his time at Liverpool, the Egyptian has broken several records already and could go on to topple many more should he keep performing the way he has been.

Virgil van Dijk

The missing piece of puzzle from Klopp’s brigade that turned them from near-contenders to a champion team, Virgil van Dijk signed for Liverpool in a club record £75 million deal in January 2018 from Southampton.

Up until his arrival, Liverpool had a deadly attack, but were found wanting at the back. But all that changed as soon as he arrived. The Dutchman has helped turn this Liverpool side into one of the most solid defensive units in England and Europe, playing a vital role in the club’s rise to the top.

Van Dijk was named the PFA Players�?Player of the Year for 2018-19, the UEFA Best Player of the Year 2019 and was the runner-up in 2019 Ballon d’Or, behind Lionel Messi. Till date he has made 118 appearances for the Reds, scoring 11 goals along the way.

Honourable Mentions: Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Alisson Becker

 

Image courtesy: AFP

It has been quite a remarkable season of Premier League football. Liverpool have blown away everyone in their path to establish a near-unassailable lead at the top. Sheffield United have been the surprise package, pushing for a European spot finish on their first season back in the Premier League.

The top-six places are far from being decided yet with a host of clubs in contention, while the same goes for the relegation battle as well.

There have been a number of stellar individual performances along the way, with stars setting the stage alight week after week until the campaign was suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Read | Premier League team of the season �?Excluding top six clubs

With the pause button being pressed, let’s take a look back at the campaign and see who makes it to our Team of the Season so far;

Dean Henderson (Sheffield United) 

While Liverpool’s Alisson Becker has had another standout campaign and Burnley’s Nick Pope has also impressed heavily, it is Dean Henderson that gets the nod in our Team of the Season, owing to his sheer brilliance that has helped Sheffield United mount a surprise European qualification push.

The on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper has kept ten clean sheets so far, helping the Blades to the second-best defensive record in the league. In what has been a fairytale season for him, Henderson has displayed great shot-stopping ability and positional awareness and is deserving of this spot.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) 

One of the easiest selections in this side, Trent Alexander-Arnold has continued to redefine the role of a right-back with masterful attacking displays, acting as Liverpool’s chief attacking outlet from the wing. The England international has the second-highest number of assists this season (12) and is second in the list for most chances created this term as well (75).

Read | Five contenders for PFA Young Player of the Year award

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Last season’s PFA Player of the Year, Virgil van Dijk may not have been able to reach the heights of the 2018-19 campaign, but continues to set the standards for centre-backs in the Premier League. 

A leader on the field, the Netherlands international has marshalled his backline excellently, acting as the cornerstone on which Liverpool’s campaign has been built upon. He has also chipped in with vital goals at the other end, making him an obvious pick in the Team of the Season so far.

Caglar Soyuncu (Leicester City) 

Liverpool’s Joe Gomez has shone again, while Sheffield United’s centre-back trio of Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack O’Connell has also stood out. But it is Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City who gets picked owing to the sheer impact that he has made for the Foxes this season.

Losing Harry Maguire in the summer was going to be quite a blow for Leicester, but Soyuncu has fitted in so seamlessly that Brendan Rodgers�?side have hardly felt the England international’s absence. The Turkish international has been an ever-present figure in the Foxes�?backline, helping them to the third place in the League table as well as the third-best defensive record in the competition.

Read | Five centre-backs Manchester City should target in summer

Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) 

Ben Chilwell was a contender for this spot given how well he has performed for Leicester, while Everton’s Lucas Digne was also considered. However, it is Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson who gets the nod owing to his impact on both ends of the field. 

One of the most solid full-backs defensively, the Scotsman has been a huge threat going forward as well and has contributed with a goal and seven assists for Liverpool’s title-winning cause. Robertson is an indispensable member of Jurgen Klopp’s side and it is not hard to see why.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Last season’s joint Golden Boot winner has been at it once again, spearheading Liverpool’s title challenge from the front. Salah has had ups and downs over the course of the campaign, but has still made a huge difference for Klopp’s brigade.

The Egyptian forward has bagged a total of 16 goals from 26 appearances this term �?joint third-best in the league, while also setting up six more for his teammates. With nine matches still left to be played, it wouldn’t be surprising if he went on to bag the Golden Boot once again.

Read | Five players who could move to the Premier League this summer

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) 

The best midfielder in the Premier League without a doubt. Manchester City may have stuttered in the defence of their Premier League title but Kevin De Bruyne has not missed a step over the course of the campaign, delivering the goods for Pep Guardiola’s side week in week out. 

The Belgian international tops the charts for most assists (16) and is set to beat Thierry Henry’s record for most assists in a single campaign (20). He is also the leading chance-creator in the Premier League this term with 96 �?21 more than the next closest competitor.

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) 

If the season resumes and Liverpool go on to win the title, a lot of the credit has to be given to captain Jordan Henderson. The midfielder has been a pivotal member of the team, performing in any role that has been asked of him and doing so consistently.

Henderson has scored three goals and set up five more himself, but his influence goes far beyond that. Hence, it was not surprising to see Liverpool go through a bad patch when their skipper was out injured last month. An obvious pick and a top contender for the PFA Player of the Year award for 2019-20.

Read | Rating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s signings at Manchester United

Sadio Mane (Liverpool) 

Goals, assists, work-rate off the ball, speed, creativity �?the Senegalese international is a complete package. And more often than not, Mane has been the difference-maker for Liverpool this season with his pace and dynamism in the final third of the pitch.

The 27-year-old has netted 14 goals so far this season in 26 Premier League games, while also setting up nine more. Mane has scored six winning goals in the league this term �?with only teammate Mo Salah scoring more (7).

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) 

His form may have dwindled since the turn of the year, but there is no denying the impact that Jamie Vardy has had on Leicester City’s season. The former England international has been the chief driving force behind the Foxes�?excellent campaign as they sit third in the league table.

Despite scoring just twice since January, Vardy leads the goalscoring charts for the season with 19 goals. The 33-year-old also has four assists to his name.

Read | Five contenders for PFA Player of the Year award

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)

Where would Arsenal be without their talismanic striker? Time and again, Aubameyang has come to the Gunners�?rescue when they found themselves in difficult positions, proving his worth to the side. Named the club captain midway through the season, the Gabonese international has scored 17 goals so far, with only Vardy outscoring him this season.

There may have been questions over his future at Arsenal, but there is no questioning his attitude and commitment and the way he has led the team from the front.

Generally, this time of the year would have been the award season in the Premier League. However, the season, along with the other major sporting events across the world, has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There had been fears that the 2019-20 Premier League season would end prematurely, but it has now been confirmed that the campaign will be finished, with the June 1 deadline to end the season being pushed back indefinitely.

Footballing action remains suspended at least until the end of next month. But there is hope that the season will resume and with that in mind, let’s take a look at five players who are the top contenders to win this year’s Professional Footballers' Association Men's Players' Player of the Year - or the PFA Player of the Year award.

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)

The only remaining squad member of the Liverpool side that came ever so close to winning the league title back in 2014, Jordan Henderson seems set to lead the Reds to their maiden Premier League triumph this term.

The Reds�?skipper isn’t always given due credit that he deserves. His contributions don’t always get recognized, but Henderson’s value and importance to this Liverpool side cannot be overstated. It is no surprise that Jurgen Klopp’s side faced problems over the last month after their captain was out on the treatment tables.

Read | Five centre-backs Manchester City should target in summer

Henderson has played 25 matches in the league this term, scoring three goals and setting up five more. A reliable presence when playing as a defensive midfielder, Henderson is also very much effective playing in a more advanced role, with his distribution and piercing forward runs. But, what makes him such an important cog in this side is his leadership.

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) 

Manchester City might have endured a disappointing campaign in comparison to the lofty standards they set for themselves, but Kevin De Bruyne has continued to shine bright for the reigning champions, proving exactly why he is considered as one of the best in the business.

De Bruyne’s influence on Guardiola’s team is huge. The Belgian international is the one who keeps the Citizens ticking, while also producing important goals on a regular basis. His importance was clearly visible in Manchester City’s toothless display in the Manchester derby recently, when De Bruyne was out with an injury.

It has been another splendid season for the Belgian midfielder, during the course of which he has made 26 appearances, bagging eight goals and assisting 16 more. At this rate, it seems just an inevitability that De Bruyne eclipses Thierry Henry’s record for most assists in a single season in the Premier League (20), once the season resumes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)  

Just his third full season with the Liverpool first-team, just 21 years old, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is already considered as one of the best right-backs in the game and has already drawn comparisons to the legends like Cafu.

Read | Five players who could move to the Premier League this summer

One wouldn’t be too wrong in saying that the England international is one of Liverpool’s most important creative outlets. His dangerous forays forward down the right-side, coupled with equally devastating crosses and his set-piece delivery make him such a critical part of Jurgen Klopp’s setup.

Having broken the record for most assists by a defender in a season last time out, Alexander-Arnold has already levelled that tally with 12 assists in 29 matches, while contributing with a couple of goals as well. Should the season resume, Liverpool will be crowned champions and the 21-year-old academy graduate will have played a huge role in that triumph.

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) 

A lot has changed at Leicester City since their surprise title triumph in 2015-16, but one thing that has remained constant is Jamie Vardy’s hunger for goals. The Englishman has continued to plunder goals for the Foxes and has been in brilliant form in the 2019-20 campaign.

Vardy has been one of the major driving forces behind Leicester’s push for a top-four finish. While his form has dipped somewhat since the turn of the year, the former England international is still ahead of the pack in the Golden Boot race, having found the back of the net on 19 occasions in 26 matches.

At 33 years of age, Vardy might not have a lot of years left in his career at the top level. And a strong finish to what has been a memorable campaign so far could very well see him bag the top honours.

Read | Why do defensive midfielders make great managers?

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Only two players in the history of the Premier League have managed to win the PFA Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons �?Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo. And Virgil van Dijk is a strong contender to join that elite list this season.

The current holder of the award, van Dijk has once again been the cornerstone on which Liverpool’s special campaign has been built upon. The Netherlands international hasn’t missed a single league game for the Reds this season and has been integral in their run to the top. 

Liverpool have the best defensive record in the league this season (21 goals conceded) and have kept the most clean sheets as well (12). And van Dijk’s role in these achievements has been instrumental, to say the least. Commanding at the back and excellent with the ball, the 28-year-old has also chipped in with 4 goals, putting his name into the hat for this season’s top player awards.