The 2017-18 Premier League season is drawing to a close and with Manchester City set to lift the title many of their players are perhaps expecting a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated game after game on their way to running away with the title and on course for a record points tally and goals scored in a single season since the formation of the Premier League in 1992.
The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Liverpool have all had players performing very well this season and here are the 11 we think deserve to be inducted in this season’s team:
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
David de Gea leads Premier League goalkeepers in clean sheets this season and has been a big part of Manchester United sitting in a comfortable Champions League place. Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world right now and the undoubted choice for this position.
Right-back: Kyle Walker
Manchester City splashed out £45 million on Kyle Walker over the summer which raised a few eyebrows at the time, but the England international has responded well with excellent performances bombing on from right-back. The 27-year-old has provided an impressive six assists from this position so far this season.
Centre-back: James Tarkowski
Many fans would have had Burnley as relegation candidates at the start of the season and their pre-season football odds in this category reflected this. However, with some incredible defending they are currently pushing for European football next season. Along with Nick Pope and Ben Mee, James Tarkowski has been one of the stand out players this season.
Centre-back: Jan Vertonghen
Tottenham have been without Toby Alderweireld for a long period of the season but they still have an excellent defensive record. Hugo Lloris has made a couple of costly mistakes and Serge Aurier has been reckless, but Jan Vertonghen has held the back four together with some excellent displays for Spurs again this season.
Left-back: Ashley Young
Jose Mourinho had a lot of options at left-back to start the season and few may have thought he’d settle on Ashley Young. However, the 32-year-old has been in the starting lineup consistently and performed very well. He’s shut a couple of wingers down this season and provided some excellent crosses when bombing forward down the left wing.
Defensive midfield: Mousa Dembélé
In front of Tottenham’s back four Mousa Dembélé has been a rock in their midfield in keeping Victor Wanyama out of the starting lineup for most of this season. The Belgian international has been excellent in winning the ball back for his side and driving forward. He narrowly keeps Fernandinho out of our team.
Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne has had a phenomenal season in the heart of the Manchester City midfield that has dominated possession and territory this season, blowing teams away. The 26-year-old leads the Premier League with 15 assists and also has also chipped in with seven goals. We think he’ll finish runner-up to Mohamed Salah for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Midfield: David Silva
Another part of City’s success this season has been David Silva running the show from his attacking midfield role. Alongside De Bruyne the Spaniard has been maintaining possession for his team and unlocking defences to create opportunities for his teammates. Silva has chipped in with eight goals and 11 assists for Pep Guardiola’s soon-to-be Premier League champions.
Right wing: Mohamed Salah
One of the bargains of the season, Jürgen Klopp brought Mohamed Salah to Liverpool for a deal worth less than £50 million in what was a very expensive transfer window. The Egyptian has proven José Mourinho wrong to sell him when at Chelsea, by scoring a league-high 29 goals and helped the Merseyside club reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Striker: Sergio Agüero
Pep Guardiola has put together one of the best attacks in Premier League history and at the front of it has been the club’s all-time top goalscorer, Sergio Agüero. Whilst it was a choice between he and Harry Kane for our striker spot, the Argentine is averaging nearly a goal a game when he plays, and Manchester City don’t look as threatening when he’s out of the side.
Left wing: Christian Eriksen
Tottenham Hotspur have been an exciting team to watch this season and are on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League, as well as being in the semi-finals of this season’s FA Cup. Christian Eriksen has been one of the stars of the side with 10 goals and nine assists.