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An Alternative PFA Team Of The Year

The PFA Team Of The Year was revealed today to some controversy, with the inclusion of Paul Pogba, in particular, causing eyebrows to be raised in football circles.

We decided to create an alternative Team Of The Year.

 

GK – Alisson (Liverpool)

The Brazilian has enjoyed a stunning  season in goal for Liverpool, conceding just 20 goals in 35 matches, the lowest in the league.

Naturally having Virgil van Dijk in front of you helps but that shouldn’t detract from Alisson’s shot-stopping heroics and calm distribution. His 18 clean sheets are the most in the league and two more than his compatriot Ederson.

 

LB – Lucas Digne (Everton)

After signing from Barcelona for £18 million in the summer, the Frenchman has been a huge hit at Goodison Park, contributing four goals and a further five assists.

Though it’s tough to argue that Andrew Robertson ultimately deserved his place in the team, Digne was surely his closest contender.

 

CB –  Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham)

One half of what arguably remains the best central defensive partnership in the league, though Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez may stake a claim to that next season.

Despite being linked with a move away last summer, the Belgian has played the most minutes of any outfield player at the club, also making the eighth most successful passes in the league and the 15th highest number of clearances.

 

CB –  Willy Boly (Wolves)

The Frenchman has been a rock in the heart of a Wolves defence that has seen them take 1.42 points a game against the top six this season, a phenomenal return for a promoted club.

Boly has contributed four goals, making him Wolves’ third highest scorer, and ranks 11th and 14th respectively for tackles and clearances in the Premier League.

 

RB –  Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s 120 tackles this season is the third highest number in the Premier League, 15 higher than any other defender.

The Crystal Palace wing back was overlooked for the England squad, the Young Player Of The Year awards before he was finally snubbed for the Team Of The Year, losing out to the more attack-minded Trent Alexander-Arnold in all three instances.

However, with interest from several big clubs rumoured, that dynamic could shift in the summer.

 

CM – Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)

Wijnaldum has been something of an unsung hero for Liverpool this season with Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane taking most of the plaudits.

Yet the Dutchman has been Liverpool’s best midfielder comfortably. His individual statistics may not stand out as much as certain other players but any Liverpool fan will tell you that he has been the beating heart of their side.

 

CM – Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)

Speaking of beating hearts, where would Spurs be without their influential Danish playmaker?

His 12 assists are the second highest amount in the league and he has seven goals to his name as well. Ridiculously, Eriksen has even made the fifth most tackles of any Spurs player, confirming his status as the ultimate all-round midfielder.

 

CM – Declan Rice (West Ham)

Nominated for the PFA Young Player Of The Year award, the Irishman-turned-Englishman began life an a centre-back before being converted into a defensive midfielder and he has been a revelation in the position.

At just 20 years of age he is already West Ham’s most important player and has made the seventh most tackles in the division.

RW – Son Heung-Min (Tottenham)

In a season plagued with injury for Harry Kane, Son has stepped in to fill the void admirably. Scoring 20 goals from 44 appearances in all competitions is impressive enough but many of them have been game winners.

With a further five assists in the league, he has kept Tottenham in contention for a European place. Son also has the distinction of being the first ever goalscorer at the new White Hart Lane.

 

LW – Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Possibly the most  glaring omission from the Team Of The Year, Hazard is regarded by many as the best player in the Premier League.

So far this season he has 13 assists, the most in the division, and 16 goals, which puts him just three off the pace in the race for the golden boot. Without his efforts, Chelsea’s quest for a Champions League position would have ended long ago.

 

CF – Mo Salah (Liverpool)

When you’ve scored 32 league goals the previous season, it’s always going to be hard to follow it up. Yet despite many people claiming that Mo Salah hasn’t been as good this time, he is still tied for first place in the scoring charts with 19 goals. Contributing a further seven assists, he has directly contributed to 33% of Liverpool’s strikes this season, helping them to push Man City right to the wire.

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