Liverpool and Manchester City stars have dominated the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2022.
Nine out of the 11 players came from the top two clubs from last season with Chelsea and Manchester United also represented.
While the Citizens pipped the Reds to the title on the last day of the campaign, it is Jurgen Klopp’s side that is most represented here with more than half the team hailing from Anfield.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, midfielder Thiago Alcantara and forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane all made the cut, with Salah also winning the Players’ Player of the Year award.
Full-back Joao Cancelo and midfielders Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne made up the trio of City players, but there was no room for attacking midfielder Phil Foden who claimed the Young Player of the Year prize for the second season running.
The PFA Team of the Year 2022
GK: Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
CB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
CB: Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)
LB: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
CM: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
CM: Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool)
CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
LW: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger and United forward Cristiano Ronaldo completed the XI that was revealed during Thursday night’s award show.
Given how City and Liverpool finished 18 points clear of everyone else, it is not so surprising to see the two of them in almost total control of the team, although Thiago’s inclusion may have raised some eyebrows.
While the Spaniard has had a good season, there were other players in his position who may feel hard done by, including West Ham’s Declan Rice, Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Conor Gallagher who spent the campaign on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea.
Ronaldo’s selection up top will also have been controversial, as while the 37-year-old scored 18 goals his efforts could not save United from finishing the season with their lowest points tally in Premier League history.
Many feel that his spot in the XI, and indeed his nomination for Player of the Year, should have gone to Tottenham’s Son Heung-min who scored 23 goals to share the Golden Boot with Salah and propel Spurs to fourth place.
MORE : Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah wins PFA Player of the Year
MORE : Arsenal rocked as Manchester City offer Gabriel Jesus to Chelsea
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