This elongated Premier League season comes to a finish on Sunday after starting over eleven months ago before Covid-19 had ever been heard of. The end means it's awards time so below is my Team of the year, Player of the year, Young Player of the year and Manager of the year.
Team of the Year
Goalkeeper - Nick Pope (Burnley)
If Gareth Southgate has been watching properly, Pope will be in goal for England come September. He is currently tied on 15 clean sheets with Ederson but the Englishman has been integral between the sticks in another successful season for Burnley, aiming to finish as high as 8th. His footwork or distribution may not be as good as Ederson or Alisson but his shot stopping and reflexes are stellar, seen by the catalogue of saves he made in Burnley's recent 1-1 draw against Liverpool.
Unlucky to miss out: Alisson (Liverpool)
Right Back - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
The epitome of the modern full back. Last night against was another example of this. The free kick was sublime - identical to the one against Crystal Palace - and the cross for Roberto Firmino's goal was as good as it gets. Alexander-Arnold is the best right back in the world, registering another 13 assists, and nobody in the Premier League comes close.
Unlucky to miss out: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City)
Centre Backs - Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) and Jonny Evans (Leicester City)
Virgil van Dijk led the plaudits last season for his consistency at the back and it's been the same again. He's the only defender you back when one-on-one against a quality forward. Liverpool are lucky to have the best central defender in the world.
His partner was a lot more difficult. Leicester played tremendous football at the start of the season but are at risk of squandering what seemed assured Champions League football. The signing of Jonny Evans for £3.5 million back in 2018 was a great acquisition. He provides a calmer head next to the more unorthodox Caglar Soyuncu and his performances haven't dipped in spite of the results.
Unlucky to miss out: Jack O'Connell (Sheffield United) and Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
Left Back - Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
Much like Alexander-Arnold but on the left. He has an engine that never seems to tire, making marauding runs and putting in crosses throughout the match. He has 11 assists to his name in another fantastic season. Left back was a major problem for Liverpool before Robertson came in and the £8 million spent on him is the best business by Jurgen Klopp.
Unlucky to miss out: Enda Stevens (Sheffield United)
Central Midfielders - Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) and Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Captain fantastic. I've always been a fan of Henderson and this season has seen him lead even more by example, on and off the field. He's been Liverpool's most consistent midfielder, reveling in the more advanced central midfield role with Fabinho occupying the holding position. He may not get the goals or assists de Bruyne does but he is the player the embodies Klopp's Liverpool.
The best player in the league. What Kevin de Bruyne can do with a football is extraordinary. He needs one more assists to equal Thierry Henry's record and he also has 11 goals from midfield. The passing, free kicks, crossing, intelligence - it's exceptional. If Ballon d'Or hadn't been cancelled, de Bruyne definitely would've been a contender.
Henderson and de Bruyne were dead certs but the final spot was up for grabs, and it says a lot about Grealish that Aston Villa are 17th yet he's in the side. He has that X Factor that many players don't have. It's arrogance in a way, maybe just extreme self-confidence. He can glide past players and pick the right pass to unlock a defence. Only Kevin de Bruyne (no surprise) has created more chances than him this season. Grealish will be in the Premier League one way or the other next season.
Unlucky to miss out: James Maddison (Leicester City), Gini Wijnaldum (Liverpool) and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
Right Winger - Mo Salah (Liverpool)
The amount of goals Salah scores is ridiculous. He's won the Golden Boot in his two seasons so far but a third seems unlikely. 19 goals is still a terrific achievement for a wide man to go with his 10 assists. The thing with Salah is that you're always left feeling he could score more, and he should, which is a sign of what a quality player he is.
Unlucky to miss out: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Left Winger - Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Salah may score and assist more but Mane is undoubtedly the better player. The performances are more consistent, which is nuts, and it's why for POTY, it's between him, Henderson and de Bruyne. Firmino hasn't been at his scintillating best this season so Mane and Salah have had to step up and provide the goal threat. 36 goals and 17 assists between them is a fine return.
Unlucky to miss out: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Striker - Danny Ings (Southampton)
It's unusual not to choose the top score for this but Jamie Vardy has gone through goal droughts this season and Ings has been superb. 21 goals is amazing for someone playing for the team in 12th. The maths shows Ings has scored 43.75% of Southampton's goals which underlines how important he's been to them. Harry Kane will always start for England but Ings has put himself in the conversation for a squad place with his performances.
Unlucky to miss out: Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Player of the Year - Kevin de Bruyne
As Salah showed in 20118, the best player isn't always from the winning team and de Bruyne has simply been untouchable.
Young Player of the Year - Trent Alexander-Arnold
No other real contenders.
Manager of the Year - Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Any other year and the job Chris Wilder has done at Sheffield United would earn him this accolade but the manner in which Liverpool have won the league cannot be ignored.
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