Five Deserving Stars Shockingly Left Out of Premier League Player of the Season Race

The Premier League Player of the Season shortlist has been announced and, as anticipated, it has sparked a storm of debate online.

Strong opinions are already clashing over who truly deserves the individual honor, with Bruno Fernandes, Igor Thiago and Morgan Gibbs-White going up against Arsenal and Manchester City's collection of candidates.

Yet there has also been predictable outrage over several players left out of the nominations altogether, with only eight names available for a vote shared between the general public and a panel of selected experts.

With that in mind, here are five of the most glaring omissions from the nominee list.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool's underwhelming title defense has been marked by declining individual displays and new signings struggling to find their footing, yet Dominik Szoboszlai has transcended the disappointment to produce the finest season of his career. The Hungarian has frequently been the club's only real spark during difficult periods.

Liverpool's struggles have worked against his chances, though Morgan Gibbs-White's inclusion in the vote demonstrates that a player doesn't need to be at a top-performing club to earn recognition. A tireless campaign has seen him deployed at right back, right wing, defensive midfield and the No.10 role, with Szoboszlai excelling in every position.

Six Premier League goals and five assists—many of the former being breathtaking free kicks—barely scratch the surface of an outstanding individual season in which his relentless energy, physicality and technical brilliance have shone time and again. Szoboszlai has every right to feel hard done by.

William Saliba

Should Arsenal go on to lift the Premier League title this season, the resilience of their backline will deserve the lion's share of the credit. David Raya and Gabriel have rightly earned nominations on the back of consistently commanding performances, yet William Saliba has been left out entirely.

The Frenchman has featured in the same number of Premier League matches as center back partner Gabriel this season, and while his contribution going forward is less eye-catching, Saliba has been equally commanding at the heart of the defense.

There is little question that Gabriel has had the more productive and standout campaign, but Saliba will feel hard done by for not even earning a nomination. When examining the underlying defensive statistics, there is very little to separate Arsenal's two defensive cornerstones.

Rayan Cherki

Rayan Cherki can take some consolation from being nominated for the Premier League's Young Player of the Season, a prize he looks set to claim, but a strong case can be made that he should have featured among the contenders for the main award after a sensational debut campaign in England.

The French international hasn't always been a guaranteed starter this season, but Manchester City have consistently looked far more dangerous with the inventive playmaker in the lineup. A return of four goals and 12 assists in the Premier League is not to be taken lightly, particularly if City go on to win the title.

Cherki undoubtedly takes the prize for the most entertaining player of the season, with very few able to match the attacking midfielder's lightning-quick feet and exceptional technical quality. If he maintains his current trajectory, individual accolades will become a regular feature of his career.

Jérémy Doku

It comes as little shock that City have been the league's leading scorers this season given the formidable attacking options at their disposal. Electrifying winger Jérémy Doku has been their most dangerous weapon over recent months.

Recency bias inevitably plays a role when evaluating Doku's overall season, particularly given he has managed just 10 goal involvements in the Premier League, but the Belgian's pace and athleticism have made him a near-impossible force to contain for long stretches of the campaign.

At his best, Doku is the finest winger in the division, and City have witnessed those performances with increasing regularity as the season has progressed. He has delivered the decisive moments that could prove vital when the final standings are confirmed.

João Pedro

Much like Szoboszlai at Liverpool, João Pedro has put together a remarkable season despite the turbulence around him. Chelsea have endured yet another chaotic campaign filled with damaging lows and compounded by two changes in management. Through it all, Pedro has been outstanding.

The Brazilian made an immediate impression on Chelsea fans at the Club World Cup last summer and never looked back. He then went on to register 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League — hugely impressive figures in any circumstances, let alone amid such instability.

Pedro's sharp finishing has stopped a troubled season from spiraling into an even deeper crisis, with the striker proving a constant menace to opposing defenses. Another gifted technician who plays with an innate confidence, he will be hoping his teammates can match his standards in the season ahead.