The English Football Thread

[Vesper 27,307]

Saturday April 25 2020 Football Nerd

Which teams are too easily penned in their own half? By Daniel Zeqiri Arsenal have struggled to play out from the back CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES Through football's coronavirus hiatus, we are committed to providing a weekly newsletter of facts, analysis and retrospectives. If there is a topic you want us to cover please email [email protected]. Above all, stay safe.     Few tactical concepts attract as much coverage as playing out from the back, the purpose of which is to draw opponents out of position and exploit the space they vacate - provided you play through the pressure accurately. The important word in that well-known piece of football jargon though, is 'out'. The aim is not to pass the ball endlessly in your own defensive third but to progress through the thirds once an opportunity presents itself. By looking at which Premier League teams spend most of their spells of possession in their own half, we can gain a strong impression of who excels at this and who struggles. It will come as little surprise that no team has played a smaller percentage of passes in their own half than Sean Dyche's Burnley at 37.8 per cent. However, Sheffield United have played exactly the same ratio despite favouring more considered build-up play. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, said to be trailblazers for playing out from the back, only play 39.5 per cent of passes in their own half. The metric then, is not necessarily a measure of style but of effectiveness.     Teams are reluctant to press Man City too high for fear of leaving themselves exposed at the back, which means Guardiola's team can progress the ball beyond the halfway line with little effort. Runaway league leaders Liverpool have played the seventh lowest proportion of passes in their own half at 43.1 per cent. Two counter-attacking teams with fast forwards - Wolves and Bournemouth - are in the top five for playing a high proportion of passes in their own half. Neither attacking unit thrives when their team has too much final third possession against a deep defence. Arsenal, however, are a team that seek to control games through possession but are far too easily penned in. No team has played a higher proportion of passes inside their own half than their 51.5 per cent. Their intention to build play methodically is the correct one, but new coach Mikel Arteta needs to address their struggles to find midfielders in good positions higher up the pitch. Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torriera all like to drop deep and receive the ball from the centre-backs, leaving a chasm between the midfield and the forwards. If Arteta wants to replicate the football played by his mentor Guardiola, Arsenal's percentage of passes in their own half needs reducing by 10 per cent or more.

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Tomo 21,681]

12 hours ago, Vesper said:

Saturday April 25 2020 Football Nerd

Which teams are too easily penned in their own half? By Daniel Zeqiri Arsenal have struggled to play out from the back CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES Through football's coronavirus hiatus, we are committed to providing a weekly newsletter of facts, analysis and retrospectives. If there is a topic you want us to cover please email [email protected]. Above all, stay safe.     Few tactical concepts attract as much coverage as playing out from the back, the purpose of which is to draw opponents out of position and exploit the space they vacate - provided you play through the pressure accurately. The important word in that well-known piece of football jargon though, is 'out'. The aim is not to pass the ball endlessly in your own defensive third but to progress through the thirds once an opportunity presents itself. By looking at which Premier League teams spend most of their spells of possession in their own half, we can gain a strong impression of who excels at this and who struggles. It will come as little surprise that no team has played a smaller percentage of passes in their own half than Sean Dyche's Burnley at 37.8 per cent. However, Sheffield United have played exactly the same ratio despite favouring more considered build-up play. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, said to be trailblazers for playing out from the back, only play 39.5 per cent of passes in their own half. The metric then, is not necessarily a measure of style but of effectiveness.     Teams are reluctant to press Man City too high for fear of leaving themselves exposed at the back, which means Guardiola's team can progress the ball beyond the halfway line with little effort. Runaway league leaders Liverpool have played the seventh lowest proportion of passes in their own half at 43.1 per cent. Two counter-attacking teams with fast forwards - Wolves and Bournemouth - are in the top five for playing a high proportion of passes in their own half. Neither attacking unit thrives when their team has too much final third possession against a deep defence. Arsenal, however, are a team that seek to control games through possession but are far too easily penned in. No team has played a higher proportion of passes inside their own half than their 51.5 per cent. Their intention to build play methodically is the correct one, but new coach Mikel Arteta needs to address their struggles to find midfielders in good positions higher up the pitch. Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torriera all like to drop deep and receive the ball from the centre-backs, leaving a chasm between the midfield and the forwards. If Arteta wants to replicate the football played by his mentor Guardiola, Arsenal's percentage of passes in their own half needs reducing by 10 per cent or more.

If our two games vs them is anything to go by Arteta is more Simeone than Pep. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,195]

That table is a better representation of who hoofs it out from the back vs those that try to play it out. 

 

[Vesper 27,307]

The Athletic EPL and WSL Player of the Year Awards: The Winners

https://theathletic.com/1776336/2020/04/26/debruyne-liverpool-england-mancity-wsl-premier-league/

With the season in limbo, The Athletic held our own awards night for the 2019-20 season.

Here’s the full list of winners — let us know what you think in the comments below…

Men’s Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

The Athletic’s Stuart James says: “Sixteen assists and eight goals — they’re the headline statistics and mean that Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other player this season. Not that you need numbers to appreciate his talent. He’s been a joy to watch, full stop.

“That he’s played so consistently in a City team that has been well below its best, struggling to hang onto Liverpool’s coat-tails, makes De Bruyne’s performances all the more impressive. I think De Bruyne has been the standout individual in the Premier League this season.”

The shortlist: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Read more: Kevin De Bruyne’s corridor of certainty — ranking his top 10 assists for City.

 

Women’s Player of the Year: Bethany England (Chelsea)

The Athletic’s Michael Cox says: “Fourteen goals in 15 games speaks for itself. Her aggressive sprinting in the channels and calmness in front of goal make her formidable in full flow. So many highlights: the chip up and shot to turn the crucial home game against Arsenal, the Bergkamp-esque control and finish of a Millie Bright diagonal ball away at Birmingham, and the classic strike partnership play with Sam Kerr against Reading. Kerr’s the bigger name but England is still leading the line. It’s crazy to think that when Ellen White was out injured at the start of this season, there was any question whatsoever about who should play up front for England.”

The shortlist: Rachel Furness (Liverpool), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Everton), Vivienne Miedema (Arsenal), Guro Reiten (Chelsea)

Read more: Ninety minutes watching Bethany England

---

Men’s Young Player of the Year: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Liverpool writer James Pearce says: “Trent Alexander-Arnold has played a starring role in propelling Liverpool to the brink of Premier League title glory. Rock-solid defensively, the dynamic young right-back has also provided the ammunition for Jurgen Klopp’s potent front three to fire with his pin-point deliveries from out wide. Remarkably, with 12 assists, he has already equalled the Premier League record for most assists from a defender which he set a year ago. He has also chipped in with two goals. In terms of elite young talent in the top-flight, he’s in a class of his own.”

The shortlist: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), James Maddison (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Read more: Trent Alexander-Arnold exclusive: 15 moments that have shaped my career

---

Women’s Young Player of the Year: Lauren James (Manchester United Women)

The Athletic’s Harriet Drudge says: “Lauren James is one of the most exciting young talents in the country who will undoubtedly go on to represent the Lionesses in the not-too-distant future. The 18-year-old scored Manchester United Women’s first goal in the Women’s Super League in their 2-0 win against Liverpool in September — a few months before signing her first professional contract with the club. Manager Casey Stoney says the teenager is an ‘exceptional talent’ and ‘one of the most technically gifted players’ she has worked with. She is and will continue to be one to watch.”

The shortlist: Chloe Kelly (Everton), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Ebony Salmon (Bristol City), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea)

Read more: ‘Don’t be nice, you want it more than them’ – a day with Manchester United Women

---

Men’s Team of the Year

Read more: An almost worryingly deep dive into the PFA Team of the Year award

---

Women’s Team of the Year

The Athletic’s Michael Cox says: “So, the obvious thing here is that 10 players come from the top three. There’s been a very clear ‘split’ in the WSL this season — none of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have lost to any of the other nine sides. The exception is Reading’s Farah Williams. Although she’s England’s record caps holder, she hasn’t been part of the England squad for a while so she deserves great credit for still proving herself in the WSL.

“Gemma Bonner hasn’t been in the Professional Footballers’ Association team of the year since 2014, but her selection ahead of club team-mate Steph Houghton shows who Manchester City’s defensive leader has been this season. Magdalena Eriksson has had a tremendous campaign at the heart of the Chelsea defence — a solid defender with a lovely left foot, a proper leader and hugely respected for her intelligence off the pitch as well as on it.”

Read more: Inside Miedema’s mind: Arsenal striker on how she scored five of her greatest goals

---

Men’s Goal of the Season: Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Tottenham writer Charlie Eccleshare says: “A deserved winner from a 5-0 battering of Burnley that was comfortably one of Spurs’ most enjoyable games of the season. When Son picked the ball up, there were 90 yards and seven Burnley players between him and the opposition goal. Fifteen seconds later the ball was in the back of the net after Son showed astonishing acceleration to hurtle his way past more than half of the Burnley team. As long-range dribbles go, it has to be one of the best in Premier League history.”

Runner-up: Kevin De Bruyne (versus Newcastle United)

Read more: Why there is no better time for Son Heung-min to learn to be a marine

---

Underrated Player of the Year: Danny Ings (Southampton)

Southampton writer Carl Anka says: “If you combined Roberto Firmino’s endless running with Jamie Vardy’s ‘chat nonsense, suffer consequences’ approach to shooting, you would get some idea of what Danny Ings has been doing in 2019-20. The striker turned his first injury-free season in ages into a banner campaign where, for a few months at least, he was the most irresistible striker in Europe. Left foot, right foot, headers — Ings was undeniable during a winter run that saw him bag 13 league goals and transform Southampton from relegation candidates to a Europa League threat. My colleague Jack Lang called him “the middle-ranking deity walking among mortals” but, to me, he’s just awesome.”

The nominees: Fred (Manchester United), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City)

Read more: Danny Ings — Southampton’s Player of the Year

[edetarod 2,155]

On this day, 6 years ago football was saved.

Happy Demba Ba day everyone.

 

 

[NikkiCFC 7,579]

17 minutes ago, edetarod said:

On this day, 6 years ago football was saved.

Happy Demba Ba day everyone.

 

 

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,195]

3 hours ago, Vesper said:

The Athletic EPL and WSL Player of the Year Awards: The Winners

https://theathletic.com/1776336/2020/04/26/debruyne-liverpool-england-mancity-wsl-premier-league/

With the season in limbo, The Athletic held our own awards night for the 2019-20 season.

Here’s the full list of winners — let us know what you think in the comments below…

Men’s Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

The Athletic’s Stuart James says: “Sixteen assists and eight goals — they’re the headline statistics and mean that Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other player this season. Not that you need numbers to appreciate his talent. He’s been a joy to watch, full stop.

“That he’s played so consistently in a City team that has been well below its best, struggling to hang onto Liverpool’s coat-tails, makes De Bruyne’s performances all the more impressive. I think De Bruyne has been the standout individual in the Premier League this season.”

The shortlist: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Read more: Kevin De Bruyne’s corridor of certainty — ranking his top 10 assists for City.

 

Women’s Player of the Year: Bethany England (Chelsea)

The Athletic’s Michael Cox says: “Fourteen goals in 15 games speaks for itself. Her aggressive sprinting in the channels and calmness in front of goal make her formidable in full flow. So many highlights: the chip up and shot to turn the crucial home game against Arsenal, the Bergkamp-esque control and finish of a Millie Bright diagonal ball away at Birmingham, and the classic strike partnership play with Sam Kerr against Reading. Kerr’s the bigger name but England is still leading the line. It’s crazy to think that when Ellen White was out injured at the start of this season, there was any question whatsoever about who should play up front for England.”

The shortlist: Rachel Furness (Liverpool), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Everton), Vivienne Miedema (Arsenal), Guro Reiten (Chelsea)

Read more: Ninety minutes watching Bethany England

---

Men’s Young Player of the Year: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Liverpool writer James Pearce says: “Trent Alexander-Arnold has played a starring role in propelling Liverpool to the brink of Premier League title glory. Rock-solid defensively, the dynamic young right-back has also provided the ammunition for Jurgen Klopp’s potent front three to fire with his pin-point deliveries from out wide. Remarkably, with 12 assists, he has already equalled the Premier League record for most assists from a defender which he set a year ago. He has also chipped in with two goals. In terms of elite young talent in the top-flight, he’s in a class of his own.”

The shortlist: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), James Maddison (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Read more: Trent Alexander-Arnold exclusive: 15 moments that have shaped my career

---

Women’s Young Player of the Year: Lauren James (Manchester United Women)

The Athletic’s Harriet Drudge says: “Lauren James is one of the most exciting young talents in the country who will undoubtedly go on to represent the Lionesses in the not-too-distant future. The 18-year-old scored Manchester United Women’s first goal in the Women’s Super League in their 2-0 win against Liverpool in September — a few months before signing her first professional contract with the club. Manager Casey Stoney says the teenager is an ‘exceptional talent’ and ‘one of the most technically gifted players’ she has worked with. She is and will continue to be one to watch.”

The shortlist: Chloe Kelly (Everton), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Ebony Salmon (Bristol City), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea)

Read more: ‘Don’t be nice, you want it more than them’ – a day with Manchester United Women

---

Men’s Team of the Year

Read more: An almost worryingly deep dive into the PFA Team of the Year award

---

Women’s Team of the Year

The Athletic’s Michael Cox says: “So, the obvious thing here is that 10 players come from the top three. There’s been a very clear ‘split’ in the WSL this season — none of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have lost to any of the other nine sides. The exception is Reading’s Farah Williams. Although she’s England’s record caps holder, she hasn’t been part of the England squad for a while so she deserves great credit for still proving herself in the WSL.

“Gemma Bonner hasn’t been in the Professional Footballers’ Association team of the year since 2014, but her selection ahead of club team-mate Steph Houghton shows who Manchester City’s defensive leader has been this season. Magdalena Eriksson has had a tremendous campaign at the heart of the Chelsea defence — a solid defender with a lovely left foot, a proper leader and hugely respected for her intelligence off the pitch as well as on it.”

Read more: Inside Miedema’s mind: Arsenal striker on how she scored five of her greatest goals

---

Men’s Goal of the Season: Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Tottenham writer Charlie Eccleshare says: “A deserved winner from a 5-0 battering of Burnley that was comfortably one of Spurs’ most enjoyable games of the season. When Son picked the ball up, there were 90 yards and seven Burnley players between him and the opposition goal. Fifteen seconds later the ball was in the back of the net after Son showed astonishing acceleration to hurtle his way past more than half of the Burnley team. As long-range dribbles go, it has to be one of the best in Premier League history.”

Runner-up: Kevin De Bruyne (versus Newcastle United)

Read more: Why there is no better time for Son Heung-min to learn to be a marine

---

Underrated Player of the Year: Danny Ings (Southampton)

Southampton writer Carl Anka says: “If you combined Roberto Firmino’s endless running with Jamie Vardy’s ‘chat nonsense, suffer consequences’ approach to shooting, you would get some idea of what Danny Ings has been doing in 2019-20. The striker turned his first injury-free season in ages into a banner campaign where, for a few months at least, he was the most irresistible striker in Europe. Left foot, right foot, headers — Ings was undeniable during a winter run that saw him bag 13 league goals and transform Southampton from relegation candidates to a Europa League threat. My colleague Jack Lang called him “the middle-ranking deity walking among mortals” but, to me, he’s just awesome.”

The nominees: Fred (Manchester United), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City)

Read more: Danny Ings — Southampton’s Player of the Year

Grealish? Christ 

[NikkiCFC 7,579]

Liverpool's £60m Anfield redevelopment delayed by 12 months due to coronavirus crisis

https://www.goal.com/en-ug/news/liverpools-60m-anfield-redevelopment-delayed-12-months/1xga5w4inoj501n18oqkiw2b3o

Do they have money for Werner?

[Vesper 27,307]

1 hour ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Grealish? Christ 

 

58 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Liverpool's £60m Anfield redevelopment delayed by 12 months due to coronavirus crisis

https://www.goal.com/en-ug/news/liverpools-60m-anfield-redevelopment-delayed-12-months/1xga5w4inoj501n18oqkiw2b3o

Do they have money for Werner?

The delay is not due to money, it is due to the effect of COVID-19 on the construction industry

and yes, they have the money for Werner, unfortunately

[Laylabelle 9,296]

European leagues have until 25 May to tell Uefa whether they want to complete or cancel their seasons

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52456304

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

The Premier League would do the same as the Dutch if they could, just reboot the whole fucking lot, which would see the Vermin miss out on their league title 

They wont though, as the clubs owe just one broadcaster, Sky,  £960 million if they do

[Laylabelle 9,296]

Thing is even if Liverpool do win it they cant celebrate it. No trophy parade unless they wait till later in the year and even then not the same. You'd want to celebrate with the fans.

[Vesper 27,307]

FA report confirms Champions League plan that would end Premier League top four race

The new plans would ensure that a club outside its country's top four could only enter the Champions League if they had won the title or reached the semi-finals of the Europa League the previous season

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fa-report-confirms-champions-league-21939361

A UEFA plan to limit the amount of clubs able to qualify for the Champions League has been set out in a Football Association report which details the possible end of the Premier League's top four race.

Moves to protect "elite European club revenue streams" are laid out in the FA report, which details the plans that European football's governing body have to expand their continental competitions.

The Premier League has long enjoyed a healthy tussle for the top four places in the division and Champions League qualification.

But such plans - which have long been pushed by Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli - would threaten the competitiveness of the top flight, giving little chance to anyone outside the so-called 'Big Six' of ever sitting at Europe's top table.

The new plans, which would come into force in 2024, state that the 32-team Champions League for the 2024/25 season would be chosen based on UEFA's domestic club rankings from the period between the 2020/21 and 2023/24 seasons - effectively making the tournament a closed shop.

For clubs outside that bracket, entry to future Champions League tournaments would have to come through either winning the Premier League outright, or reaching the semi-finals of a revamped 32-team Europa League.

It is the belief of some clubs that past performance in the Champions League should be placed above domestic results when determining qualifiers for the tournament, with the likes of Roma and Ajax reaching the semi-finals of recent competitions only to miss out on it entirely in future years.

Agnelli cited Roma as an example back in March when he questioned whether it was right for Atalanta to be in this year's competition, “without international history and thanks to just one great season.”

If the plan were to be in place this season then such a move would come as blow to the likes of Leicester, Wolves and Sheffield United, who have been battling it out with the more established sides such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham for a spot in the top four.

There are also plans for the Europa League to follow a similar pattern from 2024, with new teams able to qualify via league position or finishing in the last four of the new UEFA Conference League.

"The FA continues to work with all stakeholders to reach an acceptable position," the report adds.

snip

[Vesper 27,307]

PL Team of the Year: Which Henderson did our writers pick more often?

https://theathletic.com/1745218/2020/04/26/premier-league-team-of-the-year-de-bruyne-trent-van-dijk-mane/

Who would be in a Premier League Team of the Year as it stands? We asked our writers — with the only rule being a maximum of three players from one team…

Oliver Kay

A Premier League team of the season — this season — with a maximum of three Liverpool players? That’s difficult. There could easily have been seven or eight. But an unexpected challenge, having agonised over which three from Anfield to go for, was to apply the same restrictions to Leicester City.

Kasper Schmeichel? Ricardo Pereira? Jonny Evans? Caglar Soyuncu? Ben Chilwell? Wilfred Ndidi? And that’s just their back six. Manchester City have more points — and a genuine Player of the Year contender in Kevin De Bruyne — but Leicester would have more candidates for a team of the season, particularly in defensive positions.

That surfeit of Liverpool and Leicester contenders makes it more straightforward to select Dean Henderson in goal. The standard of goalkeeping has been good — not just Alisson and Schmeichel, but Vicente Guaita, Bernd Leno, Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka and others — but Henderson’s contribution at Sheffield United has been immense. A reliable shot-stopper, he has done his long-term hopes with his parent club (Manchester United) and country (England) the power of good.

Because the standout full-backs and wingers all play for the same club, I’ve compromised by ditching the wingers (sorry Mo, sorry Sadio) and going for a 3-5-2 formation instead, so a three-man central defence of Chris Basham, Virgil van Dijk and Soyuncu. The wing-backs were so difficult. Again it comes down to Liverpool and Leicester. I ended up opting for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chilwell, but Pereira and Andy Robertson have both been excellent too. It really was a tough call.

Midfield was easier. There are decent cases for Jack Grealish and Georginio Wijnaldum, but I’ve gone for Jordan Henderson, Ndidi and De Bruyne, three players with different qualities whose level has barely dropped all season.

That leaves just two spaces in attack. The first of them goes to Raul Jimenez. He is a distant eighth in the Premier League top scorers list, but he has been superb just about every time I have watched him play for Wolves. There has been a lot of focus on Adama Traore and Diogo Jota, justifiably, but it must be so much easier to thrive in a team where Jimenez, so unselfish, so intelligent in use of space, is leading the line.

For the other place, I was torn between Jamie Vardy, which would mean losing a Leicester player elsewhere, and Sergio Aguero. I’ve gone for Aguero. There has been something of the flat-track bully about his goalscoring record this season, but at his best, in the early months of the campaign, he looked unstoppable. Two of Manchester City’s most impressive victories, away to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and Real Madrid in the Champions League, have come with Aguero on the bench, which is food for thought as he approaches his 32nd birthday, but if you are looking for a goal on a typical Saturday or Sunday afternoon in the Premier League (remember them?) there is still no one more reliable.

(3-5-2) – D Henderson (Sheffield United); Basham (Sheffield United), Van Dijk (Liverpool), Soyuncu (Leicester); Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), De Bruyne (Manchester City), Ndidi (Leicester), Henderson (Liverpool), Chilwell (Leicester); Aguero (Manchester City), Jimenez (Wolves)

Michael Cox

The best goalkeeper in the league, in my view, has been Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson — aside from one mistake against Liverpool, he’s been close to flawless.

The major problem, of course, is restricting this selection to only three Liverpool players. I’ve used my trio in defence because whereas other attackers in the league can rival Liverpool’s front three, there are fewer realistic options in defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk feel like obvious picks — and while Sadio Mane or Mo Salah have had better campaigns than Andy Robertson, can you think of another left-back in the league who’s had a good campaign? I’m struggling, so Robertson gets the nod. Jonny Evans, for so long the most underrated defender in the league, is finally getting due recognition — he’s been outstanding this season and defends in a calmer way than his partner Caglar Soyuncu.

Kevin De Bruyne has been the season’s outstanding midfield player and is a surefire selection in the right-centre role, while I’ve been hugely impressed with Mateo Kovacic — his ball-carrying skills have been crucial under Frank Lampard, after a relatively quiet season playing cautiously under Maurizio Sarri. Wilfried Ndidi has enjoyed an excellent campaign in the holding role behind James Maddison and Youri Tielemans and is also capable of pushing forward aggressively on the ball when needed.

There’s so much competition up front, even without considering Liverpool players — Sergio Aguero, in particular, can feel disappointed to miss out. But Jamie Vardy remains the Premier League’s top goalscorer after an incredible start to the campaign, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been consistent in an otherwise shambolic Arsenal side and Raul Jimenez’s ability to score goals and bring others into play has made him the division’s most complete No 9 this season.

(4-3-3) – D Henderson (Sheffield United); Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Van Dijk (Liverpool), Evans (Leicester), Robertson (Liverpool); De Bruyne (Manchester City), Ndidi (Leicester), Kovacic (Chelsea); Vardy (Leicester), Jimenez (Wolves), Aubameyang (Arsenal)

Jack Lang

There was never any doubt that I would use my full allowance of Liverpool players; the difficulty was choosing which of Schrödinger’s title winners to leave out. Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson especially have every right to feel aggrieved, but in the end I could not look past the three key men in the Premier League’s best defence. Virgil van Dijk is a colossus in every sense of the word, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have shaken our preconceptions of what full-backs can do.

 

They are joined at the back by Caglar Soyuncu, whose muscular brand of heroism has been one of the highlights of Leicester’s fine season, and by Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson. That the Sheffield United goalkeeper’s name is now cited in every conversation about the England No 1 jersey is testament to the way he has negotiated the step up to the top flight.

 

With plenty of attacking intent elsewhere in the side, we can afford to have two holding midfielders, just to maintain order in the middle of the park. Oliver Norwood is not a massively showy player but he has impressed with his positional sense and passing range; his knack of spraying balls out to the flanks will be particularly useful in this side. Alongside him, the excellent Wilfred Ndidi gets the nod. He is a natural ball-winner whose energy and drive were hugely missed by Leicester when he was absent for a spell at the start of the year.

 

Kevin De Bruyne has been the single most compelling attacking player in the league this season, more than making up for his injury-hit 2018-19 campaign. If more of his Manchester City team-mates had met his standards, we would have had a much more competitive title race. We go for variety either side of him: the direct threat of Adama Traore and the more subtle craft of Jack Grealish. The latter has been the best player in the bottom half of the table, keeping Aston Villa in the survival picture almost single-handedly. Traore, meanwhile, has come of age for Wolves, consistently finding a final ball at the end of his bottle-rocket bursts. Both are also just massively fun to watch.

 

Four strikers have scored more goals than Danny Ings this season, but all play in teams that create far more chances than Southampton. Ings has often conjured something from nothing — two goals from closing down goalkeepers, for instance — and has been utterly clinical when the ball has fallen to him in the penalty area. That’s all we need from a striker in this side.

 

(4-2-3-1) – D Henderson (Sheffield United); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Soyuncu (Leicester), Van Dijk (Liverpool), Robertson (Liverpool); Norwood (Sheffield United), Ndidi (Leicester); Traore (Wolves), De Bruyne (Manchester City), Grealish (Aston Villa); Ings (Southampton)

Daniel Taylor

Yes, that is Danny Ings in my attack ahead of Sergio Aguero — but if you can bear with me there is a reasonable explanation. Who would I choose to have in a Fantasy XI? Aguero, every time. Yet it is also a fact that Ings has outscored, among others, Sadio Mane and Marcus Rashford in the Premier League this season and, if penalties were taken out of the equation, he would be ahead of Aguero, level with Jamie Vardy and second in the top-scorers’ list to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Ings has done it for a Southampton side that is 14th in the league (though has been lower) and, as such, he has had fewer chances than the strikers from the elite teams. And, though I have often championed Aguero for more awards and recognition, I have also seen him have better seasons.

Aubameyang is a mandatory pick as the leading scorer from open play in the country and my third attacking position would go to Mohamed Salah — which, again, is a tough one. For starters, you could probably get a cigarette paper between choosing him or Sadio Mane. It is difficult to elect both if we are limited to three players per club (I’m already omitting Virgil van Dijk, with some reluctance, to make sure Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson are included) and Salah edges it by the finest of margins. His problem is that he is always judged by his 2017-18 season but, even though he has not reached those exhilarating heights, he has still been an exceptional performer.

My team would start with Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson in goal because, looking at the competition, it hasn’t been a brilliant year for the elite goalkeepers. David de Gea once had credentials at Manchester United to be recognised as the best in the world, but no more. Alisson has had his injury issues for Liverpool and, though it is unfair perhaps to pick out one bad match, Ederson’s accident-prone performance in the Manchester derby is still fresh in the memory.

Alexander-Arnold is an obvious selection as possibly the most watchable right-back I have seen in the Premier League. Fernandinho gets one of the centre-back slots because of his performances for Manchester City (and for making us forget that he is, in reality, a midfielder). Conor Coady has been excellent for Wolves and maybe Ben Chilwell’s inclusion might help to make up for the absence of Vardy, his Leicester City team-mate.

Midfield? Henderson would be a worthy winner of any player-of-the-year award but Kevin De Bruyne is the outstanding footballer in the league and, just because Manchester City were so far behind Liverpool, I don’t follow the logic that the individual honours have to go to a player from the team that finishes as champions.

Finally, I would find a place for Jack Grealish, who had a relatively slow start to life in the top division with Aston Villa but then proved to everyone he can flourish at the highest level. Not that it should have been a huge surprise bearing in mind his contribution to Villa’s promotion from the Championship the previous year.

(4-3-3)- D Henderson (Sheffield United); Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Coady (Wolves), Chilwell (Leicester); De Bruyne (Manchester City), J Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa); Salah (Liverpool), Ings (Southampton), Aubameyang (Arsenal).

Stuart James

First things first, I know what you’re thinking: 4-4-2? Who plays that formation these days? This, however, will be an expansive and fluid system that morphs into a 4-1-3-2 with the ball, with Jordan Henderson providing the defensive discipline (let’s be honest, nobody else is going to) that allows Adama Traore, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish to wreak havoc behind Jamie Vardy and Raul Jimenez. Yep, you can see where this is going: you score three, we’ll score four.

Actually, you might be thinking something else when first looking at that team: where’s Virgil van Dijk? And shouldn’t Sadio Mane make the cut? Ideally, yes. But, with a maximum of three Liverpool players to choose from, this is the mother of all selection headaches and, ultimately, the lack of options in some positions (is it just me or is there a chronic shortage of quality left-backs in the Premier League?) came into my thinking.

Alexander-Arnold, who is probably turning a generation of primary school children into right-backs by making it look like the most exciting position on the pitch, simply has to be in the team. In a way, the same goes for Robertson.

If anybody is going to bring some leadership and control to a side that has 16,489 assists between and no handbrake, then it surely has to be Jordan Henderson, who has been outstanding for Liverpool this season as a footballer and a leader.

De Bruyne is a mandatory pick and, quite frankly, can do what he likes in this side. He’s been much better than Manchester City this season. Grealish, who will drift in from that left touchline and even play as a second No 10 at times (in danger of sounding like Tim Sherwood here), deserves a place in the XI after excelling for a Villa side who would be nailed on for relegation without him. As for Traore, the speed machine and Alexander-Arnold working in tandem on the right is a match made in heaven, especially as the former has been schooled in the art of defending this season.

The same can be said for the partnership up front. Vardy is the Premier League’s leading goalscorer and his pace, aggression and predatory finishing should dovetail beautifully with Jimenez, who seems a little underrated and under-appreciated — unless you’ve had the privilege to watch him play on a regular basis.

Dean Henderson, who is one of many reasons why Sheffield United have the second-best defensive record in the league, gets the nod in goal. In front of him will be Caglar Soyuncu, Leicester’s Cruyff-turning centre-back, and Jack O’Connell, who has adapted to Premier League football this season as if he has played there all his life. Whether O’Connell will be allowed to overlap as he does as one of three centre-backs at Sheffield United… oh, sod it. Why not?

(4-4-2) – D Henderson (Sheffield United); Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Soyuncu (Leicester), O’Connell (Sheffield United), Robertson (Liverpool); Traore (Wolves), J Henderson (Liverpool), De Bruyne (Manchester City), Grealish (Aston Villa); Vardy (Leicester), Jimenez (Wolves)

This week, The Athletic’s writers have been choosing their Player of the Year for their club and writing a piece explaining their pick. We are also hosting an awards night on our app and social media on Sunday April 26 to decide the awards for the season so far. Read more here

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3 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

 

If Pochettino deal falls through, former Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez expected to return to St James' Park

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2005 (with Chelsea) :

 

 

2020 (with spuds) :