Right now Salah is best player on planet football

ANOTHER year bites the dust and as we wave goodbye to 2021 in the rear-view mirror it’s time to hand out a few gongs to the best – and worst – of the last 12 months. TEAM OF THE YEAR

No Man United, Arsenal or Tottenham players...and they can have no complaints.

In a year dominated by Man City winning the title and Chelsea winning the Champions League, it’s no surprise those two clubs account for nine of my Premier League Dream Team of 2021.

It’s a 4-3-3 formation with a false nine – a concept which served Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel well for much of the calendar year.

EDOUARD MENDY

(Chelsea): Unlucky to miss out on the gong for best keeper at the Ballon D’Or awards. Signed by Frank Lampard – an inspired piece of recruitment.

REECE JAMES

(Chelsea): Of England’s embarrassment of riches at right-back (or right wing-back), his mobility and eye for goal was an outstanding feature.

RUBEN DIAS (Man City): Voted Footballer of the Year by the football writers – and who am I to argue with them? Absolute rock at the heart of City’s title win.

ANTONIO RUDIGER (Chelsea): As well as an almost intimidating presence in Chelsea’s backline, he brings old-fashioned virtues of defending to the party.

JOAO CANCELO (Man City): Too often overlooked for his creative influence, his goal at Newcastle was a thing of beauty.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE (Man City): Somebody once said he wasn’t worth £54 million when City signed him. Somebody was wrong.

N’GOLO KANTE (Chelsea): Man of the match performance in the Champions League final and, six years after he won the title with Leicester, still the best ‘minesweeper’ in the world.

DECLAN RICE (West Ham): England’s best player in the Euro 2020 final. You can seen why David Moyes thinks he’s worth upwards of £100m.

MO SALAH

(Liverpool): If we are coming towards the end of the Ronaldo-Messi era, on current form here’s the best player on the planet now.

BERNARDO SILVA (Man City): Whether he plays as a false nine or in the three supporting forwards in a 4-2-3-1 formation, he has been simply irresistible.

PHIL FODEN (Man City): His performance in

You can seen why boss Moyes thinks Rice is worth upwards of £100m

City’s comprehensive 4-1 win at Liverpool last February was one of the finest I have ever seen from a young player. He’s still only 21.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: DAVID MOYES

(West Ham): For the club to be in Europe, after falling just short of a top-four finish, is a tribute to Moyes’ enduring excellence. And it wasn’t just a flash in the pan – the Hammers are going to be top-six contenders again.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MO SALAH –

Whatever he wants to stay at Liverpool, just give it to him. Salah has been untouchable. When the Egyptian King goes to the Africa Cup of Nations next week, they won’t half miss him.