The PFA team of the year was announced on Thursday and it features nine players who have never been picked before!
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) team of the year was released on Thursday morning. It is selected by players from each of the clubs in each league where they select who the best players of the year were. There are teams selected for each of the leagues from the Premier League down to League Two. Since the Premier League began no player has been selected more than Steven Gerrard with eight appearances.
We’re going to take a look at the PFA team of the year and why each of the players will have been select.
The PFA Team of the Year is in! 🙌
6️⃣ Man City players
4️⃣ Liverpool players
1️⃣ Man Utd playerLet us know what you think… pic.twitter.com/Y6ClDsxObF
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 25 April 2019
Goalkeeper – Ederson (Man City) – First Appearance
The Brazilia has enjoyed a brilliant second season in the Premier League. He has the second most clean sheets with 18 and has only conceded 22 goals in the other 17 games. He has fantastic distribution and is very calm of the ball. This season he has even recorded an assist against Huddersfield. Ederson has managed more clean sheets than he did last year and is the first keeper to be in the TOTY other than De Gea since 2013/14.
Defence – Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – First Appearance
The Liverpool born full-back has been pivotal to his sides season. He’s got himself one goal but also eight assists. Only one other defender has more assists than him. He has shown a great level of maturity for a 20-year-old who is only going to get better. This season he has dealt with some of the worlds best wingers easily helping his side to only one loss all year. With Trent in the side, Liverpool have had 14 clean sheets. This will surely be one of many appearances over the next few years.
Defence – Aymeric Laporte (Man City) – Frist Appearance
This has been Laporte first full season in the Premier League and he has improved massively. Questions marks were raised when he joined City for a fee of £57 million but he is now showing his worth. He has helped City to 16 clean sheets and has also chipped in at the other end. The Frenchman has got himself two goals and two assists. Consistency has lead to him having the most minutes in Citys defence, which has been much changed throughout the year.
Defence – Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool) – First Appearance
The PFA player of the year has been a revelation in Liverpool’s defence. What was deemed the weakest part of their team is now arguably their strongest down to the Dutch centre-half. Liverpool have had 19 clean sheets this season and Van Dijk has been involved in each of them. One ridiculous stat he has is that no one has managed to dribble past him all year. He has scored three goals this season and got two assists for his side.
Defence – Andy Robertson (Liverpool) – First Appearance
The Scottish left-back has had an unbelievable progression in his career. Six years ago he was playing for Dundee United and now he is the best left-back in the worlds best league. No defender has more assists that Robertson, who has set up nine goals this year. He hasn’t managed to score yet but it’s his chances that he creates for others that has made him so valuable. He, like Van Dijk, has played in all of the clubs 19 clean sheets showing how important he is for Liverpool both in defence and attack.
Midfield – Bernardo Silva (Man City) – First Appearance
The Portuguese playmaker looks to be Peps replacement for David Silva and this season has shown why. He has been consistently good for City and has seven goals and eight assists. He has played 33 times this season in a midfield that has been changed a lot showing how highly he is rated by his manager. Silva plays a pivotal part in most of Citys attacks and at the age of 24 looks like he is only going to get better and better.
Midfield – Fernandinho (Man City) – First Appearance
Out of all the midfielders in the TOTY he has the least goal contributions with one goal and three assists. However, that’s not his job. The Brazilian is arguably the best in the world at what he does. He breaks up the play for Man City and wins the ball back whilst protecting his defenders. Without him, City don’t look the same side. This has shown with the fact that in the six games he has missed they’ve lost two. In the other four games, City just won or had conceded. He’s 33 now but looks like he has many years left in him.
Midfield – Paul Pogba (Man United) – First Appearance
The only player to feature in this 18/19 TOTY that isn’t from Man City or Liverpool. He is also the most controversial inclusion in the side. Pogba had a poor start to the season and under Mourinho only managed three goals and three assists. Since Solskjaer arrived he has managed ten goals and six assists taking his season tally to 13 goals and 9 assists. Many pundits have disagreed with his inclusion due to his lack of consistency. He definitely has the ability to be in this team but his consistency and effort is the real weak point of his game.
Forward – Sadio Mane (Liverpool) – Second Appearance
The Liverpool winger has had a fantastic season. He has kept Liverpool in the title race when Salah went through a poor patch of form. Mane has got himself 18 goals this season and two assists. He is only one goal of the league top scorers and already has eight more than he managed in 17/18. With three more games to go, you would expect him to at least get one more goal along the way.
Forward – Raheem Sterling (Man City) – First Appearance
The only player who could have potentially challenged Van Dijk to player of the year is Sterling. He has been Citys best player all season and has got 17 goals and 12 assists. It’s not just on the pitch he’s done so well. He has been the subject of racial abuse many times this season but this hasn’t affected his form and he’s been consistently good. His finishing has come on, even more, this season and looks a different player to the one City first signed.
Forward – Sergio Aguero (Man City) – Second Appearance
Somehow only his second appearance the Argentine striker has been as clinical as ever. He is joint top scorer with 19 goals and has seven assists. He has played 800 minutes less than Salah, which makes you think how many would he manage in a full season. Aguero has scored some very important goals for his side and it shows when his side are missing him playing. At the age of 30, he shows no signs of slowing down much to Guardiola’s delight.
Notable absentees;
Salah – 19 goals and 7 assists. Not quite the heights of last season but still a very good one.
Aubamayeng – 19 goals and 5 assists. Successful first full season but not always shown up in big games.
Hazard – 16 goals and 13 assists. A huge shock to not be in the side after playing a part in 50% of Chelsea’s goals.
Alisson – 19 clean sheets. Fantastic debut season and was a toss of a coin between him and Ederson.
Son – 12 goals and 6 assists. Stood up to the challenge when Kane got injured and been fantastic all year,
Wan-Bissaka – The 21-year-old has been brilliant all year and is wanted by many of the leagues top clubs.
