Surely Luis Suarez must win Player of the Year?

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been outstanding this season

Liverpool could be on the verge of achieving something very special and three of their players have been nominated for PFA Player of the Year.

Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez have all played a big part in Liverpool’s season so far, but I do not think anybody can get near Suarez for the award this season.

Phenomenal

Luis Suarez has been simple phenomenal this season. Not only has the Uruguayan scored 29 Premier League goals, he has also worked tirelessly for the team and provided teammates with assists.

The amount of goals Suarez has scored this season is incredible considering he was suspended for the first five games of the Premier League season.

Suarez has averaged a goal a game this season in the top-flight, which is an achievement in itself. The fact that he has assisted his teammates with a further 25 goals this season is another statistic that just gives credence to his claim for Player of the Year.

Turnaround

Luis Suarez has undergone an incredible turnaround this season. At times he was treated like a pantomime villain in seasons gone by, because of his sometimes controversial behaviour. Biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season and the subsequent ban seems to have helped Suarez.

The Uruguayan looks to have been on his best behaviour and is enjoying his football once again. This season Suarez has more often than not played with a smile on his face and looked like he has turned a corner in his battle to control the dark side of his character.

This season the better behaved Suarez has had people talking about him for the right reasons, his football ability, instead of his poor behaviour. The Uruguayan is no longer considered such a villain. Even opposition fans have to admire the striker’s talents, rather than decry his personality.

Record

Andy Cole and Alan Shearer hold the join record for goals scored in one Premier League season. The pair both scored 34 goals, but that was before the Premier League was cut to 20 teams. Since the league has changed to the 20 team format both Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo have registered 31 goals in a season.

It is worth noting that both Shearer and Ronaldo were part of title winning teams in the years they registered their record goals hauls. That could be a good omen for Liverpool and their energetic frontman.

Suarez needs just two more goals in the remaining four games to equal the 20 team record and five more to equal the overall record. The Reds face Norwich on Sunday in a crucial game, which the Reds are favourites to win at odds of 2/5. The Canaries are one of Suarez’s favourite opponents.

Suarez has scored 11 league goals against the Canaries, which is four more than against any other opposition team.

Suarez is also the only player in the history of the Premier League to score three hat-tricks against the same club. It is fair to say he enjoys playing against the men from Norfolk. I certainly will not be betting against Suarez finding the net against Neil Adams side on Sunday.

Rivals

For me Suarez has been head and shoulders above the competition in the Premier League this season. Some players have been prominent this season. However, some of them have had their seasons curtailed by injuries, including Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who made flying starts to the campaign.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has also produced some excellent displays while Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been a revelation in the centre of the park for the Citizens. Both Hazard and Toure are currently sidelined, which is a major blow to their team’s title ambitions.

For sheer consistency Suarez has been the best player in the Premier League this season. He always seems to have an influence on games. If he is not scoring goals, he is creating chances and goals for others.

Deserved

Luis Suarez has played a key role in Liverpool’s challenge for the Premier League title this season. If the Reds win their first title in 24 years, then much of the credit will have to go to their Uruguayan striker.

For Suarez to come back from that ban and play the way he has this season is incredible and it would be hard to argue against his selection as Player of the Year.

Will Luis Suarez break the Premier League record for most goals scored in a season?