MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City and N’Golo Kante of Chelsea compete for the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on December 3, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
The Premier League returned with an enthralling weekend with many standout performers. But who will be in the Team of the Season come season’s end?
The Premier League sure knows how to make an entrance.
Arsenal and Leicester got the season started with a thrilling 4-3 win to Arsene Wenger’s side with late goals aplenty. The next day, Liverpool and Watford returned volley with a thrilling 3-3 match, punctuated with a 93rd minute equalizer. Both Manchester clubs got off the ground running while Chelsea finished their first game with nine men and a loss.
Last season, that same Chelsea side had four players in the Premier League Team of the Season. Tottenham also had four, while Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United each had one. All eleven have returned to the league this year.
The 2016/17 official PFA team in full: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Danny Rose, Sadio Mane, N’Golo Kante, Dele Alli, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane
But who will be in that team come this season’s end?
There are a plethora of stars in England’s top flight, the most lucrative in the world. As such, even mid-table clubs have some star power and as always, there is no such thing as an easy gameweek in the Prem.
Many players have a realistic route into the Premier League Team of the Season. Here’s our predictions.
#Arsenal</a> player! <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bellerin?src=hash%22>#Bellerin</a> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/U21Euros?src=hash%22>#U21Euros</a> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saul?src=hash%22>#Saul</a> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Asensio?src=hash%22>#Asensio</a> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/medals?src=hash%22>#medals</a> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"https://t.co/WiaQssZbvI">pic.twitter.com/WiaQssZbvI
<p>— Football Now (@FootballNow17) <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"https://twitter.com/FootballNow17/status/881202367055659008">July 1, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Bad optics.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus on August 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>CB: Toby Alderweireld /// Tottenham /// 2016/17: 30 apps, 2 total defensive errors, 1 yellow card</strong></p>
<p>Last year’s Team of the Season center back pairing of Cahill and Luiz started this season in a nightmare: Cahill saw red as Burnley went to Stamford Bridge and beat Chelsea 3-2. The last time Chelsea won the title, they followed it up with a mid-table finish.</p>
<p>It remains to be seen if Antonio Conte can conjure up the same performances in year two, making a Chelsea title defense is a dubious task.</p>
<p>As such, the safe option for the first center back is Alderweireld.</p>
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<p>A mesmerizing statistic: over the last two seasons in the Premier League, he has just four (!!!) yellow cards in 68 starts. In this day in age, where yellows are given for tactical fouls and many mistimed challenges, that statistic is borderline impossible.</p>
<p>Alderweireld anchors an impressive Tottenham defense, next to fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen, who won’t be far off the Team of the Season if he stays healthy and Tottenham are towards the top of the table. It’s the same thinking as with Lloris.</p>
<p>It’s difficult to split hairs between two center back partners in the Team of the Season, which is part of why Chelsea took both spots last season, but it’s best when more teams and players are rewarded.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 08: Manchester City player John Stones in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Hull City at Etihad Stadium on April 8, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>CB: John Stones /// Manchester City /// 2016/17: 27 apps, 92% pass accuracy, 1 yellow card</strong></p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Hear me out.</p>
<p>Look, I get it. Not only is it a Manchester City center back but it’s not even Vincent Kompany. Pep Guardiola teams can be defensively frail. Stones looked better on the ball than off last season, which isn’t typically a great quality for a center back.</p>
<p>But, all those reasons are why he’s getting the nod for the second center back here.</p>
<p>Kompany is about as likely to have an injury-free season as Daniel Sturridge is. Guardiola’s teams can be defensively frail, but in his first match he went for three central defenders. They bought £125 million worth of fullbacks, too. Stones looks better on the ball than off it, which is why if City succeed as almost everyone are predicting they will, Stones will be spearheading attacks from the back.</p>
<p>English David Luiz? Minus the free kicks, acrobatics and unpredictability, yes.</p>
<p>Eric Bailly would be a reasonable selection. He’s likely to be the first defender on the team sheet for Mourinho, but he’s also got injury question marks. And it would be even more foolish to grab a central defender from Arsenal or Liverpool, so apologies to Laurent Koscielny and Joel Matip. Virgil Van Dijk’s future is up in the air, making him too risky a choice as well.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Sandro Ramirez of Everton celebrates with Leighton Baines after scoring the opening goal during a pre-season friendly match between Everton and Sevilla at Goodison Park on August 6, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>LB: Leighton Baines /// Everton /// 2016/17: 32 apps, 47 chances created, 0 defensive errors</strong></p>
<p>The semi-forgotten man: Leighton Baines.</p>
<p>Everton’s left-sided stalwart has lost some shine in past seasons just because of his droning consistency. We hardly even noticed when he cut his mop, trimming back his look inspired by The Beatles.</p>
<p>Baines was only rewarded with three assists after creating 47 chances last season. Even without Lukaku, that number should rise. Plus, manager Ronald Koeman has jumped on the three-in-the-back bandwagon, giving Baines more license to get forward.</p>
<p>Rose is likely to be the favorite to find his way into Team of the Season, even with his public frustrations with Tottenham. Saed Kolasinac looks a dark horse after impressing this preseason. He was stuck in the center of defense on opening weekend as Arsenal were without Per Mertesacker, Koscielny and Gabriel, though. Luke Shaw is within shout as well but won’t have the same chances to get forward as Baines, Rose or Kolasinac will.</p>
<p>But the nod is going to Baines, even though he won’t return to penalty duty and will lose some free kicks to Wayne Rooney.</p>
<p>If Everton are to make any noise outside the top 6, Baines will be heavily involved.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in action during the during the Premier League match between Watford and Liverpool at Vicarage Road on August 12, 2017 in Watford, England. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>RM: Mohamed Salah /// Liverpool /// 2016/17 (Serie A): 31 apps, 15 goals, 11 assists</strong></p>
<p>Last season, Salah lit the Serie A ablaze. His technical ability matched his pace as he blitzed through defenses.</p>
<p>Salah has unfinished business in the Premier League after not getting much of a chance at Chelsea a few years ago, when they beat Liverpool to his signature. He looked a top player in the preseason for Liverpool and continued that form into the opening weekend as he scored on his competitive debut and won a penalty.</p>
<p>With Liverpool playing a false nine, they need goal scoring wingers and Salah is one of the best. He’ll fit right in with his pace, goals and assists, as he created 71 chances in Italy to go along with his 11 assists.</p>
<p>The right side of midfield isn’t as deep as the left, though if two excel on the left, the PFA would make some changes to get the two best wingers in the team. But on the right, the other options are Riyad Mahrez, if he stays at Leicester City, and Xherdan Shaqiri. They could also squeeze the likes of Alli and Christian Eriksen into right midfield as well.</p>
<p>But Salah looks primed to be in the Team of the Season.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Ngolo Kante of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on August 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>CM: N’Golo Kante /// Chelsea /// 2016/17: 35 apps, 89% pass, 4 defensive actions per game</strong></p>
<p>Even with the center backs at times, Team of the Season always has a bias for attacking players. But Kante transcends that prejudice because of his incredible ability without the ball.</p>
<p>Kante changes how we look at a central midfielder. Can a small, skinny, athletic player line up at center mid instead of on the wing or fullback? Kante shows if they’ve got the ability, why not? He also showed that fans can understand the importance of a ball winner in the midfield, that even without scoring 15 goals a player’s value can be evident.</p>
<p>This season at Chelsea, he’ll make up an impregnable midfield shield next to Tiemoue Bakayoko, another French midfielder to come from Ligue 1.</p>
<p>There are many midfielders to choose from. The league is dense with central midfielders, but there must be a place in the side for Kante.</p>
<p>Looking back at his transfer fee last summer, he looks an absolute steal at £30 million. If Chelsea sold this summer, how much would he have gone for? In a world that Liverpool couldn’t get Naby Keita for £66 million, who knows how much Kante would be off for.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City in action during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at Amex Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>CM: Kevin de Bruyne /// Manchester City /// 2016/17: 37 apps, 101 chances created, 18 assists</strong></p>
<p>De Bruyne is the point man for Guardiola’s possession-based attack. He’ll created buckets of chances for Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and even himself.</p>
<p>With more than 100 chances created last year in City’s first go ’round under Guardiola, he didn’t need much time getting used to the new manager. Expect the Belgian to be even better this season as the entire squad has a year under Guardiola as well as improvements in areas of weaknesses.</p>
<p>It’s tough to leave out Tottenham pair Eriksen and Alli, but De Bruyne is a popular pick for Player of the Season as many pundits believe Guardiola will lead City to the title.</p>
<p>Last season, Alli scored 18 goals and Eriksen had 15 assists. While De Bruyne isn’t as prolific as Alli, he’s likely to score more than the six goals he had last season while creating a similar amount of chances as Eriksen. His last season in the Bundesliga before returning to England, De Bruyne scored 10 goals and had 20 assists. Even against superior opponents in England, those are the numbers he’s likely to approach this year.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Watford and Liverpool at Vicarage Road on August 12, 2017 in Watford, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>LM: Sadio Mane /// Liverpool /// 2016/17: 27 apps, 13 goals, 43 chances created, 5 assists</strong></p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>On the opposite flank of Salah in the Team of the Season is a familiar dynamic, his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane.</p>
<p>Mane was in the team last year despite missing games to the African Cup of Nations as well as the end of the season due to injury. But when he’s on the field, he added another dimension to Liverpool’s vaunted attack.</p>
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<p>Just like Salah, he got off the ground running. He too scored in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Watford.</p>
<p>Mane is moving from the right side of the attack to the left to best accommodate Salah, but that’s where he played at times for Southampton and predominantly for Red Bull Salzburg. Now he can cut in on his favored right foot.</p>
<p>The left side of midfield is a deeper pool of players, with Hazard, Alexis Sanchez and possibly Philippe Coutinho, should he stay at Liverpool, could be put there.</p>
<p>But Hazard went missing the season following his last Premier League medal and Sanchez may be on the way out of Arsenal.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Tottenham player Harry Kane in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on August 13, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>ST: Harry Kane /// Tottenham /// 2016/17: 30 apps, 29 goals, 41 chances created, 7 assists</strong></p>
<p>Just a three season wonder?</p>
<p>Kane is one of the best pure finishers in the league, if not the very best. He’s proven it time and time again in the past few years while elbowing criticism of “one season wonder” or anything else they throw at him. He essentially just has “can’t do it in August” to break, which he nearly did in Tottenham’s first match of the season.</p>
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<p>The Tottenham youth product has only just turned 24 years old. He’s theoretically yet to hit his prime, which is scary. In his first full season in the Tottenham first team three years ago, he scored 21 goals in 25 league starts. The following season, he hit 25 goals in 38 starts. Can he outdo last season’s 29?</p>
<p>Eriksen and Alli can live vicariously through Kane’s inclusion into the team. Heung-Min Son isn’t far off this pace, either, but Kane is the best of the bunch. Will Real Madrid come calling?</p>
<p>Striker, like central midfield, is an exhausting position to only choose two. WIth Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Sergio Aguero, Roberto Firmino, Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Jesus, Jamie Vardy and others, many top names will miss out.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/08/16/premier-league-team-season-201718-predictions/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Striker </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SKOPJE, MACEDONIA – AUGUST 08: Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Manchester United at the Philip II Arena on August 8, 2017 in Skopje, Macedonia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)</p>
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<p><strong>ST: Romelu Lukaku /// Manchester United /// 2016/17: 37 apps, 25 goals, 6 assists</strong></p>
<p>It looks like Lukaku won’t need much time to settle into Manchester United. In his debut, the freight train scored two goals as United effortlessly ran through West Ham.</p>
<p>Lukaku was brought in from Everton for big money to be the player that turns a lot of those frustrating 0-0 draws into 1-0 victories some way, some how. The Belgian has shown the consistent ability to score over the past few years and is only 24 years old.</p>
<p>Mourinho will be ecstatic to have replaced Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s physical presence up top, and Lukaku additionally has the pace that Ibrahimovic doesn’t at this stage of his career.</p>
<p>There is an abundance of top strikers in the Premier League but just room for two in the Team of the Season, which’ll be Kane and Lukaku. If Aguero is able to play closer to a full season of games than he has in most years, he’ll have a real shot at nudging either Kane or Lukaku out of the side.</p>
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