England-based players have grabbed all but three of the places on a 20-strong list of nominations for the UEFA club footballer of the year award. Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Barcelona team mates Carles Puyol and Lionel Messi are the only players to have broken the stranglehold of Premiership clubs Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
United, who beat Chelsea in last season's all-English Champions League final, have six players on the list including strike partners Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, while their London rivals have five. Liverpool, who were beaten by Chelsea in the semi-finals, contribute four players to the list which will also be used to determine individual awards for best club goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.
The coaches of the 16 teams who reached the knock out phase of last season's Champions League have been asked to vote on the shortlist which was drawn up by UEFA's technical observers. The winners will be named during the draw for this season's Champions League group stage in Monaco next Thursday.
UEFA CLUB FOOTBALL AWARDS NOMINEES:
GOALKEEPERS: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal), Petr Cech (Chelsea), Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)
DEFENDERS: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
MIDFIELDERS: Michael Essien (Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
FORWARDS: Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).
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