The coronavirus crisis has put a stop to Premier League football for a couple of months at the very least.
With plenty still to play for in both halves of the table, we take a look at the season up to now and pick our 19/20 Premier League Team of the Season (so far).
GK – Dean Henderson
Henderson has been impressive in his debut season in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old has managed 10 clean sheets and has helped his side to a healthy seventh place in the table.
More than they could’ve dreamed of for their first-time back in the top-flight for over ten years.
His impact this season would surely have been enough to earn himself a call-up to the England squad this summer.
The Blades ‘keeper is on-loan from Man United so there is a very good chance we are looking at the next England and Man United number one.
Left Back – Andy Robertson
The Scotland captain’s rise in stature since he joined Liverpool can only be described as exponential. Robertson is ever present in the backline of the team with the best defensive record in the country.
He has featured in all 29 games so far, 28 of them from the start while contributing to nine clean sheets.
The fullback has also turned in seven assists putting him in a decent position to beat his record of 11 (2018/19) if and when football resumes.
Centre-back – Virgil van Dijk
It could be said that the big Dutchman has been a victim of his own success this year. Last year he was voted PFA & UEFA Player of the Year and was beaten to the Ballon D’or by none other than Lionel Messi.
It’s surprising he isn’t the bookies’ favourite for this year’s PFA award too.
His form has been just as imperious so far this season. Van Dijk has played in every league game since the start of 2018/19. Highlighting his importance to the league leaders.
The Holland captain has popped up with important goals too; notably against Man United plus a brace at home to Brighton.
Centre-back: Çağlar Söyüncü
The first half of the back line picked itself given Liverpool’s form this year.
A partner to Van Dijk was a much harder pick.
I could’ve went for Joe Gomez who has shone alongside Van Dijk in recent months for Liverpool, but he didn’t play in the beginning part of the season.
So I went for Söyüncü. He has played in all but one of Leicester’s league games so far, collecting ten clean sheets.
He has been instrumental this season for Brendan Rodgers’ side, demonstrating excellent technical ability in possession. The Turkish international has only been dispossessed once this season.
Right-Back: Trent Alexander-Arnold
At right-back, we have another position that picks itself.
The young fullback has been turning heads for two seasons now and is said to be redefining the full back position.
He engages in an assists competition with his Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson but the 21-year-old is simply leaving the Scot behind this year.
‘Trent’ has won games on his own for Liverpool this year. Most notably away at Leicester where he stole the show with a goal and two assists. A candidate for PFA Young Player of the Year.
Centre-midfield: Wilfried Ndidi
Leicester sit in third place with Champions League football seemingly secure given their five point lead over Chelsea.
A key factor in Leicester’s resurgence under Brendan Rodgers is Wilfried Ndidi.
The Nigerian midfielder is in his fourth season in the Premier League and his quality is starting to show.
His work goes unnoticed a lot of the time, but his ability to break up play with tackles and interceptions is crucial for Leicester’s attacking players to attack with freedom.
In the five games that Ndidi has not played for Leicester this season, they’ve lost three and drawn too.
Centre-midfield- Jordan Henderson
The Reds captain is one of the favourites for the Player of the Year award after a superb campaign up to this point.
He started the season in a number eight role as Fabinho shone in the deeper lying number six position. An injury to the Brazilian might have caused panic among fans, but Henderson shuffled into the position an performed outstandingly well.
This move in position coincided with Liverpool pulling away miles clear in the title race and also with a tightening of Liverpool’s defensive record.
Henderson’s never say die attitude and will to win has been a big component of Liverpool’s success. This was highlighted with the Reds’ recent wobble with their skipper out injured.
Left winger- Sadio Mane
The Senegalese forward has barely had a proper break from football for nearly three years. So a drop in levels would be no surprise.
But not for Sadio Mane.
He picked up the Golden Boot last season and has already bagged 14 goals and laid on 7 assists so far this term. Mane has often been the Reds’ go to man this year and most notably dragged them out of the fire away at Aston Villa with a late header.
Mane has featured 28 times for Liverpool this season, showing new levels of consistency as his stock continues to rise in a red shirt.
Another Player of the Year candidate.
Number 10 – Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne is poised to snatch Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a single season. He’s already tallied 16 this campaign.
The Belgian attacking midfielder has been the shining light for Manchester City in what has been a dismal league campaign by their remarkable standards.
De Bruyne is now widely thought of to be the best player playing in the Premier League currently. He will challenge Mane and Henderson for the awards come the end of the season.
Right Winger- Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian is Liverpool’s leading goal scorer in the league this season with 16 goals and 9 assists.
Salah has only missed only two matches up to now in the Premier League, demonstrating a reliability all managers would love in their forward men.
He is looking to make it three Golden Boots in a row. After he shared last season’s with Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Salah can frustrate fans at times with his one-track mind in front of goal. But with 74 goal involvements in 100 appearances, he’s nothing if not productive.
Number 9 – Jamie Vardy
Vardy is the Premier League’s leading goal scorer with 19 so far this term.
The former England international has found a new lease of life under Brendan Rodgers. He’s been tormenting defences week after week and is unflappable in front of goal.
It’s his goals that have fired Leicester into the Champions League positions.
My bet is that Vardy would have led the line for England this summer, if the Euros was taking place.
