Premier League - Team of the Season 2020/21

It’s that time of year once again. As the end of another Premier League season draws to a close, pundits and fans all begin to focus on who have been the standout stars from around the league in the last 9 months. Not only is this a time to highlight the achievements of some of footballs rising all-stars but is a dream come true for controversial fans like myself who always like to throw a curveball to upset the nearest Chelsea fan. In that spirit, here are our picks for the 2020-2021 Premier League Team of the Season. 

Formation: 4-4-2 

Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) 

After a rough start to the year for Chelsea which saw them drop to 9th, putting them solidly in Arsenal territory, the emergence and signing of Edouard Mendy has become a major contributing factor to the clubs continued success. In 27 appearances, Mendy ranks 2nd in the Premier League for fewest goals conceded (22) and has kept 15 clean sheets in his time at Stamford Bridge. His influence in between the Chelsea sticks has rocketed a once doomed club back to the top of the Premier League and Europe. £22 million well spent - shame the same can’t be said for the other £250 million that’s gone missing from Abramovichs’ pocket. 

Mendy - thegaurdian.com

Right Back: Timothy Castagne (Leicester City) 

In a Brendan Rogers system that relies on quick counter attacks and high pace football, Timothy Castagne has proven to be a valued piece of the Leicester City puzzle. In 22 appearances since signing in September, he has collected 2 goals and 3 assists but fortunately the stat sheet isn’t where Castagne shines. His high work rate and effort has been a major contributing factor to why the Foxes don’t just remain relevant but are starting to become Premier League contenders once again. 

Castagne - thefoxesofliecester.com

Right Centre Back: Ruben Dias 

Manchester City are primed to take another Premier League title in 2021 and make no mistake it’s been nothing less than a managerial masterclass from Guardiola. However, the Spaniards genius can be traced all the way back to the beginning of the 2021 campaign with the signing of 23 year old Ruben Dias. Since his arrival, he has proven himself to arguably be the best defensive signing since Van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 and has been the foundation at the back from which City have built another Premier League winning season. 

Ruben Dias - premierleague.com

Left Centre Back: Wesley Fofana 

At 20 years of age, Leicester Cities Wesley Fofana has had more interceptions per-90 minutes than any other centre-back in the Premier League. Now I don’t know how you might define elite defending, but Fofana has been sure to make 2021 the year he threw his name in the hat of great Premier League defenders. Although the Foxes performance has dipped as the season draws to a close, Fofana’s introduction into first team football is sure to see Leicester through to a Champions League spot in 2022. 

Wesley Fofana - goal.com

Left Back: Luke Shaw 

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a massive fan of Luke Shaw and I’m sure I’m not alone. That being said, he’s taken 2021 by the scruff of the neck and forced himself into the mix of elite Premier League full-backs alongside the likes of Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Whilst being solid defensively and creating more chances at Man United than anyone else not named Bruno Fernandes (52), he has become the definition of “blocking out the haters” and more than deserves his spot within the Premier League Team of the Season. 

Luke Shaw - unitedinfocus.com

Left Midfield: Jack Grealish 

It’s been a slight rollercoaster of a season for Aston Villa, which began with a 7-2 thrashing of current Premier League Champions Liverpool in October that had some of the biggest clubs in Europe immediately turning their heads to some of the young star-studded talent that fills Villa’s dugout. However, key defeats have dropped them further and further down the league table as the season has gone on and it seems they will once again miss out on the chance of any European football in 2022. Despite this disappointment, Villas frontman has never wavered. Grealish has put together 19 goal contributions over the course of the season and has forced Villa into the top ten. He may not know how to drive, but Grealish is still Team of the Season worthy in our book.

Jack Grealish - theathletic.com

Left Centre Midfield: Ilkay Gundogan 

If no one else is going to say it, I will. In 2021, Kevin De Bruyne was not Manchester City’s best midfielder. No it’s not Phil Foden either. In fact, its a player that most believed would be a role player - a seasoned veteran who would be there to pick up the pieces if things didn’t go quite to plan. However, 25 apperances and 12 goals later and Ilkay Gundogan has become quite possibly Manchester City’s most influential player on the pitch. Now, at 30 years old, who knows if he’ll be able to keep this incredible form up going into 2022 but it sure as hell is worthy of a Team of the Season spot for 2021. 

Gundogan- bt.com

Right Centre Midfield: Bruno Fernandes

The stat sheet stuffer himself. It’s hard to find a single attacking stat that Bruno Fernandes isn’t in the conversation for and it would be silly to even try and give his spot on this seasons team to anyone else. In 33 games he has had 27 goal contributions and has been the man at the wheel for Manchester United’s drive back to the top of Premier League football. He tops the list in most attacking stat sheets and is quickly making a name for himself in the conversation surrounding this years Ballon d’Or. 

Bruno Fernandes- unitedinfocus.com

Right Midfield: Mo Salah 

It is ever so slightly poetic. Mo Salah burst on to the Merseyside football scene in 2018 and almost single handedly dragged Liverpool to their first Champions League Final since 2005. In 2021, Liverpool’s story has been very different - plagued by injury and sat 6th in the Premier League. However, this hasn’t slowed the Egyptian goal scoring machine from contending for the Golden Boot against Tottenham’s Harry Kane, who with a handful of games to go stands at the top of the lot with 21 goals to Salah’s 20. Throw in 3 assists and a place among the Premier Leagues best in terms of big chances created and what we are witnessing right no is maybe one of the best attacking players that the Premier League has ever seen - maybe. 

Mo Salah - goal.com

Left Striker: Harry Kane 

Aside from winning trophies, it’s hard to find something Harry Kane hasn’t been involved with for Spurs this season. Like Villa, their season has been a rollercoaster but Kane has cemented himself as not only the best striker in the Premier League but possibly the world. Topping the Premier League stat sheets in both goals (21) and assists (13) is no easy feat and is why Kane will soon be on the top of every major clubs transfer target list very soon if Spurs don’t find a way to start winning. 

Harry Kane - standard.com

Right Striker: Patrick Bamford 

This may be my most controversial pick but like always I have my reasons. After a 16-year absence, Leeds were promoted into the Premier League in 2020 with varying degrees of optimism. Almost a season later, Leeds find themselves comfortably in the clear at 9th in the table with a few giant killing wins under their belt. This has been a group achievement, but the goal scoring efforts of Patrick Bamford can’t be overlooked. With 14 goals and 7 assists, Bamford has single handedly catered for 42% of Leeds United’s goals this season - if that’s not Team of the Season worthy, I don’t know what is.

Patrick Bamford - nytimes.com