From City to Pogba ...the best and worst of 2018
SINCE this is my last column of 2018, it’s time to reflect on a memorable year.
Manchester City won the Premier League by a record margin with 100 points, France – as tipped by at least one educated pundit – won the World Cup, and Liverpool reached the Champions League final.
After last week’s half-term reports from the headmaster’s office, let’s hand out some prizes for the calendar year.
Don’t take it personally if your opinions don’t match mine – because that’s all they are: Opinions.
We’ll be discussing my alternative New Year’s Honours list on my BT Sport show Saturday Morning Savage – feel free to join in the discussion.
In the meantime, a Happy New Year and prosperous 2019 to you all.
TEAM OF 2018 (3-4-3)
Ederson – Title winner with Manchester City, and fewest goals conceded, in his first season. Aymeric Laporte – Slipped impressively into City’s back four, his quality almost goes unnoticed. Virgil van Dijk – Just think, there were people who questioned Liverpool spending £75million on him. Jan Vertonghen – Defensive rock of the Pochettino era at Tottenham. Raheem Sterling – Now one of the brightest stars in City’s constellation of shining lights. David Silva – Always takes care of the ball like a family heirloom. Fernandinho – Supplies relentless power in engine room of City midfield. Leroy Sane – Still can’t work out how he didn’t make Germany’s World Cup squad. Mo Salah – To score 44 goals in your first season at Liverpool is simply exceptional. Harry Kane – Golden Boot winners at the World Cup don’t grow on trees. Eden Hazard – Deserved to end the year by completing his century of goals for Chelsea.
BEST PLAYER OF 2018
Mo Salah – The sheer weight of goals he’s delivering has galvanised Liverpool. Runners-up – Van Dijk, David Silva,
Hazard, Kane.
BEST MANAGER OF 2018
Jurgen Klopp – Don’t give me any nonsense about him still waiting to win a trophy at Liverpool after more than three years at Anfield. In 2018 he’s reached the Champions League final and ends the year six points clear at the top.
BEST SIGNING OF 2018
Virgil van Dijk – Nobody quibbles about his transfer fee now because he’s been worth every penny and has become probably the most commanding centre-back in Europe. For the nit-pickers out there, yes – he signed in the last week of December 2017, but he wasn’t eligible until January! Also nominated – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lucas Torreira.
BEST GOAL OF 2018
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid v Liverpool, Champions League final) – No debate necessary, not even close. To produce an overhead kick of such quality, in the richest game of club football on the planet, was pure genius. It’s a joke that he didn’t win the FIFA Puskas Award for best goal – hopefully a Sav gong will help to make up for it.
BEST GAME OF 2018
For sheer drama, the Manchester derby where United came from 2-0 down to beat City 3-2 at the Etihad and deny the “noisy neighbours” a title party at their rivals’ expense was gripping suspense.
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Liverpool 5-2 Roma (Champions League semi-final first leg) – Apart from the two late away goals, Liverpool were absolutely spellbinding that night, completely mesmerising.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2018
Jose Mourinho – After winning two trophies in his first season at Old Trafford, and being a runner-up in the title race and FA Cup in 2018, the way his time at Manchester United tailed off was actually sad to watch.
FLOP OF 2018
Paul Pogba – A World Cup winner with France, for sure, and congratulations to him for that... but the world’s best players don’t live on past glories. Too often his form for Manchester United has been a huge let-down.
Runner-up – Alvaro Morata.
UNSUNG HEROES OF 2018
Chris Hughton – It’s amazing that he doesn’t get more credit for the job he’s done at Brighton.
Glenn Murray – It’s amazing that he doesn’t get more credit for the goals he’s scoring for Brighton.
BEST SAVE OF 2018
David De Gea (Sevilla v Manchester United, Champions League last 16, first leg) – There are sharp reflexes, and then there’s De Gea’s astonishing one-handed save to divert Luis Muriel’s header at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. Alisson’s last-gasp save against Napoli earlier this month was of stupendous importance because it kept Liverpool in the Champions League, but it wasn’t a better save than De Gea’s.
BEST ATMOSPHERE IN 2018
Liverpool 5-2 Roma (Champions League semi-final first leg) – European nights at Anfield are always special, but this one sent shivers down your spine. It was absolutely electrifying.
BREAKTHROUGH OF 2018
Andy Robertson – From an £8m player signed from relegated Hull City, he has gone on to become a vital cog in the Liverpool machine and the captain of Scotland.
ONE TO WATCH FOR 2019
Mason Greenwood – Brilliant Manchester United talent, glides past defenders, scores goals for fun.
...AND MY LAST PREDICTIONS OF 2018
Brighton 1-2 Everton
Fulham 2-0 Huddersfield Leicester 2-0 Cardiff Tottenham 3-1 Wolves Watford 1-0 Newcastle Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea Burnley 0-2 West Ham Southampton 1-3 Manchester City Manchester United 3-0 Bournemouth