Who deserves the 2018/19 Premier League season’s first Player of the Month award most?

The Premier league’s first Player of the Month nominees are out, and among them is a clutch of top-level performers. 

The domestic league season is only three games old but already a number of players have shown their worth.

The nominees for August are Marcos Alonso, Neil Etheridge, Sadio Mane, Benjamin Mendy, Lucas Moura, Roberto Pereyra and Virgil van Dijk.

This is how they compare, and who we think comes out on top.

Marcos Alonso

Appearances – 3
Tackles won – 2
Interceptions – 0
Goals – 1
Assists – 1
Goals conceded – 3

The Spanish left-back has started the season well under new manager Maurizio Sarri, scoring one, setting up another and earning a penalty for his team. The 27-year-old has had to revert to a more typical left-back role under the Italian instead of his former left-wing back berth under Antonio Conte, as Sarri plays with a flat back four. But he’s still been effective, causing problems for the opposing’s defences and afforded the freedom to get forward with Jorginho dropping in. Against Newcastle, he popped up in wide and central attacking areas, and he had 108 touches of the ball. He was successful with 91% of his passes, which is inordinately high for a full-back, a position that typically has fewer passing lanes to hit.

Neil Etheridge

Appearances – 3
Saves – 9
Pass accuracy – 31.8%
Goals conceded – 2

The Filipino ‘keeper has saved two penalties already for the Blue Birds and has made 9 saves in total. The 28-year-old will unavoidably play a big part in whether Cardiff stay up or not and manager Neil Warnock will need his No.1 to maintain his concentration, close-range shot stopping and great reflexes that have already been on show throughout the season.

Sadio Mane 

Appearances – 3
Goals – 3
Assists – 0
Successful dribbles – 2.3
Key passes – 1.7

Mane has started the season like he ended the last, scoring important goals and continually making defenders wish they didn’t have to be near him contractually. The Senegalese poses an interesting threat to opposing teams in that he is the third man of an attacking triumvirate that is the envy of the footballing world, and so he often gets the least acclaim but also has the added benefit of not always being picked up. His three goals in three games speak for themselves, while he has made the most successful dribbles of any attacker on this list.

Benjamin Mendy 

Appearances – 3
Tackles won – 2.3
Interceptions – 1.3
Goals – 0
Assists – 3
Goals conceded – 2

It’s been clear this month that the most noteworthy personnel and tactical change to City’s game this season will be the re-emergence of Benjamin Mendy. The Frenchman has a propensity for crossing balls into the box early, and with great precision, which perhaps best explains his gigantic three assists in as many games – strikers like to be able to make runs in the box knowing the ball will be delivered first-time. He’s made pacey runs down the wing multiple times each game, has an impressive 2.3 successful tackles per game to his name and no player in the league has as many assists as him.

Lucas Moura

Appearances – 3
Goals – 3
Assists – 0
Successful dribbles – 1.7
Key passes – 0.3

The Brazilian winger has started the new season at Spurs as well as any fan could have hoped, and has brought the rich form he showed in pre-season into the domestic term for the Lilywhites. Having scored three goals in as many games in a new central striking position alongside Harry Kane, Moura has shown he just might have the capacity to “do a Salah” (or something like it) this season for Tottenham. Both his goals against Man United were well taken, but the second – where he zipped free of Chris Smalling – showed everything he can offer at his best, and everything Spurs have lacked over the past few seasons. The impact he’s had at the start of the season is massive, with Spurs winning three from three, especially considering Spurs didn’t sign any players this summer.

Roberto Pereyra 

Appearances – 3
Goals – 3
Assists – 0
Passing accuracy – 79%
Key passes – 1.3

Pereyra has already scored three top-quality goals for Watford, and it’s because of the Argentinian’s performances that the Hornets have been able to maintain a stellar 100% win rate this August. The dynamic midfielder is adept at dribbling and shooting and he’s become a key member of Javi Gracia’s XI after two seasons at the club.

Virgil van Dijk 

Appearances – 3
Tackles won – 1.3
Interceptions – 1.3
Aerial duels – 4/7.3
Passing accuracy – 93.8%
Goals conceded – 0

Since the £75m capture of Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s defence is an entirely different proposition to the one that came before it; with Alisson in goal, the Reds defence is one of the meanest in the league on paper, with talented youth either side of the towering Dutchman with Lovren sidelined. Liverpool are yet to concede a goal this season in the league, and Van Dijk has been central to that. Putting in authoritative performances all month, Van Dijk has marshalled the backline, winning 1.3 tackles per game, making the same number of interceptions and winning the majority of his aerial duels, all while keeping possession for his side with ridiculous ease.

Verdict: Virgil van Dijk

By far the majority here at Squawka think Van Dijk deserves the trophy. Klopp’s men are yet to concede a goal this season and have only faced six shots on target, and the Dutchman is the key reason for that. The number of shots Liverpool face per game from the start of the previous season to this has reduced by 1.3, and Van Dijk’s arrival is the best explanation. He’s dominated aerial balls and is so comfortable in possession; his performances for Liverpool in the August games have been colossal and for that, he is most deserving of the award.

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