Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROBBIESAVAGE What a difference a year makes!not one Kop star makes my team of the season
Mr Marmite.. Love him, hate him, you can’t ignore him
WHO would have thought it possible, 12 months ago, that the PFA team of the season would not feature a single Liverpool player?
But as the pros start to cast their votes for their player of the season and their divisional teams of the year, there must be a serious danger of the Liver bird being frozen out.
Only once in the last 10 years, when Leicester’s 5,000-1 title shots and Tottenham dominated the vote in 2015-16, has that happened.
This time last year, when Liverpool were storming to their first title in 30 years, it looked as if manager Jurgen Klopp had built a dynasty to rule English football for the foreseeable future.
Yet when I sat down to compile my own team of the season, there was no room for any of Klopp’s side this time.
I’m not sure if it made me feel sad, or guilty, or simply nonplussed by Liverpool’s form falling off a cliff – mainly at their Anfield home, where they were unbeatable for almost two years.
But here are my selections, with the Premier League team of 2020-21 in a 4-2-3-1 formation (below). If you don’t agree, please don’t resort to abuse on social media. It’s just my opinion, which is no more valuable than yours.
PLAYERS OF THE SEASON RUBEN DIAS
The colossus at the heart of Manchester City’s bid for an astonishing Quadruple.
At £61.2million, Dias was entitled to make a big impact on City’s defence.
But he has been part of 22 clean sheets, and only 18 goals conceded, in 38 games for them, and John Stones has looked revitalised since the Portuguese centre-back arrived at the Etihad.
Dias has arguably been a bigger influence on City’s defence than Virgil van Dijk’s on Liverpool... and that’s really saying something.
ILKAY GUNDOGAN
He’s scored more goals from open play than any midfielder in Europe this season. When City have played without a recognised No.9, Gundogan has often been the man to step up.
And after fighting back from two major injuries, he deserves his success.
BRUNO FERNANDES
Has been involved in 36 goals, scoring or assisting, and has arguably made a bigger impact at Manchester United than any signing since Eric Cantona.
Now he needs trophies, and major performances in big games, to go with it.
YOUNG PLAYERS OF THE SEASON PHIL FODEN
He’s got the lot – 11 goals, nine assists, and his performance in Manchester City’s 4-1 win at
Liverpool was out of this world. I would pay top dollar to watch Foden play – he’s that good.
MASON MOUNT
Don’t fall for the spiteful, jealous carping from beyond Stamford Bridge that he’s the teacher’s pet. Mount is a gloriously talented footballer, with six goals and five assists to prove it.
BUKAYO SAKA
It says something for Saka’s maturity that a 19-year-old kid has been the heartbeat of Arsenal’s season. Like Mount, he has scored six and assisted five goals. The Gunners have unearthed a jewel.