With nearly half the Premier League season gone, Thomas Woods names his team of the season so far with a few surprises. No Manchester City or Tottenham players made the starting XI, but Chelsea and Liverpool are well represented.
Goalkeeper
Tom Heaton, Burnley
The Burnley goalkeeper has firmly established himself as part of the England set-up as a result of his fantastic displays. Though Burnley only have three clean sheets this season, Heaton has already earned at least two points for his side. He made 11, mostly spectacular, saves at Old Trafford in a 0-0 draw with Manchester United. With Liverpool possibly in the market for a goalkeeper next season, don’t be surprised if Heaton gets a big-money move at the end of the season.
Right back
Antonio Valencia, Manchester United
The Ecuadorean winger-turned-fullback has been United’s most consistent player this season. He made the positional switch a few seasons ago, but he has now added positional sense to go with pace and power. He is a superb attacking outlet overlapping down the right-wing and has played himself into a must-start situation in Jose Mourinho’s team.
Left back
Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea
Most of Chelsea’s backline could make the team, but Azpilicueta has been the star of a defence that has kept 10 clean sheets this season. The Spaniard is so versatile; having played in both full-back positions for Chelsea, he now finds himself on the right of a back three, but Azpilcueta has not skipped a beat. His delivery is impeccable, too as shown by his pinperfect cross for Diego Costa’s winner at Crystal Palace last week.
Centre-back
Shkodran Mustafi, Arsenal
The Germany international has barely put a foot wrong since his move from Valencia. He seems a natural partner for Laurent Koscielny at the heart of Arsenal’s defence in a position they needed to improve. Mustafi, 24, has more pace than Per Mertesacker and breeds more confidence than Gabriel. The hamstring injury that is currently keeping him out has come at just the wrong time — Arsenal have since lost successive matches to fall behind in the title race.
Centre-back
Virgil van Dijk, Southampton
Here’s a player who could well make a move in the January transfer window. Southampton have struggled with goals this season compared to last. They netted at more than 1.5 goals per game in 2015/16 but have 17 in 17 matches this time. However, a rock-solid defence highlighted by Dutchman Van Dijk has led them to eighth in the table with eight clean sheets.
Central midfield
N’Golo Kante, Chelsea
You can judge Kante’s effect on 2016/17 in two ways. Firstly, his new side Chelsea top the table by six points, with Kante producing all-action displays at the base of the midfield. Secondly, his old team Leicester City have gone from almost unbeatable to regularly being sliced open down the centre of the pitch. Kante made the most interceptions last season of any player and he has continued in similar fashion. It’s like having an extra player on the pitch.
Right midfield
Sadio Mane, Liverpool
The signing of the season? Liverpool spent £34 million (Dh153m) to prise Mane from Southampton but the Senegalese hasn’t disappointed and beats Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling to the final midfield spot in the team. Mane, Phillippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have formed a lethal forward three for Liverpool, putting in some dazzling displays. His brilliant goal against Arsenal on the opening day of the season set the tone.
Left midfield
Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
The Brazilian midfielder has been a key part of Liverpool’s side for several years but this is the season that has seen him emerge as their key player. Pace, vision, close control, accuracy from long range — he has everything you want out of an attacking midfielder and it has been noticeable that Liverpool aren’t playing with the same verve and effectiveness since he suffered a bad ankle injury last month.
Right wing
Eden Hazard, Chelsea
When they look back at Hazard’s career, football historians will scratch their heads as to just what went wrong for the Belgian in 2015/16. He went from winning Player of the Year in 14/15 to playing so badly that he lost his spot in the Chelsea team a season later. Thankfully, Hazard is back to his old self and playing the type of football that few players anywhere are capable of.
Centre forward
Diego Costa, Chelsea
It is hard to throw enough superlatives at Costa to describe his performances this season. There were summer rumours that he wasn’t part of manager Antonio Conte’s plans and he started the season in typically angry fashion. But something has clicked, he has channelled his aggression and he leads the league scoring charts. In fact, he has scored the winning goal in single-goal wins on five occasions this season.
Left wing
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
The Chilean has proved he is in the world-class bracket with some sensational performances this season. He deserves a spot in this XI for his goal against West Ham United alone, when he produced the dummy of the century to put goalkeeper Darren Randolph on his backside. He’s been particularly effective because of the switch to a centre forward season, resulting in 12 goals. Arsenal’s title hopes rest mostly in his hands.
Substitutes bench
• Jordan Pickford, Sunderland: The young English goalkeeper is a future international and is playing with an assurance beyond his years.
• Marcos Alonso, Chelsea: Instrumental in Chelsea's success since switching to 3-4-3, the Spanish leftback has been a tireless presence up and down the wing
• Raheem Sterling, Manchester City: Sterling has been given new confidence by manager Pep Guardiola and began the season in flying form before tailing off a bit
• Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City: The Belgian is unlucky not to make the team. At times he has been the best player on the pitch for City and his delivery is consistently fantastic.
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United: He has blown away plenty of doubts about whether he could still perform at age 35. A tally of 11 league goals so far shows he still has plenty of class.
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