Premier League Team of the Season: Manchester City and Liverpool dominate starting XI with Eden Hazard also getting a place
Manchester City and Liverpool dominate Paul Higham's Premier League team of the Season, but there are still some tough selections to be made.
There's no apologies for the majority of the team coming from Manchester City and Liverpool given how far ahead of the pack they've raced this season when battling for the Premier League title.
A few big names have missed out, but you can only include 11 players, and I'd be confident his team would take on any team in the world and come out on top.
See what you think of our team of the Season...
Ederson
You can toss a coin between Manchester City's keeper and his Brazilian team-mate Alisson at Liverpool, as both make excellent saves, have a big presence and also have fantastic distribution with their feet. Purely on the fact though that Alisson has made a couple of big errors in his debut season, Ederson gets the nod - just.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
It's hard to believe the young Scouser is still just 20 after another memorable season at right back. There's still a bit of improvement to be done defensively at times, mainly in terms of concentration and positioning, but going forward he's been fantastic again, piling up assists from the right wing. As well as being able to produce wicked crosses, he's developing a fine cross-field pass to switch the play to his fellow full-back Andy Robertson.
Aymeric Laporte
The Frenchman has been the mainstay of City's defence this season with John Stones and Vincent Kompany alternating alongside him. He's quietly gone about his business but his return from injury for the run in helped Pep Guardiola's side firm up at the back and in some tight victories those clean sheets proved vital.
Virgil Van Dijk
18 months after eyebrows were raised at Liverpool making him the world's most expensive defender, he now looks like a bargain after growing into a colossus at Anfield. Ice cool under pressure, dominant in the air, and with the ability to spray passes around the pitch at will - he could be the best defender on the planet right now.
Andy Robertson
You can't praise Robertson enough from stepping up firstly from a lowly level in Scotland through to being relegated with Hull to looking right at home in a Champions League final. He's also been named Scotland captain in a sensational rise to prominence. Perpetual motion down that left flank, he's a willing runner and can curl in teasing crosses for his attackers - plus he's improving all the time defensively. The perfect left back.
Bernardo Silva
You could argue Silva has been key to City's title charge, stepping in for the injured Kevin De Bruyne and becoming one of their best players, certainly one of their busiest and most aggressive in the middle of the park. Having also weighed in with some crucial goals, Silva is now one of Guardiola's first names on the team-sheet - and in this team that tells you all you need to know.
Fernandinho
You always need a holding midfielder in this formation and N'Golo Kante is still the best one in the Premier League in my opinion, but having not played there under Sarri he's not had as good a year as he could have. Fabinho could well grow into one of the best as could Declan Rice, but Fernandinho is the perfect foil and even though he's missed a few games he's done enough to warrant his place.
Eden Hazard
While Man City and Liverpool players dominate here, you have to include arguably the best player in the Premier League, certainly the most talented, who has carried Chelsea on his shoulders all season. Weighing in with goals and assists he's the best player in the division for grabbing a game and winning it single-handed - it is possibly his best season with Chelsea performance-wise in what could be his last.
Mohamed Salah
With the attacking talent on offer at Liverpool and City these front three places are the most difficult to pick from, but on this wide right of three Salah just gets the nod as he looks to claim back-to-back Golden Boot titles. Raheem Sterling has been fantastic but despite taking flak during the season Salah has scored more than anyone else, and weighed in with assists too.
If he hit these numbers in his debut season we'd be going wild over him, so there's a thought that he's being harshly judged on a record-breaking debut campaign last year - just going on his performances and production he deserves to be in.
Sergio Aguero
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Harry Kane and Roberto Firmino are all fine centre forwards - Kane and Firmino have struggled with injuries and Aubameyang just misses out on the nod here purely down to the extra impact of Aguero's goals. Personally I think Aubameyang would be perfect in the City system and score a bucket load, but Aguero is probably the striker you'd put your house on to score if given just one chance.
A fifth straight season scoring 20 Premier League goals is a fantastic achievement, one that's largely gone unnoticed, and he's looked as sharp as ever when scoring some huge goals.
Sadio Mane
You could maybe fit Sterling in here, but Mane has been excellent all season long for Liverpool, scoring big goals in big games and taking up the mantle when Salah was having what was, for him, a dry spell. Mane has been Liverpool's most consistent attacking threat all season, which in itself is an achievement, and with his work ethic, tireless running and superb pace, he's a nightmare for defenders and well worthy of a spot in the team.
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