Premier League 2019-20: Team of the Season at the halfway point of the campaign

The 2019-20 Premier League season has, by the month of December, the look of one side dominating the other 19 with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool looking more and more likely to lift the prestigious trophy come May 2020. The Reds are yet to lift their maiden Premier League trophy since it's famous rebranding in 1992 and they now appear to be firmly placed to lift the trophy after having collected an astounding 55 points out of a possible 57, with the draw at Old Trafford being the only fixture where Liverpool dropped points.

One of the major talking points of the season is that of the Premier League's relatively newer additions such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United, and more taking the league by storm. There have already been a host of shocking results where the underdog spirit possessed by many clubs in the bottom half of the table proving too difficult even for the elite to overcome.

If the league were to end on New Year's Day, Liverpool would be the runaway leaders with their 13-point and a game's lead propelling them to the title. However, there would also be a number of mid-table clubs who have exceeded expectations.

Here, we take a look at the Team of the Season at the midway point of the campaign.

Goalkeeper

Dean Henderson

Dean Henderson had a breakout season last year during a loan spell with the Blades as they pushed for promotion. After having achieved their goal and made their way to the top flight, Sheffield were adamant on keeping the goalkeeper for another year. This would have presumably gone down well with Henderson as well, given the given David de Gea's supremacy in goal at Old Trafford.

20 games into the season, Sheffield United are not only placed for survival but a finish in the top half of the table, incidentally having lost the same number of games as Henderson's parent club, Manchester United, and defending champions Manchester City. They've collected 29 points so far in the campaign.

The Englishman has been pivotal to the Blades' defensive stability so far and has kept 7 clean sheets in the league so far in 19 appearances, the joint-highest in the division. He's pulled off some crucial stops over the season and conceded just 16 goals in that period, with just the single error leading to goal.

Defence

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The Englishman has quite literally picked up right where he left off last season and has contributed significantly so far to Liverpool's title challenge. After setting up a historic 12 assists and scoring one goal from right-back, the 21-year-old already has 8 assists and scored 2 in 19 games in the ongoing season and looks even more threatening from wide areas than he did last year.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is simply operating at a different level to most full-backs in the league at the moment, producing numbers that just aren't usual for his position. Essentially operating as a wide playmaker for the Reds, he's put in some commanding displays so far at both ends of the pitch. Alexander-Arnold's recent showing against Leicester City was arguably the best performance from a full-back in a very long time in the English top-flight, registering two assists and one scorching goal.

He's averaged 4.8 long balls, 2.5 crosses, 1.5 tackles and most astonishingly, 3 key passes per game.

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool's warrior in defence has had more off-days this season than he did the season before. However, that isn't saying much as he rarely ever had an off day last year. Despite the occasional lapse in concentration, Virgil van Dijk still remains the best centre-back in the league and is at the heart of one of the most resilient defences in the country.

His nonchalance with the ball and composure while defending his goal are two key attributes that define the towering centre-half, other than his more obvious physical qualities. Much like his imperious 2018/19 season, van Dijk has been the gold standard for defenders in Europe and still looks impeccable defending the Reds' goal with 6 clean sheets so far. His organisation of the backline and leadership qualities have benefited their defence significantly.

Contributing with 3 goals in 19 appearances and averaging 4.9 clearances, van Dijk looks primed to lead Liverpool to their first Premier League title.

Çağlar Söyüncü

Perhaps the biggest surprise package in an inspired Leicester City showing so far, Çağlar Söyüncü has been rock-solid at the back for the Foxes. The Turkish defender was brought in as a contingency if Harry Maguire left the King Power last season. Since the Englishman's departure in the summer of 2019, the centre-half has had an immense impact on Leicester's season in the ongoing season.

Söyüncü has brought in an amount of composure on the ball and has given Leicester another key player to build their team around, and at the age of 23, he could be a massive figure wherever he continues to play in his career.

Averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and a massive 5.3 clearances for the Foxes, Söyüncü is already attracting attention from clubs such as Manchester City. Leicester could potentially choose to cash in on their defensive rock after the season he's had so far.

Andy Robertson

After a meteoric rise to the pinnacle of world football, Andy Robertson continues to stake his claim as one of the best left-backs on the continent. His tireless running, passionate displays and attacking impetus have all contributed to the Scotland captain being a mainstay in the defence of the champions-in-waiting.

Robertson has, so far, contributed with a goal and 5 assists in 19 appearances, and the one goal he did score was a winner in the dying moments of Liverpool's win against AFC Bournemouth from a Sadio Mane cross. The former Dundee United, apart from being solid defensively, has continued to provide the all-important width to the Reds' attack and combines well with Mane regularly to overload his flank.

There has been no looking back for Robertson since his €9m move from Hull City. So far, he's clocked 1.9 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2 clearances per game in the ongoing season.

Midfield

Fabinho

It's hard to believe that there was a section of supporters that doubted Fabinho after his €45m arrival from AS Monaco. Fast forward to about a year later and the Brazilian has become the defensive lynchpin that Liverpool have grown to rely on.

A tough-tackling defensive midfielder by trade, Fabinho has been an immovable force in midfield for the Anfield outfit and has grown into a dependable figure in the middle of the park, enabling fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum to venture further up the pitch. His presence also helps both full-backs bombard up and down the pitch.

Averaging an impressive 2.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 86% pass success rate and 4.1 long balls per game, Fabinho has been crucial to Liverpool's dominance in midfield.

Kevin De Bruyne

Despite Manchester City's title challenge having effectively ended due to Liverpool's undisputed dominance, Kevin De Bruyne has arguably been one of the two or three best players in the division so far. The Belgian has notched up a frankly ridiculous tally of 12 assists and 7 goals in 19 league appearances and is very much on course to break Thierry Henry's long-standing record of 20 assists in the 2002/03 edition of the Premier League.

De Bruyne has been the driving force of a star-studded City midfield alongside the likes of David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri. In Pep Guardiola's record-breaking 100 point-season, the former Chelsea man was the only player in Europe to have registered over 60 chances created and 60 tackles made, which is further evidence of De Bruyne's ability to dominate midfields on his own. Added to that, his sublime ability to deliver the ball into the box with the utmost precision makes him a dangerous threat for any defence in the world, let alone the league.

This season, he has been as sharp as ever and has single-handedly produced moments of magic time and again to give his side the edge, such as his displays against Arsenal, Chelsea, and more. Averaging a brilliant 3.7 key passes, 3.1 shots and 2.5 crosses per game, Kevin De Bruyne has undoubtedly been the best midfielder in the Premier League this season.

James Maddison

Leicester City's James Maddison has been at the heart of everything positive that the Foxes have produced from midfield. Brendan Rodgers' time at the King Power has been impressive so far and the former Norwich City man is viewed to be the future of the former Premier League champions' midfield, and with good reason.

This season, Maddison has contributed to 5 goals and 3 assists from midfield, including crucial goals against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. The Englishman is an excellent creator from advanced areas of midfield, and has created the most number of chances in the league since the start of last season. He's averaging a healthy 2.4 shots, 2.4 key passes and 83% pass succession rate in the 2019/20 season.

Linked heavily with a move to Manchester United, it is unclear as to how Maddison's stay at the King Power will last. However, he has done his growing reputation no harm with another superb season so far, and will look to help Leicester consolidate their position in the Champions League spots on the league table.

Attack

Sadio Mane

After a phenomenal 2018/19 season which ended with a Champions League medal, an African Cup of Nations final and the Premier League Golden Boot, Sadio Mane looks set for another equally great season if not a more successful one.

The Senegalese international, who has already racked up 10 goals and 6 assists this season has been one of the most spectacular players in the league so far. Forming what is the most deadly attack in Europe alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, Mane has done remarkably well to refine his game and his output, with the latter being at an all-time high for the former RB Salzburg man since the start of 2019. His wonderful year was acknowledged with his highest finish in the Ballon d'Or standings to date, finishing 4th.

Apart from averaging 2.4 shots, 1.7 dribbles and 1.9 key passes per game, Mane has also averaged 1.4 tackles per game, highlighting his willingness to help out the team defensively. If Liverpool's title challenge continues progressing at the current rate, Sadio Mane could soon add the Premier League title to his growing collection of accolades.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling's steady rise, most notably since Pep Guardiola's arrival in Manchester has been absolutely terrific. The Englishman was marred by criticism despite being the most exciting English talent in the league at the time and was then signed by Manchester City for a British record fee.

He was rewarded with an excellent 2018/19 season with the PFA Young Player of the Year award after winning the Premier League with City, where the former Liverpool man scored 17 and assisted 10. With 11 goals for the season with an assist to go with it by December, Sterling is on course for another brilliant season in Manchester blue.

Averaging 3.1 shots, 1.7 key passes and 2.1 dribbles completed per game, Sterling is having a superb season with the Cityzens despite their poor title defence.

Jamie Vardy

An undisputed Premier League legend, Jamie Vardy is enjoying another stellar season with the greatest underdog side that the division has witnessed since the turn of the century. The former English striker won the Golden Boot in the process of leading the Foxes to the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season and looks to replicate his heroics this year as well.

Albeit that Leicester are unlikely to repeat their mind-boggling title win from a few years ago, Vardy is on course for another Golden Boot, having already scored 17 Premier League goals and providing 3 assists in the league. His electric runs and accurate finishing have dealt damage to nearly every defence in the English top-flight this term. The former Fleetwood Town striker has been an immense threat on the break and is averaging 2.6 shots per game.

Considering the stature of the club he plays for, it would be a great achievement for the Foxes should they qualify for Champions League football come May 2020. And with a striker such as Jamie Vardy leading their attack, it is looking more and more likely that the former Premier League champions will be a part of Europe's elite club competition next season.