90min’s Premier League team of the season

Blink and you missed it, but the 2020/21 Premier League season in now in the books.

In a difficult season that relied on squad depth for prosperity, Manchester City hit the front during the winter and stayed there, collecting a fifth Premier League title and a third in the last four years.

Manchester United returned to second place, matching their best finish in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, while former champions Liverpool recovered from an otherwise awful campaign to finish third and secure Champions League football when it looked unlikely only weeks before.

Chelsea grabbed the last Champions League spot, while Leicester missed out on the final day…again.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton all disappointed, but West Ham were a surprise package and landed a place in next season’s Europa League as a result.

Sheffield United bit the dust at the foot of the table and will be joined in the Championship next season by West Brom and Fulham.

These are the 11 players who made the cut for 90min’s 2020/21 Premier League team of the season…

1. Emiliano Martinez (GK)

Emiliano Martinez had a lot to live up to in 2020/21 following a £20m summer transfer to Aston Villa for his first full season as a number one goalkeeper. But the Argentine didn’t disappoint as Villa dramatically improved, keeping 15 clean sheets to support his team.

2. Joao Cancelo (RB)

Joao Cancelo justified his 2019 move from Juventus at the second time of asking as a star performer in Manchester City’s title winning team. Although primarily a right-back, he actually played all over, including as a more attacking wing-back and also on the left.

3. Ruben Dias (CB)

Ruben Dias has already won the FWA Footballer of the Year award off the back of a sensational debut season in the Premier League during which also vastly improved City centre-back partner John Stones. He is the first defender to win that award since Steve Nicol in 1989.

4. Harry Maguire (CB)

Harry Maguire has taken a lot of criticism this season. But the second best team in the Premier League are a lot worse defensively when he doesn’t play and that has made his overall impact on Manchester United easy to overlook.

5. Luke Shaw (LB)

Luke Shaw has shown glimpses of his best for United over the last few seasons but 2020/21 has been his most consistent year since leaving Southampton in 2014. He finally stayed fit, held off stiff competition for his place and played his way back into the England XI.

6. Ilkay Gundogan (CM)

Ilkay Gundogan stepped up more than any other Manchester City player during the defining portion of the season when the champions won 15 games in a row over the winter to take the lead and never look back. The German scored 11 goals in that run alone.

7. Mason Mount (CM)

Mason Mount has silenced the doubters this season with his performances for Chelsea. He was the only player in the squad to start more than 30 games, proving himself to be a valuable and matchwinning asset for new boss Thomas Tuchel in the race for the top four.

8. Bruno Fernandes (AM)

Manchester United have been completely transformed by Bruno Fernandes, whose form has been relentless since he joined the club in January 2020. He got another 18 goals and 11 assists, while his general attitude and leadership improved many of his colleagues as well.

9. Mohamed Salah (RW)

In a difficult season for Liverpool, especially with Sadio Mane also badly losing his form, Mohamed Salah has largely carried the Reds. He got over 20 goals for the third time in the Premier League and his strikes were particularly crucial in the run-in as Liverpool finished third.

10. Harry Kane (ST)

Harry Kane’s 23 goals for Tottenham secured him a third Premier League Golden Boot and prove just why Spurs are so desperate not to lose him. The England captain also led the league in assists (14), meaning he had a direct hand in 37 goals in 35 games.

11. Son Heung-min (LW)

Spurs will be disappointed with their 2020/21 season overall, but for Son Heung-min it was his best individual season yet. 17 goals and 10 assists were an impressive return and he and Kane have carried what has otherwise been a poor Spurs team.

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