The SBN Team picked their brains out to give the EPL Team of the Season. Do you agree with our selections?
Alisson Becker (Liverpool) – Like the 2018/19 campaign, this was a two-horse race between Brazilian shot-stoppers, Ederson and Alisson. The latter may have lost out on a Premier League winners’ medal and a place in the PFA Team of the Season to his countryman, but he gets our vote here. Playing in his first season in England with a £65m price tag, Alisson had a fantastic season, keeping 21 cleans sheets to beat Ederson to the Golden Glove award. Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga and Arsenal’s Bernd Leno also impressed in their debut campaign, but the Liverpool man was head and shoulders above.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – Despite being just 20 years old, Trent Alexander-Arnold is already regarded as being one of the best full-backs in the world and rightfully so. The youngster was key for Jurgen Klopp’s side this season, providing 12 assists in the Premier League: the most by a defender in a single campaign in the competition. Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is worth a mention, but we didn’t think long about this one.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – Unrivalled as the best defender in the Premier League – and arguably the best in the world – right now, Virgil van Dijk is our Player of the Season. The Dutchman was a rock in defence, only missing 35 minutes of the Reds’ 38 matches, helping to register 21 clean sheets and scoring four goals. The word’s most expensive defender was a significant factor in Liverpool’s pursuit of the title and was rightly crowned the Premier League Player of the Season .
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) – Aymeric Laporte partners Van Dijk in the middle of defence. Manchester City’s young French defender played more minutes in the Premier League this season than any other City outfield player and was rightly rewarded with a place in the PFA’s team of the year. He now has two Premier League medals in his two seasons in England.
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) – Andy Robertson is an easy pick at left-back. The Scotsman is widely considered to be one of the best left-backs in the world right now. He was a real nuisance on the left flank, providing 11 assists – just one behind teammate Alexander-Arnold – for Jurgen Klopp’s side and deservedly earned a spot in the PFA’s Team of the Year. Phil Neville claimed he does not ‘see a better left-back in Europe’ than the Liverpool defender. That coming from a Manchester United legend says it all.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) – Bernardo Silva was a real joy to watch this season and was instrumental in Manchester City’s title-winning campaign. Whether it was in midfield or down the wing, the Portuguese star was absolutely brilliant and even made City fans forget about Kevin De Bruyne. Bernardo has emerged as a genuine star for City this term, having bagged seven goals and seven assists. According to his coach, Pep Guardiola, he’s been the best player in the Premier League this season.
Fernandinho (Manchester City) – Not one of the flashy names in Pep Guardiola’s side, however, Fernandinho has been a vital cog in City’s well-oiled machine and without him, Liverpool would probably be celebrating their first Premier League title right now. Pep may have wanted Jorginho, but he needs Fernandinho. Despite being 34 years old, the Brazilian is only behind N’Golo Kante in the holding midfield role.
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) – While we agree with most of the picks in the PFA Team of the Season, we’re baffled at how they could leave out Christian Eriksen. He’s been way better than Paul Pogba this season, scoring eight goals and recording 12 assists to help Spurs finish in the top four and get Champions League football next season. The Dane is one of the best midfielders in world football and Spurs will be desperate to keep hold of him.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) – If there was an award for best Englishman in a Premier League campaign, Raheem Sterling would easily take it. Many questioned whether he was worth the £50m City paid Liverpool in 2015, but fast forward to the present day and he’s probably worth triple of that figure. The Jamaican-born winger has taken his game to the next level under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola and a stunning season where he scored 17 goals and 10 assists saw him crowned PFA Young Player of the Year and then voted as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – Sergio Aguero spearheads our attack. Unlike previous seasons, the 30-year-old was able to keep himself fit for majority of the campaign and many of his 21 goals were the most important ones in City’s run to the title. The Argentine stepped up when it mattered most, bagging hat-tricks against Chelsea and Arsenal, scoring the opener at home to Liverpool and the winner in a hard-fought 1-0 win at Burnley by forcing the ball a mere 30 millimetres over the line. Aguero has now scored at least 20 Premier League goals in five straight seasons, the first player to do so since Thierry Henry. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was probably the next best.
Sadio Mane (Liverpool) – The Senegalese star takes the left side of attack, beating the likes of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Spurs’ Son Heung-min – we also think he upstaged Mohamed Salah this season. Mane scored 22 league goals for the Reds, earning a share of the Golden Boot, and helping Jurgen Klopp’s side challenge for the Premier League.
Coach of the Season: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) – Picking our Coach of the Season wasn’t easy, but under majority rule, Jurgen Klopp is our man. Although Pep Guardiola secured back-to-back Premier League titles for the first time since Manchester United did so in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 campaigns, Klopp did extremely well to close the gap and push the Citizens all the way to the final round. Liverpool suffered just one league defeat compared to City’s four, while they were the only side to go unbeaten on their ground. The German is also on course to win the UEFA Champions League next month. Pep was terrific and Nuno Espirito Santo did superb with promoted side Wolves, but Klopp was fantastic.