Premier League Team Of The Season

Wrapping up the final week of the English domestic season, This is World In Sport’s Premier League team of the season.

GK: Nick Pope (Newcastle United)

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Holding the joint-best defensive record in the league alongside champions Manchester City, it seems only fitting that Nick Pope gets the goalkeeper spot in this year’s team.

Making key saves in Newcastle United’s shock Champions League qualification this season, the £12 million price tag that the Magpies paid for Pope last Summer makes him one of the best pieces of business this season.

DEF: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)

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Becoming the second Newcastle United player to make this list in a league full of talent in his position, Kieran Trippier is a prerequisite in this year’s team of the season.

Trippier has proven pivotal for Newcastle this season, contributing for his side both offensively and defensively, creating 24 big chances in the league, while also displaying leadership qualities and marshalling his backline.

With Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Kyle Walker all not being able to nail down a full season of excellence, Trippier takes the spot ahead of his England compatriots this time around.

DEF: John Stones (Manchester City)

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Playing in different roles this season, John Stones has once again shown his undeniable quality for Manchester City, displaying his flexibility within the squad and reuniting a strong defensive partnership with Ruben Dias towards the end of the campaign.

The decision to push Stones from a central defensive position into a double pivot in midfield during possession has been a tactical tweak that has revolutionised the way that Guardiola’s side can control games with new scoring sensation Erling Haaland in the team.

Further adding to this, Stones has been superb defensively, showing high levels of awareness in transitions to drop back into position next to Dias and making key interceptions and tackles to secure his side clean sheets.

DEF: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

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Looking shaky in defence and unable to keep clean sheets on a consistent basis, Manchester City struggled in the early period of the season without Ruben Dias in central defence.

However, since returning to the side in February, Dias has been the backbone of this sensational Manchester City side, barely putting a foot wrong at the back as his side soared in Arsenal’s direction.

Commanding his defence and developing strong relationships with Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and John Stones, the Portuguese centre-back has been instrumental in City’s strong defensive run at the back end of the season, proving to be an important piece of Guardiola’s defensive set-up.

DEF: Nathan Ake (Manchester City)

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In a position where no player has really locked down this campaign, Manchester City’s Nathan Ake has gone under the radar this season at left-back.

While playing more of a left centre-back role in possession to allow Stones to drift into the midfield, Ake has been superb defensively this season, playing a much different role to the one that Joao Cancelo formerly did in his position.

Some may opt for Oleksandr Zinchenko in this role in the team, but with the Ukrainian’s dip in form towards the end of the season compared with Ake’s consistent performances before his late injury, Ake is our pick for this year’s team of the season.

MID: Rodri (Manchester City)

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Possibly having gone undetected by the average Premier League fan over his true abilities in previous years, it seems that this has been the season where many have opened their eyes to the pure brilliance of Rodri.

Anchoring in Manchester City’s midfield, Rodri can sometimes go unnoticed in a team full of superstar footballers, elegantly keeping the ball moving and starting his side’s progression up the pitch.

Couple this with his expert reading of the game and eye for a tackle, and Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in the world at this moment in time, therefore making this season’s team selection.

MID: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

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What is really left to say about Kevin De Bruyne that has not been said already? He is simply sensational and, without a doubt, one of the greatest midfielders to have ever graced the Premier League.

The Belgian has hit 16 assists in the league this season, equaling Lionel Messi for the highest assist tally in Europe’s top five leagues, and has become the first-ever Premier League player to break 15 assists in four separate campaigns.

De Bruyne also leads Europe’s top five leagues for big chances created per minute played, creating a big opportunity for his teammates every 78.2 minutes.

MID: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

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One of the biggest shocks of the season has been the emergence of Martin Odegaard across this campaign, scoring key goals at the heartbeat of Arsenal’s exciting youthful frontline and earning himself a place in this team.

15 goals and seven assists for the Norwegian has helped Arsenal on their journey to compete for the Premier League title this season, leading his side to a points total that no one would have believed at the beginning of the season.

It has taken time for Odegaard to develop into the player that he was originally anticipated to be in his Real Madrid days, but under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, we are seeing the emergence of a top talent that could dominate Europe for years to come.

ATT: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

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Lighting up the Premier League with his quick bursts of acceleration, control of the ball, and game intelligence, Bukayo Saka has ripped apart top-level fullbacks at a canter this season.

Scoring 14 times and assisting 11 this season, Mikel Arteta has developed Saka’s game from raw ability and potential into a confident, skilful, and deadly winger.

Some may argue that statistically Mohamed Salah has had a better season, however, the energy and impact that the 21-year-old has had on his side this season mean that he must get a spot in this team.

ATT: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

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It comes as no surprise that Erling Haaland is in this year’s team of the season after obliterating the goalscoring records, winning the golden boot, being named Young Player of the Season, and earning himself Player of the Year after signing for Manchester City in June.

Scoring 36 goals and having only played 2,776 minutes, Erling Haaland has broken Mohamed Salah’s 38-game season record (32), as well as eclipsing Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s joint record in a 42-game season (34) in his first season in the English top flight.

Haaland’s intelligence to move in behind and find space in the box is second to none, but it is his physical attributes that set him apart from the rest. Strength, speed, size—he has it all, and when he has his finishing boots on, he is simply unstoppable.

ATT: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

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In a team flooded with top-four-finishing players, it is not a shock that Harry Kane is the only player from a club outside the top four that makes the cut in this year’s Team of the Season.

Breaking the 30-goal mark for a poor Tottenham Hotspur side this season, it is impossible to leave the England captain out of the team of the season, as without a certain Norwegian striker, he would undoubtedly be the talk of the town at the moment.

In previous years, Kane has become more of a supplier than an out-and-out goalscorer; however, this season, Kane has given us all a reminder that he is still a ruthless goalscorer who seems destined to break Alan Shearer’s 260-goal record in the division.