Premier League 2022-23 season review: our writers’ best and worst

Has Erling Haaland been the best player or the most blisteringly, devastatingly effective? Is there a difference? Either way, Kevin De Bruyne cast aside a mixed opening half of the season by his sky-high standards to turn on the style for Manchester City’s title charge and shades his colleague for all-round brilliance. Until Arsenal’s tail-off Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard were running him mightily close: it has been a joy to see the latter, in particular, fulfilling the expectations that have followed him around for a decade. Nick Ames

Didn’t get to see Haaland in the flesh, so I will go for his fellow Norwegian in Ødegaard, a tall, elegant glider who seems to skate through matches when everyone else is slip-sliding away. And a mention for the truly electrifying Kaoru Mitoma, who has given defenders a right chasing ever since he came back from Qatar. John Brewin

Haaland. The City striker is absolutely inevitable. Not since Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2009 has the Premier League been able to legitimately claim to have the best player in the world. Nearly 40 league goals in his first season in England is scary. Michael Butler

De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva. Both champions are extremely watchable. Ben Fisher

The subject of premature ridicule in some quarters after his underwhelming debut for Manchester City in the Community Shield, Haaland has since demonstrated he has a keen eye for goal and can play a bit. Barry Glendenning

Haaland is unlike anything ever to have existed and is the only Premier League player definitely the world’s best in his position. Daniel Harris

Haaland. It cannot be anyone else. Phenomenal. Andy Hunter

Haaland. There have been times this season when I’ve actually felt afraid for the defenders up