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The curtains have finally been drawn on the 2019/20 edition of the Premier League after a year that will be remembered more for the unfortunate circumstances that have engulfed the world and the beautiful game than for the intriguing battles that have been played out on the pitch.
Liverpool was virtually unstoppable until the end of the Premier League season and won its first Premier League title after 30 years. Jurgen Klopp's juggernaut has firmly placed Liverpool back on top of the perch and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City was far too inconsistent to pose a challenge to the Merseyside giants.
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Liverpool lifts the Premier League title as Watford, Bournemouth, and Norwich suffer relegation horror
While Liverpool's talented superstars had the time of their lives, it was a disappointing season for Watford and Bournemouth. The two clubs were promoted to the Premier League five years ago and have been relegated in the same season after a tense final day.
Manchester United and Chelsea also punched above their weight this season and have managed to qualify for the Champions League. The two Premier League giants are building imposing squads and will aim to win silverware next season.
While most of the usual suspects have reached and even exceeded expectations this season, a handful of impressive youngsters have also made their mark on the Premier League this season. Liverpool is a predictably dominant force in this eleven but several other stars have also managed to propel their teams to surprising positions in the league table this season.
Goalkeeper - Alisson (Liverpool)
Most teams that win the Premier League have one thing in common: a world-class goalkeeper. When Jurgen Klopp decided to splurge an incredible €72.5 million to bring the Brazilian shot-stopper to the Premier League, he was widely ridiculed by fans and pundits alike.
Alisson has since obliterated the burden that his price tag carried and has firmly established himself as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. The former Roma goalkeeper has made Liverpool's defence infinitely more confident and is capable of pulling off some stunning saves.
Alisson has transformed Jurgen Klopp's side and has proven to be the final piece in Liverpool's jigsaw puzzle. The Brazilian is likely to stay in the Premier League for years to come and is already on his way to becoming a Merseyside legend.
Honourable Mentions: Dean Henderson (Sheffield United), Rui Patricio (Wolves), Ederson (Manchester City), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
Also check out: the Premier League Winners by season
Left-back - Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Andrew Robertson is one half of arguably the best full-back pairing in Europe. The marauding Scottish left-back has left the best defences in the Premier League trembling in their wake with his ability in the final third and has also been a solid presence in his own half for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Robertson cannot seem to put a foot wrong under Jurgen Klopp and has an incredible 12 assists this season. The former Celtic defender's crosses and long balls have been an important feature of Liverpool's style and his dedication to the club has earned him a permanent place in the hearts of the Anfield faithful.
Jurgen Klopp has been vocal in his admiration for the pacy left-back. Robertson has become an inspirational figure in the Premier League and beats the likes of Ben Chilwell to a spot on this team.
Centre-back - Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk is the easiest choice on this team and is the best defender in the Premier League by a country mile. The Dutch centre-back has become the lynchpin of the Liverpool defence under Jurgen Klopp and has the rare ability to bring the best out of his defensive teammates on the pitch.
Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's defensive leader and has transformed the Reds' back-line into an immovable object in the Premier League. The Dutchman's intelligence, speed, and physical prowess make him one of the most talented centre-backs in the world at the moment.
Van Dijk has started every single Premier League game for Liverpool this season and is easily the most dependable defender in Jurgen Klopp's squad. The Liverpool centre-back can walk into any starting eleven at the moment and deserves all the accolades that have come his way.
Centre-back - Jack O'Connell (Sheffield United)
Sheffield United has been consistently punching above its weight since the start of the Premier League season and much of the credit must go to Chris Wilder and his unusually effective tactics.
Jack O'Connell plays on the left of Sheffield United's back three and his overlapping runs have become a hallmark of the Blades' forays into the final third. The centre-back has formed an effective partnership with fellow defenders John Egan and Chris Basham and Sheffield United's clout in the Premier League table has received a massive boost as a result.
The Blades have conceded only 36 goals this season and only Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United have a better defensive record than the newly-promoted side. Jack O'Connell has been courted by several Premier League bigwigs in the recent past and is one of Sheffield United's most important players.
Right-back - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold is currently enjoying the best years of his life. At only 21 years of age, the right-back has already won both the Premier League and the Champions League and seems to be in no mood to relent.
Alexander-Arnold is arguably the only full-back in the Premier League who can claim to hold a torch to his teammate Andrew Robertson. The young English defender has racked up 13 assists in the Premier League and also has 4 goals to his name.
The full-back has become a set-piece specialist at Anfield and has scored two exquisite free-kicks since the Premier League restart. Alexander-Arnold has become Liverpool's very own homegrown hero and is well on his way to becoming a club legend.
Honourable Mentions: Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United), John Egan (Sheffield United), Jonny Evans (Leicester City), Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
Also check out: the EPL top scorers by season
Defensive Midfielder - Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Liverpool may have plenty of talent all across the pitch but as far as leadership qualities are concerned, Jordan Henderson is the icing on the cake. The English midfielder is a phenomenal presence in the Liverpool dressing room and has also garnered praise for his performances in the Premier League this season.
The Liverpool captain is one of the most versatile midfielders in the squad and is capable of playing multiple roles in the middle of the pitch. Henderson stepped up to the task after Fabinho's injury in December and did an excellent job as Liverpool's holding midfielder.
The Merseyside giants have waited for nearly three decades to win a Premier League title and Jordan Henderson will go down in history as the captain who won his fans the holy grail.
Central Midfielder - Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best midfielder in the world at the moment. The Belgian maestro has blossomed into a world-class talent under Pep Guardiola and has taken the Premier League by storm this season.
Manchester City's defensive woes have ruined the side's defence of the Premier League title but Kevin De Bruyne's exploits have not been affected by his team's lack of consistency. The former Chelsea midfielder equalled Thierry Henry's longstanding record of 20 assists in a single Premier League season and is virtually unplayable in the final third.
De Bruyne has also scored 13 goals in this edition of the Premier League and has been Manchester City's best player by a considerable distance. The talented midfielder will play a crucial role in his side's Champions League campaign next month.
Attacking Midfielder - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes is one of the most questionable inclusions on this team given that he joined the Premier League in January and has played only 14 games since his arrival.
While the likes of Maddison and Jack Grealish have played an entire Premier League season, the impact that Bruno Fernandes has had at Manchester United could have hardly been predicted ahead of the Premier League restart. With 8 goals and 7 assists, the Portuguese midfielder is the driving force behind Manchester United's third-place finish this season.
Manchester United has been unbeaten in the Premier League since January and much of the Red Devils' success since the restart can be attributed to Bruno Fernandes' creative inclinations on the pitch. The midfielder is building a potentially fruitful relationship with Paul Pogba and has become one of the leaders of the Manchester United dressing room.
Honourable Mentions: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), James Maddison (Leicester City), Rodri (Manchester City), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Fabinho (Liverpool)
Left-wing - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, on his day, is one of the most lethal forwards in the Premier League. The Arsenal captain has dragged his team across the finish line on numerous occasions this season and has found the back of the net with astonishing regularity.
The Gunners have endured a miserable season and have ended the Premier League season in a lowly 8th place. Aubameyang, however, has been as prolific as ever and has scored 22 of Arsenal's 56 goals in the season.
The Gabonese striker is Arsenal's best player at the moment and came agonisingly close to the Golden Boot after a brilliant performance against Watford on the final day of the Premier League season.
While Sadio Mane has an equally strong case to occupy the left flank on this team, it is incredibly difficult to look past the fact that the Gunners would find themselves in the bottom half of the table without Aubameyang's goals this season.
Striker - Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Jamie Vardy seems to have the uncanny ability to wriggle his way into any given list of goalscorers. The experienced English striker edged Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Danny Ings to the Golden Boot with 23 goals this season and has become Leicester City's knight in shining armour yet again.
The Foxes have struggled since the Premier League restart and shockingly failed to qualify for the Champions League despite Jamie Vardy's best efforts. While Brendan Rodger's side certainly cannot be proud of the latter stages of its campaign, Jamie Vardy's sheer presence in the final third holds the team in good stead ahead of next season.
Right-wing - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah seems to be scoring goals for fun at Anfield. The Premier League's Egyptian king has become the forefront of Liverpool's potent attacking trident alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino and is one of the best wingers in the league.
Salah's sheer pace and finishing prowess have seen him record 19 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this season. The former Chelsea winger has been devastating throughout the season and has put in crucial performances against some of the biggest teams in the Premier League.
The Egyptian winger has already become a legend at Anfield and is set to score goals for the club for years to come.
Honourable Mentions: Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Danny Ings (Southampton), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Raul Gimenez (Wolves)
Premier League Team of the Season (2019/20): (4-3-3)
Alisson Becker; Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Jack O'Connell, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Jordan Henderson, Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jamie Vardy, Mohamed Salah
Also Read: EPL 2019-20 Champions | 5 key moments that define Liverpool's title-winning campaign
