Sterling, Van Dijk among England’s player of year contenders

LONDON (AP) — Premier League title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City dominate the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year award, with defender Virgil van Dijk and forward Raheem Sterling the front-runners.

Van Dijk joins Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane on the list, while Sterling is included alongside fellow City players Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva after voting by fellow professionals.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard completes the nominees, with the winner announced on April 28.

Sterling and Silva, both 24, also make the shortlist for the young player of the year award. They are joined in that category by Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, Bournemouth winger David Brooks and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.

For the women’s player of the year award, Manchester City trio Steph Houghton, Nikita Parris and Keira Walsh have been shortlisted alongside Chelsea duo Erin Cuthbert and Ji So-yun, and Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal.

Miedema, the Women’s Super League top scorer with 27 goals, Walsh and Cuthbert are also nominated for the young player of the year prize, along with City forward Georgia Stanway, West Ham striker Alisha Lehmann and Bristol City goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley.