Against the backdrop of an exciting 2024-25 Premier League season, full of ups and downs, at Alofoke Deportes we present the second edition of the LME awards, recognizing the players and teams that truly stood out.
Who was the MVP of the season? What about Rookie of the Year or Save of the Season? LME offers its analysis, ratings, and points of view on everything.
Presenting the LME Premier League end-of-season awards.
MVP/PLAYER OF THE SEASON: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
This was the easiest decision. Salah is the undisputed winner.
Let’s start with the numbers. As of this writing, Salah has scored 28 goals with 18 assists, setting a record in a 38-game season, surpassing Thierry Henry’s 44 contributions in the 2002-03 season.
Salah also needs just two more contributions to surpass the overall record of 47, shared by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. Speaking of Henry, Salah needs just three more assists to surpass the Frenchman’s (and Kevin De Bruyne’s) record of 20 in a Premier League season. His combined goal involvements for the 2024-25 season are almost double that of the next player, and that’s another record, as we’ve never seen such a wide gap between first and second.
Salah has been a dominant force this season and is the clear choice of LME for the Premier League MVP.
But this season was about more than just statistics for Salah. It was also about increasing his value for a club that had just hired a new coach and needed their main star to be even better. When you add the fact that the Egyptian international is 32 years old, his performances become even more impressive. Arne Slot worked with him to make him even more important from an offensive point of view, as the incoming coach eased Salah’s defensive responsibilities.
“I told him: ‘As long as you let me rest defensively, I will provide you offensively,’ so I’m glad I did. It was the coach’s idea, of course, but he listens a lot,” Salah told Sky Sports, explaining how Slot had guided him to economize his productivity on the field.
Mohamed Salah
In other words: reduce your defensive contribution and your offensive contribution will improve.
As a result, Salah looked fresher in attack, with an eager eye for goal. He entered the area more dynamically (all his goals were scored inside it) and looked for his teammates more and more. No other player in the league created more clear chances for his teammates than Salah. When you add the crucial nature of his game, especially in December, when he had 15 goal involvements that month alone, then it is clear to see how vital he was to Liverpool and their title-winning season.
I also think that leading the race for the Golden Boot is a remarkable achievement because he is a winger disguised as a striker. That’s what makes him so special. Although his numbers haven’t been good in recent weeks (one goal and one assist in his last eight games, including a big miss against Brighton on Monday), I implore them not to have recency bias. As Slot said after the defeat to the Seagulls, Salah’s campaign has been almost inhuman, although there have been moments in the season when it hasn’t been like that.
But Salah fully deserves this award and has always been one of the most dangerous and illustrious players in English football, and that is why, when all is said and done, I think he will go down in history as one of the top five players in Premier League history. For now, he wins my MVP award for the 2024-25 season.
BEST SINGLE-MATCH PERFORMANCE: Cole Palmer (Chelsea 4-2 Brighton, September 28)
It was early in the season, but coach Enzo Maresca was feeling confident about the start he had made with Chelsea. The Blues faced Brighton at home and, despite conceding the first goal, ended up winning 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, securing a fourth consecutive victory with an impressive 15 goals in their first six league games.
Beyond the result and the streak, that day was all about Palmer, as he became the first player in Premier League history to score four goals in the first half. It was 20 minutes of absolute individual dominance, as the English star (and Chelsea’s most important player) scored in the 21st, 28th, 31st and 41st minutes.
His third goal was one of the best free kicks of the season, but what made this even more incredible is that it could have been much more, as Palmer also had a goal disallowed for offside, as well as an attempt that hit the post. Yes, we were still in the first half.
The second half had less action, but Palmer still affected the game and almost scored a fifth goal, although his effort went wide. But make no mistake: a performance is defined by its overall impact on a game and, on this particular afternoon, Cole Palmer, who that day also became the first player since Diego Costa to score 20 goals in a calendar year, was at times unstoppable. The man was possessed by the gods of coolness and gave us a thunderous display.
GOAL OF THE SEASON: Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton 3-0 Chelsea, February 14)
Months later, Brighton achieved redemption, and it wasn’t just Cupid’s arrow that hit the mark on Valentine’s night. The 27-year-old winger also delivered that night, gifting Brighton fans a love note at the Amex Stadium.
Let’s set the scene. It’s the 26th minute and both teams are battling in a stalemate. Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen takes the ball out of his area, looking to send it long. He sees Mitoma interspersed between Chelsea defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Malo Gusto, so he launches a long pass to the Japanese attacker. Mitoma runs towards the goal, chased by Chalobah and Gusto as the ball floats and falls onto his shoulder.
It’s a very difficult pass to control because you don’t see the ball coming until the last second. But with time and the delicate touch of a surgeon, Mitoma receives it through a delicious and exquisite first touch with his right foot. But the job is not done because Chalobah is by his side, ready to take it away, so immediately after the first touch, the Brighton man quickly guides the ball to his right to evade Chalobah and heads towards the center. He succeeds, enters the edge of the area with three touches and in the blink of an eye, places a great shot into the lower right corner, surpassing Filip Jørgensen.
The home fans erupted as Brighton faithful celebrated a wonderful goal and a match that ended 3-0 for Fabian Hürzeler’s team.
There have been some magnificent finishes this season, but I have to award the prize to Mitoma because, like any true work of art, you have to watch it again and again to truly grasp its splendor. There are so many intricate pieces that require dissection and, ultimately, all the details come together for a majestic goal.
SEASON ROOKIE: Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth
Bournemouth’s loss is Real Madrid’s gain, as Huijsen, on the left, has confirmed he will head to LaLiga this summer.
To be eligible as a “rookie” for these awards, I have taken into account some factors. A player has to be 23 years old or younger and has just completed his first season in the Premier League with at least 1,500 minutes.
Real Madrid only needed to see one season of the Spanish international born in the Netherlands at Bournemouth to say to themselves: “Yes, that is our man” and, without hesitation, pay the release clause of 67 million dollars to bring him to the Spanish club on June 1st.
The 20-year-old center-back has been monumental for coach Andoni Iraola, helping the Cherries obtain the most points in a single Premier League season. As of this writing, for players who had played at least 1,000 minutes, Huijsen finished second in clearances, third in interceptions, and fourth in headed clearances and long balls.
At such a young age, he has a wealth of experience, coming from Serie A before moving to the south coast of England. This season, he has made 35 appearances in all competitions (31 in the Premier League, scoring three goals to secure winning results) and made his debut for Spain in March in the Nations League against the Netherlands.
At 6 feet 6 inches, Huijsen is an imposing defender, although beyond his obvious physical attributes, he is an excellent reader of the game. One of my favorite quotes about defending comes from AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini. “If I have to make a tackle, then I have already made a mistake.” That exemplifies Huijsen, who has a habit of anticipating danger. But having grown up in Spain since the age of 5, it’s also no surprise that his hero is Sergio Ramos, another master in individual situations, like Huijsen.
Bournemouth thrives on high-octane football. It’s the DNA of Iraola’s philosophy. But the central defenders must be the starting point, the spark that sets everything in motion. Without Huijsen, they wouldn’t have been so successful.
Goodbye, Dean. We hardly knew you. Enjoy in Madrid.
BEST SIGNING: Nikola Milenkovic, Nottingham Forest
Milenkovic was a largely unnoticed summer signing, but his brilliance and assertive play have been one of the main reasons for Nottingham Forest’s remarkable season.
Forest has been the best story of this season, and after 30 years, they have qualified again for European competition. Thanks to their 2-1 victory over West Ham United last weekend, they also have a small chance of securing a place in next season’s Champions League when they host Chelsea on the final day. This is simply remarkable, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s team offered a team that personified no-nonsense, cohesive, counter-attacking, and brave football, and Milenkovic is a big, big reason why.
Milenkovic’s transfer to Forest from Fiorentina last summer was a brilliant decision because it helped solve many of the team’s problems from previous seasons. Forest conceded too many goals from outside the penalty area, didn’t win as many aerial battles, and, despite Murillo’s fantastic passing range, there was no partner who could complement his attributes. They needed an enforcer who was also composed.
Milenkovic enters, who in the 2023-24 season was second, only behind Virgil van Dijk, in aerial duels across Europe. As a result, Forest barely made the same mistakes of conceding dangerous free kicks this season. And that is mainly due to the presence of the Serbian.
Here’s the best part. They paid approximately 16 million dollars for his services. That, my friends, is a bargain.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool
It turns out that Liverpool didn’t need reinforcements in midfield, as Gravenberch became a superstar under Arne Slot.
Last season was one of lessons for the Dutch midfielder, who arrived from Bayern Munich on the last day of the 2023 summer transfer window. Under Jurgen Klopp, he only started 12 games as part of a slow and steady adaptation to the demands of Klopp’s heavy metal football and the Premier League. It wasn’t easy, as Liverpool finished third behind Man City and Arsenal, but most importantly for Gravenberch, an existential problem arose when Klopp announced his departure from the club at the end of January. What will happen to me now?
Slot arrived last summer and, along with the club’s new sporting director, Richard Hughes, the new man in charge launched a mission to assess what was needed and it was clear that in his system, the midfield required a director and an anchor. Both attributes were needed in one player; the problem was that Liverpool was not rich in that department. As a result, Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad became the primary target. In the end, it didn’t work out and Zubimendi stayed with La Real, so Slot focused on what he already had.
Gravenberch, used as a number 8 under Klopp, was now tested as a number 6 in the preseason. He more than delivered, and as we rapidly move towards the present, it’s very clear that in a team of cohesive powerhouses that delivered the title to Liverpool, the Dutch midfielder was their omnipresent need. And this was seen early. In fact, it wasn’t even December, and Gravenberch was already leading Europe’s major leagues in tackles and interceptions. By the end of the season, the 23-year-old led the Premier League among other midfielders in interceptions and was in the top four in possessions won, possessions won in the final third, successful passes, and ball carries.
This is how you win a league title.
It was a wonderful season for Gravenberch, who had to reinvent himself to become a champion. There is a lesson for all of us.
SEASON’S SAVE: Emiliano Martínez (Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa, December 14)
Aston Villa ended up losing the match against the Tricky Trees in stoppage time, but not before this audacious save by Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez.
The first part was forgettable, but the second was a totally different story. It was the 59th minute and the atmosphere was getting tense, as there was a lot at stake. Forest, who had been very good with set pieces, won a corner and the cross with effect came from Elliot Anderson. Within a sea of players, Morgan Gibbs-White deflected it to Nicolás Domínguez and he headed the ball towards the goal. Everyone in the stadium thought it had gone in, so much so that the home fans celebrated, including Forest. But Domínguez couldn’t believe what his Argentinian compatriot had just done.
Somehow, with feline reflexes, Martínez kept the ball out of the goal with one hand. The header was destined to go in, but the Villa goalkeeper had other ideas. It was a save of gigantic proportions from the World Cup winner.
Watch Emiliano Martínez’s save
OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS AWARD: Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood is nobody’s idea of a superstar, but having his best season in his 30s and scoring a ton of goals deserves recognition.
Delivered to a player who is at least 30 years old and reinvented himself for a superb season.
We return to Forest, but for a good reason, as we add this new award. If you follow my work, you will know that one of my favorite quotes is from the playwright and filmmaker David Mamet, who once wrote: “Old age and treachery will always triumph over youth and enthusiasm,” which means that the older you get, the more cunning you can become and this can become an advantage over the naivety of youth. In competition, therefore, it can often provide a significant advantage.
Wood is the absolute example of this because what he has done this season is amazing. At 33 years old, he has 20 goals and three assists. That is a remarkable achievement, especially in a team like Forest, which does not necessarily possess much of the ball in matches and, as a result, cannot provide the striker with as many scoring opportunities compared to other teams. But Wood has made the most of everything he has been given.
In October, the striker also made history when he became the first Forest and New Zealand player to win the Premier League Player of the Month award. In January, the club rewarded him with a two-year contract knowing full well that without his goals, they would not have achieved European football.
Sometimes, I often feel that Wood belongs to another era. He doesn’t care about bells and whistles, style, or finesse. He is the ultimate antidote to a younger generation that can sometimes be obsessed with short-lived hype. He’s a boxer from the 1950s, the Ron Swanson of the Premier League, and we love him for it.
SEASON COACH: Arne Slot, Liverpool
Slot took on a difficult job last summer and ended up sailing towards the league title with Liverpool.
I suppose it’s perfectly acceptable to add Nuno Espirito Santo or even Eddie Howe to the conversation, but the truth is that winning the Premier League title in your first season as a coach, as well as your debut season in the league, is a remarkable achievement.
Let’s not forget that Slot also did this without bringing in any transfers to the team apart from a below-par Federico Chiesa. The Dutch coach also had the arduous task of taking over Klopp’s system and trying to transform the “heavy metal football” into his own style, and with the same players, but most importantly, he had to help the club move on from their beloved German coach. Oh, and there were three major contract negotiations (Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk) to deal with. He did it, quietly and smoothly.
For Slot, it all came down to man-management, focus, and attention to care and detail. In the end, Liverpool only lost three times in the Premier League all season and had the best attacking record and the second-best defensive record of the 20 teams.
Those who don’t believe will tell you that Liverpool took advantage of multiple problems of other clubs, including Manchester City’s injury problems and the massive drop in form before the end of the year, but that’s simply not the case. Leagues are won with consistency, and that’s exactly what Slot brought.
He implemented his tactics with precision and even helped players become better versions of themselves by totally transforming them into something else (the aforementioned Gravenberch, for example). He helped Salah become more lethal, which is amazing to behold, and reminded everyone why van Dijk might be one of the best center-backs in the history of the game. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also had their best seasons for the club because their roles were more finely tuned.
This was an impressive season for Liverpool and, even though they have taken their foot off the gas since they won the title, let’s not forget that they haven’t relinquished the top spot in the table since November. That’s a very impressive achievement and, thanks to their coach, they have earned it handsomely.
