Tuesday 3 November 2015 10:01, UK
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has been named the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month for October in the Barclays Premier League.
Several fine performances from Sanchez helped Arsenal to four straight wins in the league in October as they drew level on points with Manchester City at the top.
The Chile international, who also scored three goals whilst on international duty, fired three goals in those four matches, including a double in the Gunners' 3-0 win over Manchester United.
Sanchez, who has has scored six goals in the Premier League so far this season, was joined on the three-man shortlist by Leicester's in-form striker Jamie Vardy and West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet.
This was was reduced from an initial 12-man list including Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Sadio Mane (Southampton) and Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace).
Every month, throughout the English football season, fans will have the opportunity to vote on skysports.com for who they think has been the best player in the Barclays Premier League, Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two, after Sky Sports teamed up with the PFA to be the digital platform for the Awards.
Before the vote opens each month, an expert panel will produce a shortlist of contenders. Fans will then be able to vote for the player they think deserves the award.
The panel includes Sky Sports football pundits Paul Merson, Ian Holloway and Peter Beagrie.
That trio will be joined by Mike Riley, general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials, and Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, as well as the winning fan from each month.
