Man City's Player of the Year shortlist might already be decided

The last three Manchester City Players of the Year winners have been fairly straightforward choices.

Ruben Dias was peerless last season at the heart of defence, Kevin De Bruyne equalled the Premier League record for assists in 2019/20 and Bernardo Silva had his best campaign in a City shirt the year before. Nobody could launch a serious argument that the trio didn't deserve their awards, even if others may have had good seasons themselves.

There's still plenty to play for in the final two months of City's season this year, and plenty of time for a player to make a late claim for the 2022 award. However, it would take a starring role from someone to displace the three frontrunners going into April.

ALSO READ: Aguero defends Man City form and downplays Liverpool clash

With 22 goals to his name already, Riyad Mahrez would have to score own goals vs Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in April's double double-header to dump City out of the two cup competitions and set them back in the Premier League in order to miss out on the shortlist.

Pep Guardiola said City didn't have a player to score 20 goals this season after failing to sign Harry Kane, so any player who proves the manager wrong so emphatically deserves consideration for Player of the Year. Mahrez has fought off new competition from Gabriel Jesus on the right wing and instilled himself as City's first-choice penalty taker. He looks set to play a key role in City's pursuit of a treble, and individual recognition may follow later in the year.

At one point, it looked like Bernardo Silva would run away with the Player of the Year award, with some match-winning performances in midfield and some sensational moments - particularly at Anfield and Old Trafford. Bernardo's