Champs dominate PFA team of season
MANCHESTER City have dominated the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Premier League team of the year, with five players named in the select XI.
Right-back Kyle Walker, centrehalf Nicolas Otamendi and midfielders David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are all honoured, along with forward Sergio Aguero.
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen and Chelsea leftback Marcos Alonso complete the defence.
Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen is also included, along with his Spurs team-mate Harry Kane, the England striker among three forwards in the side completed by Liverpool frontman Mohamed Salah, who has bagged 30 league goals so far this season.
There was, though, no recognition for any Burnley players, despite the Clarets enjoying a fine season and challenging Arsenal for sixth place, which could yet see them secure European qualification.
City duo De Bruyne and Silva are shortlisted for the PFA’s player of the year award, along with club-mate Leroy Sane after all three helped Pep Guardiola’s side win the Premier League.
Kane, Salah and De Gea are also nominated, with the winner set to be announced at the PFA’s annual awards ceremony in London on Sunday, April 22.
Wigan and Blackburn’s exciting race for the title has seen the two north west clubs dominate the PFA League One Team of the Year.
Athletic and Rovers are entrenched in a nervy battle to become champions and eight of the XI players come from those two teams.
Former Swansea City and Barry Town striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, now with Wycombe, is included in the PFA League Two team of the season.
PFA Premier League XI:
De Gea (Man Utd); Walker (Man City), Vertonghen (Tottenham), Otamendi (Man City), Alonso (Chelsea); De Bruyne (Man City), Eriksen (Tottenham), D Silva (Man City); H Kane (Tottenham), Aguero (Man City), Salah (Liverpool).
■ PFA Championship XI: Page 49