Paul Merson has given his backing to Liverpool forward Sadio Mane to be crowned the Premier League Player of the Year.

The Senegal international scored 14 goals and assisted seven more in the top flight for the runaway leaders this term prior to the coronavirus-enforced shutdown last month.

Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson is the bookmakers' current favourite to win the award, but former Arsenal forward Merson believes that Mane is the more deserving winner.

"If you're asking me which player I want to watch the most in the Premier League, it's Jack Grealish," he told Sky Sports News. "But he isn't getting player of the year. It's different.

"It's got to be Sadio Mane for me. Mane is the player who has been Liverpool's go-to man at special times in the season. He's performed and got big goals in big games. He's the one for me.

"Virgil van Dijk would be a close second - if he was at Manchester City, they would be 10 points clear. That's how much he is worth.

"Obviously Kevin De Bruyne has been brilliant, but it's hard to give it to someone who is 25 points behind someone else."

Mane has recently been touted as a possible summer transfer target for Spanish giants Real Madrid.