Mohamed Salah joins four Man City stars in Premier League Team of the Season

Tom Biggs 13:22 14/05/2018
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  • Mohamed Salah celebrates against Brighton

    It has been another memorable Premier League campaign. From Mohamed Salah‘s individual heroics, to Manchester City‘s incredible collective effort, the records have tumbled in 2017/18.

    Here we take a look at our Premier League Team of the Season, which features four players from Pep Guardiola’s title-winning side and three from Liverpool. Stars from Manchester United, Burnley and Tottenham also feature.

    GK: David De Gea (Manchester United)

    Where would Jose Mourinho’s men have finished without him? Certainly not second in the Premier League. The fact no Manchester United defender comes close to making our Team of the Season should tell you just how important De Gea was. The Spaniard took home the league’s Golden Glove, with 18 clean sheets over the course of the campaign.

    RB: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

    It became very apparent why Pep Guardiola was so desperate to sign the Tottenham Hotspur defender last summer. Walker was exceptional for the champions, with his marauding runs from right-back and his pace to recover defensively crucial in the Citizens’ attacking set-up. The England international provided six assists and made more passes between the season start in August to the May climax than any other Premier League full-back.

    CB: James Tarkowski (Burnley)

    James Tarkowski was excellent for Burnley as they secured a Europa League spot.

    James Tarkowski was excellent for Burnley as they secured a Europa League spot.

    The surprise package of the season, Burnley’s seventh-placed finish is largely down to the excellent defensive solidity Sean Dyche’s men built. While Nick Pope in goal was a revelation, so too was Tarkowski, the man signed from Championship side Brentford. The 25-year-old, who earned an England call-up on the back of his great form, was in the top ten overall for clearances, blocks and headed clearances as the Clarets secured a Europa League spot.

    CB: Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)

    Seen by many as slightly inferior to defensive partner Toby Alderweireld, Vertonghen repeatedly displaced his quality without his countryman alongside him this season. Partnered with the impressive, yet sometimes erratic, Davinson Sanchez, Vertonghen saved his side on numerous occasions with excellently-timed tackles and clearances. Having played more passes than any other Spurs man (2,488), his importance in building attacks for Mauricio Pochettino’s team cannot be underestimated. The Belgian made 170 clearances and 64 tackles from the heart of the Spurs defence.

    LB: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)

    Not quite the same goal threat as Marcos Alonso, who could perhaps be considered unlucky to miss out, but Robertson’s impact in transforming Liverpool’s defence from shaky to solid cannot be overlooked. The left-back was exceptional after displacing Alberto Moreno in the team in early December, before forming an excellent understanding with January signing Virgil van Dijk. Robertson’s attacking threat was also impressive, as he provided five assists and scored one goal.

    RM: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

    Records tumbled. Opposition crumbled. Salah dazzled. The Egyptian amazed with astonishing regularity during his debut season with Liverpool. 32 goals – the best in a 38-game Premier League season – from a predominantly left-wing position tells you everything you need to know. Add in to that ten assists, and Salah was directly involved in more than 40 Liverpool goals. The 25-year-old has come a long, long way since his Chelsea days.

    CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

    In any other Premier League season, Kevin De Bruyne would have been the standout player by a distance.

    In any other Premier League season, De Bruyne would have been the standout player by a distance.

    If it wasn’t for Salah, we would be talking about De Bruyne’s season as one of the best ever. The Belgian was sensational in the number eight role alongside David Silva, setting the tone for Pep Guardiola’s champions. To be the standout player in such an impressive side highlights just how instrumental he was. With more assists than any other Premier League player (16) and eight goals, De Bruyne provided us with a midfield masterclass all season long.

    CM: David Silva (Manchester City)

    The Spaniard – who dealt admirably with personal issues throughout the campaign – seems to get better with age. His ability to find space wherever he is on the pitch is remarkable, while his understanding with De Bruyne and City’s forwards proved vital. With nine goals and 11 assists, Silva was one of five players for Guardiola’s side to be directly involved in 20 goals. The 32-year-old reached that number in just 29 league appearances for the champions.

    LM: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

    Raheem Sterling had a superb season for Manchester City, scoring 18 goals.

    Raheem Sterling had a superb season for Manchester City, scoring 18 goals.

    Sterling’s form for City since his move from Liverpool would have been best described as frustrating before this season. However, under the guidance of Guardiola he has flourished, netting vital goals and providing a constant attacking threat. His late winners against Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Southampton maintained City’s early-season momentum. In total, the England international scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists for Guardiola’s title-winning side.

    ST: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

    The complete forward. Firmino not only delivered goals and assists himself, but he also allowed Salah and Sadio Mane to flourish in the wide positions thanks to his tireless workrate that was invaluable to manager Jurgen Klopp and his high-intensity style of play. The Brazilian scored 15 times and grabbed seven assists for Liverpool. Another player whose efforts this season have been overshadowed by Salah’s incredible form.

    ST: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

    No third Golden Boot in a row for Kane – another victim of Salah’s brilliance – but the England international once again showed his predatory instincts, scoring 30 goals in 37 appearances. That included crucial winners against arch-rivals Arsenal, as well as Crystal Palace and West Ham. Kane also grabbed back-to-back hat-tricks, in wins over Burnley and Southampton, as his goals helped fire Pochettino’s side to a Champions League spot once again.

    Substitutes:

    Nick Pope, Lewis Dunk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fernandinho, Christian Eriksen, Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero.

    Our Premier League Team of the Season.

    Our Premier League Team of the Season.

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