It has been quite a remarkable season of Premier League football. Liverpool have blown away everyone in their path to establish a near-unassailable lead at the top. Sheffield United have been the surprise package, pushing for a European spot finish on their first season back in the Premier League.
The top-six places are far from being decided yet with a host of clubs in contention, while the same goes for the relegation battle as well.
There have been a number of stellar individual performances along the way, with stars setting the stage alight week after week until the campaign was suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Read | Premier League team of the season – Excluding top six clubs
With the pause button being pressed, let’s take a look back at the campaign and see who makes it to our Team of the Season so far;
Dean Henderson (Sheffield United)
While Liverpool’s Alisson Becker has had another standout campaign and Burnley’s Nick Pope has also impressed heavily, it is Dean Henderson that gets the nod in our Team of the Season, owing to his sheer brilliance that has helped Sheffield United mount a surprise European qualification push.
The on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper has kept ten clean sheets so far, helping the Blades to the second-best defensive record in the league. In what has been a fairytale season for him, Henderson has displayed great shot-stopping ability and positional awareness and is deserving of this spot.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
One of the easiest selections in this side, Trent Alexander-Arnold has continued to redefine the role of a right-back with masterful attacking displays, acting as Liverpool’s chief attacking outlet from the wing. The England international has the second-highest number of assists this season (12) and is second in the list for most chances created this term as well (75).
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Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Last season’s PFA Player of the Year, Virgil van Dijk may not have been able to reach the heights of the 2018-19 campaign, but continues to set the standards for centre-backs in the Premier League.
A leader on the field, the Netherlands international has marshalled his backline excellently, acting as the cornerstone on which Liverpool’s campaign has been built upon. He has also chipped in with vital goals at the other end, making him an obvious pick in the Team of the Season so far.
Caglar Soyuncu (Leicester City)
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez has shone again, while Sheffield United’s centre-back trio of Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack O’Connell has also stood out. But it is Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City who gets picked owing to the sheer impact that he has made for the Foxes this season.
Losing Harry Maguire in the summer was going to be quite a blow for Leicester, but Soyuncu has fitted in so seamlessly that Brendan Rodgers’ side have hardly felt the England international’s absence. The Turkish international has been an ever-present figure in the Foxes’ backline, helping them to the third place in the League table as well as the third-best defensive record in the competition.
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Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Ben Chilwell was a contender for this spot given how well he has performed for Leicester, while Everton’s Lucas Digne was also considered. However, it is Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson who gets the nod owing to his impact on both ends of the field.
One of the most solid full-backs defensively, the Scotsman has been a huge threat going forward as well and has contributed with a goal and seven assists for Liverpool’s title-winning cause. Robertson is an indispensable member of Jurgen Klopp’s side and it is not hard to see why.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Last season’s joint Golden Boot winner has been at it once again, spearheading Liverpool’s title challenge from the front. Salah has had ups and downs over the course of the campaign, but has still made a huge difference for Klopp’s brigade.
The Egyptian forward has bagged a total of 16 goals from 26 appearances this term – joint third-best in the league, while also setting up six more for his teammates. With nine matches still left to be played, it wouldn’t be surprising if he went on to bag the Golden Boot once again.
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Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
The best midfielder in the Premier League without a doubt. Manchester City may have stuttered in the defence of their Premier League title but Kevin De Bruyne has not missed a step over the course of the campaign, delivering the goods for Pep Guardiola’s side week in week out.
The Belgian international tops the charts for most assists (16) and is set to beat Thierry Henry’s record for most assists in a single campaign (20). He is also the leading chance-creator in the Premier League this term with 96 – 21 more than the next closest competitor.
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
If the season resumes and Liverpool go on to win the title, a lot of the credit has to be given to captain Jordan Henderson. The midfielder has been a pivotal member of the team, performing in any role that has been asked of him and doing so consistently.
Henderson has scored three goals and set up five more himself, but his influence goes far beyond that. Hence, it was not surprising to see Liverpool go through a bad patch when their skipper was out injured last month. An obvious pick and a top contender for the PFA Player of the Year award for 2019-20.
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Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Goals, assists, work-rate off the ball, speed, creativity – the Senegalese international is a complete package. And more often than not, Mane has been the difference-maker for Liverpool this season with his pace and dynamism in the final third of the pitch.
The 27-year-old has netted 14 goals so far this season in 26 Premier League games, while also setting up nine more. Mane has scored six winning goals in the league this term – with only teammate Mo Salah scoring more (7).
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
His form may have dwindled since the turn of the year, but there is no denying the impact that Jamie Vardy has had on Leicester City’s season. The former England international has been the chief driving force behind the Foxes’ excellent campaign as they sit third in the league table.
Despite scoring just twice since January, Vardy leads the goalscoring charts for the season with 19 goals. The 33-year-old also has four assists to his name.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Where would Arsenal be without their talismanic striker? Time and again, Aubameyang has come to the Gunners’ rescue when they found themselves in difficult positions, proving his worth to the side. Named the club captain midway through the season, the Gabonese international has scored 17 goals so far, with only Vardy outscoring him this season.
There may have been questions over his future at Arsenal, but there is no questioning his attitude and commitment and the way he has led the team from the front.
