WE WANT TO send you to Anfield for a once -in-a-lifetime experience.
We’ve got an incredible VIP trip to Merseyside to watch the Liverpool v QPR game on 2 May and then send you out to play with Reds legends the following day in front of the Kop.
Just let us know your best football moment using the #42ultimatefan hashtag, in the comment section below or email ultimatefan@the42.ie. Send us a picture, video or tell us about it — get as creative as you like — and you could be tapping that famous This Is Anfield sign on the way out for a game.
WITH THE PREMIER League a few short weeks from its conclusion, it’s time to look back on the 2014/15 campaign and decide which player has been the standout performer.
Last year’s winner Luis Suarez has moved to Spain, joining his predecessor Gareth Bale, which means we’re almost guaranteed to see a new name on the trophy come May.
Hazard, De Gea, Kane…it’s a difficult choice. Here, the42 runs you through the eight leading contenders:
Very few, if any, would have predicted Harry Kane being a contender for player of the season. In what is essentially his breakthrough season, Kane’s ascension from academy player to club captain has been an astonishing rise.
He’s scored 19 goals so far this season, a tally we’d expect him to add to before the season is over, and was awarded with his first England call-up last month. All of this is even more impressive when you factor in that it took him until November to reach two Premier League goals.
With 12 league goals and eight assists, the latest of which came in Sunday’s 1-0 win over QPR, Eden Hazard is the favourite to be acclaimed Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year on 26 April.
In terms of consistency, it’s difficult to think of a better player this season. Time and time again he is come through for Chelsea this season and the stats back him up. Not only has he completed more dribbles than any player this season, averaging 4.8 successful dribbles a game, but only Cesc Fabregas and David Silva have created more chances per game.
Manchester United may be one of the form teams now but everything wasn’t quite so rosy earlier this season. Almost highhandedly, it was David De Gea who stood tall and won them points.
Only a handful of rival goalkeepers have made as many saves as De Gea this season and he even managed to equal the top-flight record for most saves in a single match when he helped them beat Liverpool back before Christmas.
Arsenal have defied the odds and taken second place recently, giving themselves an outside chance at a once-deemed-impossible title. They have Alexis Sanchez to thank for this, since he arguably carried them through the first half of the season.
There had been suspicions that it would take the Chilean time to adjust to playing in England, especially when he didn’t score in his opening four matches. But a run of 14 goals in 18 games quickly put these worries to bed. The only thing that could hurt his chances is that the goals have dried up since January but his performances continue to impress.
Diego Costa made an immediate impact at Chelsea. He scored seven times in his first four appearances and 19 goals in his 24 games. If that strike ratio isn’t impressive enough, the fact that it’s his first season and he has missed a lot of games through injury and suspension surely adds weight to his case.
Chelsea have lacked a consistent goalscorer ever since Drogba originally left back in 2012. Costa’s presence in the Chelsea side has turned them into potential title winners.
Coutinho will be one of the success stories of Liverpool’s season in 2014-15. He has starred despite his side looking likely to miss out on Champions League qualification.
Only David Silva has completed more accurate through balls in the Premier League over the last two seasons. Coutinho has worked hard to add more goals to his game and he finally seems to be managing it, with the goal above a prime example.
Chelsea captain John Terry revealed on social media last week that he is voting for the Brazilian playmaker as his Player of the Season.
Former non-league hot-shot Charlie Austin is a player that probably won’t win the player of the season, but he deserves to be in the discussion. Austin has scored 17 goals and contributed four assists so far this season, an amazing feat given that he has done it with a team battling against relegation.
Without Sergio Aguero’s goals, City’s title challenge would have faded a long time ago. It has been a poor season for Pellegrini’s men but Aguero has been the one shining light. His four goals against Spurs and incredible hat-trick versus German giants Bayern Munich rank among his best performances in a blue shit.
Unfortunately, Aguero’s injury worries will count against him. That and he has struggled for league goals since January. But the Argentine is still in the hunt for the top scorer prize and his statistics remain impressive, with 19 goals and six assists so far this campaign.
A case could be made for several more players. Cesc Fabregas is still a top contender but, apart from his goal against QPR last weekend, his performance levels have dipped since the turn of the year. Players like Jordan Henderson, John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jose Fonte can also be congratulated for impressive displays this year but at the end of the day it looks like it will come down to a contest between Kane, Hazard and De Gea.
Who would you vote for as your player of the year?
Poll Results:
De Gea (704)
Hazard (597)
Kane (337)
Coutinho (283)
Sanchez (242)
Rooney (30)
Terry (25)
Aguero (21)
Costa (20)
Fabregas (20)
****
NOW TO BE in with a chance of being there to witness the climax of this eventful Premier League campaign and lining out at Anfield, tell us your favourite football moment.
Show or tell us about that special football memory and you could well be lining out at one of the most iconic stadiums in the world.
Carlsberg are offering lucky fans the chance to pull on their boots and play at Anfield with Liverpool legends. To win this dream-come-true prize, which includes a VIP trip to the Liverpool v QPR game on 2 May, just show us what is probably your best soccer moment. For example…
Send us a pic that sums up an amazing moment
Create a video to relive a happy football memory
Tell us about it by email, Twitter or in the comments below
So, show or tell us about that special moment at home or away and you could well be hitting that This Is Anfield sign on the way out for a game.
Tweet your entry with the hashtag #42UltimateFan or email it to ultimatefan@the42.ie. Entries close on 23 April, 2015.
For another opportunity to win this fantastic prize, visit Carlsberg.
Kane to Hazard: Power ranking the Premier League's best players this season
WE WANT TO send you to Anfield for a once -in-a-lifetime experience.
We’ve got an incredible VIP trip to Merseyside to watch the Liverpool v QPR game on 2 May and then send you out to play with Reds legends the following day in front of the Kop.
Just let us know your best football moment using the #42ultimatefan hashtag, in the comment section below or email ultimatefan@the42.ie. Send us a picture, video or tell us about it — get as creative as you like — and you could be tapping that famous This Is Anfield sign on the way out for a game.
WITH THE PREMIER League a few short weeks from its conclusion, it’s time to look back on the 2014/15 campaign and decide which player has been the standout performer.
Last year’s winner Luis Suarez has moved to Spain, joining his predecessor Gareth Bale, which means we’re almost guaranteed to see a new name on the trophy come May.
Hazard, De Gea, Kane…it’s a difficult choice. Here, the42 runs you through the eight leading contenders:
Harry Kane
Very few, if any, would have predicted Harry Kane being a contender for player of the season. In what is essentially his breakthrough season, Kane’s ascension from academy player to club captain has been an astonishing rise.
He’s scored 19 goals so far this season, a tally we’d expect him to add to before the season is over, and was awarded with his first England call-up last month. All of this is even more impressive when you factor in that it took him until November to reach two Premier League goals.
Eden Hazard
With 12 league goals and eight assists, the latest of which came in Sunday’s 1-0 win over QPR, Eden Hazard is the favourite to be acclaimed Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year on 26 April.
In terms of consistency, it’s difficult to think of a better player this season. Time and time again he is come through for Chelsea this season and the stats back him up. Not only has he completed more dribbles than any player this season, averaging 4.8 successful dribbles a game, but only Cesc Fabregas and David Silva have created more chances per game.
David De Gea
Manchester United may be one of the form teams now but everything wasn’t quite so rosy earlier this season. Almost highhandedly, it was David De Gea who stood tall and won them points.
Only a handful of rival goalkeepers have made as many saves as De Gea this season and he even managed to equal the top-flight record for most saves in a single match when he helped them beat Liverpool back before Christmas.
Alexis Sanchez
Arsenal have defied the odds and taken second place recently, giving themselves an outside chance at a once-deemed-impossible title. They have Alexis Sanchez to thank for this, since he arguably carried them through the first half of the season.
There had been suspicions that it would take the Chilean time to adjust to playing in England, especially when he didn’t score in his opening four matches. But a run of 14 goals in 18 games quickly put these worries to bed. The only thing that could hurt his chances is that the goals have dried up since January but his performances continue to impress.
Diego Costa
Diego Costa made an immediate impact at Chelsea. He scored seven times in his first four appearances and 19 goals in his 24 games. If that strike ratio isn’t impressive enough, the fact that it’s his first season and he has missed a lot of games through injury and suspension surely adds weight to his case.
Chelsea have lacked a consistent goalscorer ever since Drogba originally left back in 2012. Costa’s presence in the Chelsea side has turned them into potential title winners.
Coutinho
Coutinho will be one of the success stories of Liverpool’s season in 2014-15. He has starred despite his side looking likely to miss out on Champions League qualification.
Only David Silva has completed more accurate through balls in the Premier League over the last two seasons. Coutinho has worked hard to add more goals to his game and he finally seems to be managing it, with the goal above a prime example.
Chelsea captain John Terry revealed on social media last week that he is voting for the Brazilian playmaker as his Player of the Season.
Charlie Austin
Former non-league hot-shot Charlie Austin is a player that probably won’t win the player of the season, but he deserves to be in the discussion. Austin has scored 17 goals and contributed four assists so far this season, an amazing feat given that he has done it with a team battling against relegation.
Sergio Aguero
Without Sergio Aguero’s goals, City’s title challenge would have faded a long time ago. It has been a poor season for Pellegrini’s men but Aguero has been the one shining light. His four goals against Spurs and incredible hat-trick versus German giants Bayern Munich rank among his best performances in a blue shit.
Unfortunately, Aguero’s injury worries will count against him. That and he has struggled for league goals since January. But the Argentine is still in the hunt for the top scorer prize and his statistics remain impressive, with 19 goals and six assists so far this campaign.
A case could be made for several more players. Cesc Fabregas is still a top contender but, apart from his goal against QPR last weekend, his performance levels have dipped since the turn of the year. Players like Jordan Henderson, John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jose Fonte can also be congratulated for impressive displays this year but at the end of the day it looks like it will come down to a contest between Kane, Hazard and De Gea.
Who would you vote for as your player of the year?
Poll Results:
****
NOW TO BE in with a chance of being there to witness the climax of this eventful Premier League campaign and lining out at Anfield, tell us your favourite football moment.
Show or tell us about that special football memory and you could well be lining out at one of the most iconic stadiums in the world.
Carlsberg are offering lucky fans the chance to pull on their boots and play at Anfield with Liverpool legends. To win this dream-come-true prize, which includes a VIP trip to the Liverpool v QPR game on 2 May, just show us what is probably your best soccer moment. For example…
So, show or tell us about that special moment at home or away and you could well be hitting that This Is Anfield sign on the way out for a game.
Tweet your entry with the hashtag #42UltimateFan or email it to ultimatefan@the42.ie. Entries close on 23 April, 2015.
For another opportunity to win this fantastic prize, visit Carlsberg.
Read: Eric Cantona backs ‘Kings of Manchester’ to win Premier League title next season
Read: Two of the most prolific strikers in English football right now are Irish
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