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On Thursday, the PFA Premier League Team of the Season was announced, with a number of questionable selections.
The squad was made up mainly of Liverpool and Manchester City players, the two teams battling it out for the title. Ederson edged out Alisson in goal, with a back four made up of Trent Alexandrer-Arnold, Aymeric Laporte, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson.
In midfield, that is where the real talking point occurs. Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva are included alongside Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, the only player not from either Manchester City or Liverpool.
Pogba’s inclusion is certainly debatable. The United midfielder was accused of downing tools during Jose Mourinho’s final weeks in charge at Old Trafford, and there has been constant criticism of his effort and application over the course of the season.
There are also a number of interesting omissions in the front three, which is made up of City’s Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, alongside Liverpool’s Sadio Mane.
This is a team that will be debated by many, with a lot of players who may have been considering worthy of a spot left out. Here is an alternative team of the season, made up of players who weren’t included in the PFA XI.
Alisson (Liverpool)
This was one of the tightest calls in the team of the season. Manchester City’s Ederson was selected as the goalkeeper, but there could have been no arguments if Alisson was included in the side.
The Brazilian has had a positive effect on this Liverpool team since his £67 million move from Roma in the summer, and is a huge part of where they are in the league at the moment. He has kept 18 clean sheets this season, the most of anyone in the league. The issue for the 26-year-old however is that he has made three errors leading to a goal, one more than Ederson.
Aaron wan Bissaka (Crystal Palace)
It has been an excellent season for wan Bissaka, who has excelled at right back for Crystal Palace, and is now considered among the top right backs in the country. The 21-year-old has been brilliant defensively all year, and just seven players have successfully dribbled past him in the league all season.
The big issue for Palace will now be keeping hold of the Englishman, with rumours suggesting that both Tottenham and Manchester United are lining up big money bids.
Conor Coady (Wolves)
Everyone has been impressed by how Wolves have adapted to the Premier League this season, and in particular how they have played against some of the bigger sides. The midlands club have been led by Conor Coady, who has consistently impressed in the centre of defence.
It has been a big change for Coady, who left Liverpool as a midfielder, but has reinvented himself as a defender this season, and will hope to lead Wolves to a spot in next season’s Europa League.
Michael Keane (Everton)
Keane has struggled to find his best form since his big money move to Everton from Burnley in 2017. This season however, we have seen the best of the English centre back, form which has helped him return to Gareth Southgate’s squad.
While there has been an awful lot of chopping and changing from manager Marco Silva, Keane has been one of the first names on the teamsheet, and he has formed an excellent partnership with Chelsea loanee Kurt Zouma. He will hope that he can take this form into next season.
Matt Doherty (Wolves)
Another Wolves player, and another player who has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. He has been a part of that excellent Wolves defensive record, but has also had a huge impact going forward in his wing back role.
He has scored four times, as well as providing four assists. Those goals have often proved important, with the Republic of Ireland international scoring winners against both Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, as well as scoring in their impressive 3-1 victory over Arsenal at Molineux.
Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford)
Another team who have had a strong season are Watford. Many had the Hornets down as potential relegation contenders at the end of the season, but they are in the race for a Europa League place, and preparing for an FA Cup Final against Manchester City.
Doucoure has once again impressed in the centre of midfield, appearing 32 times, scoring five goals, and providing six assists. There is a good chance that this is Doucoure’s final season at Vicarage Road, as he has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football, and earn himself a place in the France national team.
David Silva (Manchester City)
There isn’t much to be said about David Silva that hasn’t already been said. The Spaniard is now in his ninth season with Manchester City, and is still producing match winning performances.
He has had to cover for the loss of Kevin de Bruyne for much of the season, as the Belgian has suffered with constant injuries. With three games left, he will hope that City can do enough to keep hold of their spot at the top of the table, and win their fourth Premier League title.
Joao Moutinho (Wolves)
The third Wolves player in this line-up, and one of their big name signings from the summer. Moutinho made the move to Molineux in the summer from Monaco, for what has turned out to be a bargain £5 million.
He has looked every inch a Premier League player, and has outshined his fellow Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves for much of the season. He has scored just once in the league this season, the equaliser at Old Trafford early in the season, but has provided eight assists.
Mo Salah (Liverpool)
It almost feels like Salah has suffered from having such a good season for Liverpool last time out. There is no doubt that the Egyptians has not hit the heights that he did last season, but he has once again been a vital player as Liverpool push for their first Premier League title.
His goals are down from last season, with 19 this campaign compared to last season’s 32, with his assists also down from ten to seven. But Salah will care little about the individual honours if he can help lead Liverpool to the title.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
It seemed inevitable that Hazard would be included in the team given that he was one of the six players nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award. It may not have been a great season for Chelsea as a team, but it has been an excellent one for the Belgian individually.
He has been directly involved in 29 goals this season, scoring 16 times and coming up with 13 assists, more than any other player in England’s top-flight. Chelsea may struggle to replace Hazard this summer if he moves to Real Madrid, especially with a transfer ban in place.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
It has been an impressive first full season in Premier League football for Aubameyang. It hasn’t been an easy season for the Gunners, who have been trying to adapt to life under Unai Emery after Arsene Wenger’s 22-year spell in charge of Arsenal came to an end.
Aubameyang has thrived though, and has scored 19 goals in the league, the joint most of any player. He has a very reasonable claim for being the only world class player in this current Arsenal squad.
