'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester City beat Liverpool 2-1 yesterday to throw the title race for the Premier League wide open. City now have 50 points from 21 matches and are points behind league leaders Liverpool. This win would boost City and reinvigorate their quest for a second successive Premier League title. Liverpool are still favorites to win their first title since 1990 and it is going to take some really good effort on City’s part to dislodge them from the top position.
Among the other clubs, Tottenham Hotspur have been quite impressive with 45 points from 20 matches and Manchester United have improved considerably since the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their manager. However, both Chelsea and Arsenal have disappointed somewhat and found themselves in the 4th and 5th positions respectively. United, Chelsea, and Arsenal would be fighting hard among themselves for a place in the top four in order to ensure qualification for next season’s Champions League.
There have been some new signings who have impressed this season, whereas some veterans have continued to perform well for their respective clubs. We would like to form the team of the season so far by picking the best players for each of the positions in the Premier League:
#1 Goalkeeper – Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
The 6 feet 4 inches tall goalkeeper from Liverpool continues to impress and has been one of the best signings of the season so far. He was signed by Liverpool after having a great World Cup for Brazil in 2018. Alisson has kept 12 clean sheets for Liverpool in the Premier League so far. He conceded two goals against City at Etihad but had managed to keep a clean sheet when Liverpool met City at Anfield as Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty for the latter.
He has a commanding presence inside the 6-yard box and also likes to come out at times to clear balls out of his territory. Alisson is also an excellent shot-stopper and a quick mover for a man of his size. He would have to continue his good form if Liverpool are to win the Premier League this season.
Also see : Fantasy Premier League , Fantasy Premier League Tips
#2 Centre Back – Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Van Dijk has quite possibly been the most consistent performer for the domineering Liverpool side and really come of age in his 2nd season for the club. He has played in 27 matches for Liverpool this season and hardly put a step wrong.
He dealt with forwards like Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Aguero with relative ease and is one of the reasons behind Liverpool’s successful run in the Premier League this season.
Van Dijk is a very athletic defender with great aerial prowess and anticipation. He is also a clean tackler and very good at closing down the opposition forwards. He was at his best against the City forwards and another great performance despite Liverpool losing the game by a 2-1 margin. He has probably been the best center-back in the Premier League so far.
#3 Centre-Back – Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Laporte was signed by Guardiola from Ligue 1 and impressed a lot in his debut season in the Premier League. He is exceptionally strong in the air, a very good reader of the game and a clean tackler.
Laporte’s distribution skills are also fairly good and he has been one of the most consistent performers for City this season. He has already played in 28 matches for them and scored 3 goals.
However, Laporte’s reputation as a defender has taken a hit as City have lost three of their last six matches. His defensive partners keep getting switched as Vincent Kompany has made a comeback to the starting eleven against Liverpool.
However, Laporte is still one of the best center-backs in the league so far despite his string of poor performances of late. City would need him to keep performing well if they are to ensure a second successive title.
#4 Right-Back – Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
The 28-year-old Walker was signed from Tottenham last season and has performed reasonably well for City so far. He is good enough defensively to play as a center-back too and has played as one of the 3-man defense for City.
Walker is also very fast in his overlapping runs and can cross pretty well too. His speed and guile while attacking can be quite a handful for the opposition full-backs.
Guardiola has played Danilo as the right wing back in a few matches, but Kyle Walker remains the better defender overall. He also remains a big match player and can always be relied upon to deliver a good performance against strong oppositions.
City would hope that he continues his good run for the club as they seek another league title this time around. He should play as a right-back in this team.
#5 Left-Back – Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
The 24-year-old Scotland international has been a revelation this season with a string of great performances. He is very fast while going into overlaps and a tireless performer on the pitch.
He is also the quintessential team man and usually never shies away from his responsibilities. Such a player can be an asset to any team and Klopp had used his talent wisely this season.
His crossing abilities also make him a dangerous proposition for the opposition defender and he has the tendency to go near the goal-line before delivering the crosses. He has played in 23 matches for Liverpool this season. He was at his best against City despite losing the game to them by a 2-1 margin.
He should, at times, curb his attacking instincts somewhat to focus more on his defensive responsibilities. He promises to have a great career ahead of him in the Premier League and remains the best left-back in it.
#6 Defensive Midfielder – N’Golo Kante(Chelsea)
Kante is a very important player who has consistently played out of his preferred position this season. Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri has played him as a central midfielder to accommodate Jorginho in his team.
Jorginho has played as a defensive midfielder in spite of the fact that Kante also prefers to play as one. However, Kante has adjusted reasonably well in his new role and scored a few goals too, including the winner against Crystal Palace.
The French midfielder is a very good tackler and runner, but is not a very good passer and seems to lack the technical qualities to play in the central midfield. He has, however, made frequent forays into the opposition penalty box and scored three goals from 25 matches for Chelsea this season. He has also provided some vital balls to the Chelsea forwards like Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata.
However, we would have him in this team as a defensive midfielder only.
#7 Left Central Midfielder – David Silva (Manchester City)
David Silva still remains the most important member of the Manchester City side after having spent eight seasons with them. He is also one of the best midfielders of his generation and a very good passer, dribbler and goal-scorer.
He provides the talismanic touch in the midfield for City and is usually involved in most of their telling moves. It would not be an exaggeration to say that City becomes considerably weakened if Silva is marked out of the game by the opposition.
Silva has already scored 70 goals in 368 matches for Manchester City. He has also been in a splendid form this season and scored nine goals. He has also penetrated into the opposition penalty box more frequently been more direct in his approach this season.
Silva’s form would again be of paramount importance in deciding the ultimate winner of the Premier League.
#8 Right Central Midfielder – Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham quite possibly have the best playmaker of the Premier League in the form of Christian Eriksen. The stylish Danish midfielder has got great technical abilities and a silken touch. He has impressed the Real Madrid and Barcelona faithful with his excellent performances this season and also been linked to Real constantly.
Eriksen has six goals and eight assists from 25 matches this season and should definitely be a part of this team.
Eriksen is a manager’s delight as he is capable of scoring goals as well with his crisp shots from the edge of the penalty box. He can also play in a withdrawn role in the central midfield and contribute defensively. He can provide the forwards consistently with good crosses and through-passes.
The Danish playmaker usually is very reliable with his free-kicks too and remains an outstanding player overall. It should not come as a surprise if a bigger club like Manchester United or Real Madrid decides to sign him soon.
#9 Right winger- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah has regained his golden touch for Liverpool after making an ordinary start to the season and now has 13 goals and seven assists in the league. He has been magnificent in the last few matches and led Liverpool to the pole position in the league.
He is unlikely to better the incredible stats he had last season, but might very well get close. He has mostly played as a center-forward in the last few matches but would play in his preferred position for this team.
Salah is an exceptional dribbler and passer and also likes to fall back to the midfield to connect with his teammates and create moves. He is very fast inside the final-third and plays quick one-twos with his fellow forwards to create holes in the opposition defense.
He would again need to perform well in order to ensure the league title for his team.
#10 Left- Winger – Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
It would not be fair to call Chelsea a one-man team, but their dependence on Eden Hazard is quite evident. Hazard has had to play as a false 9 because of the indifferent form of Chelsea strikers Olivier Giroud and Morata. However, he has adjusted well in the central role too and continues to be their talisman this season.
He recently scored his 100th goals in a Chelsea shirt in his 7th season with the club. He has scored 12 goals in 24 matches this season. He also remains the quintessential professional who always gives his best for his team despite his interest to join Real Madrid.
He is a consummate dribbler and very fast while cutting in from the flanks. The Belgian has been linked with Real Madrid for quite a while now and should he decide to leave Chelsea, they would find it very difficult to ensure a top-four finish.
#11 Centre-Forward – Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Aguero is into his 8th season for City, but still remains one of their most potent attacking weapons. The diminutive Argentine has scored 213 goals in 314 matches for City and still has a great hunger for goals.
He is very agile inside the penalty box and can score goals from a tight space. He is also an exceptional finisher and pounces on any opportunity that is provided to him in the final third.
Aguero also has the ability to force his way through the space between the opposition defender and can be a very difficult player to mark. He again showed his abilities by scoring a vital goal against Liverpool at the Etihad.
He still remains one of the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League and remains among the top goal-scorers this season with 10 goals for City in the league.
