November is always a curious month in the Premier League and the 2017 edition certainly didn’t disappoint. There were three huge managerial changes and in terms of points, it proved to be a rather polarising period; while Manchester City produced a perfect record of four wins from four games, a whopping seven teams failed to average at least one per match. But away from division-wide themes and onto the individuals; here’s the six candidates nominated for the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award for November.
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard has been slowly but surely getting back to full strength after starting the season with a serious injury and Chelsea are now reaping the rewards. The Belgium international was a relentless threat throughout November and although he produced just two goals and one assist (a solid if unspectacular output by his usual standards) it’s the nature of his performances in big games that have stood out most. Hazard’s creativity and dribbling was key in Chelsea’s huge 1-0 win over Manchester United, while his first half performance against Liverpool was nothing short of majestic. He completed nine dribbles against the Reds – the most anyone has managed in a single game this season.
Mohamed Salah
He may be only a few months into his Liverpool career but Mohamed Salah is already proving to be one of the most potent attacking threats in the Premier League. November saw the Egypt international net an incredible seven goals, his only non-brace appearance coming in a 1-1 draw with his former club Chelsea where the winger still managed to get on the scoresheet, making him the first player this season to reach double figures. On top of that, his venomous dribbling when running at defenders has been nothing short of frightening.
Richarlison
Arguably only second to Mohamed Salah as the Premier League’s signing of the summer, Richarlison has been nothing short of a revelation for Watford. During November, the Brazilian produced his best form yet in English football, finding two goals and one assist as the Hornets’ impressive start to the campaign under Marco Silva continued. Ten shots in total shows how dangerous he was for opposition defences last month.
Ashley Young
Little more than a bit-part winger during the last few seasons at Old Trafford, Ashley Young’s revival as Manchester United’s ad hoc left-back has been mesmerising. The veteran wide-man has been in fine form all season, something recently recognised by a first England cap in four years, but November truly encapsulated his return to prominence; an assist against Newcastle, a deflected shot that crept into the net against Brighton followed by a stunning brace away at Watford – including an unstoppable free kick. Suddenly, Young’s emerged as one of United’s most influential players.
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne has been the beating heart of Manchester City since Pep Guardiola took the job at the start of last season and November was yet another fine month for the Belgium international. While a return of three goals and one assist is impressive enough for a midfielder who spends long periods of games pulling strings in deeper positions, he also averaged three tackles per match – showing a level of steel that many assumed would be beyond the playmaker.
Xherdan Shaqiri
There’s never been any doubt over how talented a player Xherdan Shaqiri is, it’s just a matter of how consistently the Switzerland international can produce – especially when playing for a club as inconsistent as Stoke City. But November provided signs that this could well be the season where we see Shaqiri at the height of his powers, his four outings producing two goals (including one that can only be described as Lionel Messi-esque vs Crystal Palace) and two assists.
