As the curtain comes down on an unforgettable year in human history. Some were immortalized in football terms, as lots of on-pitch memories were created in 2020 for fans watching at home.
Football was suspended all over the world in March in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, some leagues resumed in June in front of empty stadiums for the rest of the year. With days left in 2020, Football Castle brings a lineup of the best players and manager in the Premier League throughout the year.
Goalkeeper
Alisson: Alisson Becker was once again the most consistent ‘keeper in 2020. The Brazilian’s influence was pivotal as Liverpool cruised to their first Premier League title in 30 years as he kept 13 clean sheets in 29 games.
Liverpool are a much different side without the 28-year-old’s distribution, calming influence and overall quality as a shot-stopper. When he was injured in 2020, The Reds were a shaky unit until Caoimhin Kelleher stepped up to deputise adequately in early December.
Defence
Trent Alexander-Arnold: The Liverpool right-back had another memorable 2020 as he won the Premier League Young Player of The Year Award after supplying 13 assists. Alexander-Arnold began the year in some strong form but got briefly overwhelmed as Liverpool’s long unbeaten run was ended. He would return from lockdown with sights firmly fixed on the title and scored two wonderful freekicks against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson were as influential to Liverpool’s title win as Alexander-Arnold in a defensive unit which was key in both boxes. Van Dijk’s ACL injury in October cut short his 2020 but the Dutchman had sealed his place as the best centre back due to his consistent showings at the back. Robertson remained a bundle of energy down Liverpool’s left through the quick turnaround of games this year, the Scotsman would be looking to keep his levels up in 2021.
Tyronne Mings: Much like Aston Villa, Tyronne Mings has enjoyed a rollercoaster year. They started 2020 fighting to avoid relegation, securing some rather solid performances post-lockdown as they beat the drop by a single point.
The Villains have gone from strength to strength in the current campaign, especially defensively, as Mings has guided them to seven clean sheets and some very commendable performances in front of goalkeeper Emi Martínez. The Birmingham side sit fifth on the standings six points off top spot with two games in hand, good fortune that has been made possible by the solid performances of their centre back.
Midfield
N’golo Kanté had an injury-ridden 2019/20 season but enjoyed better fortunes in 2020. The period of Lockdown afforded the Frenchman some much-needed rest as he resumed the season firing. He has also returned to his favourite position as the lone defensive midfielder as Frank Lampard favoured the 4-3-3 formation since June.
Only three players have recorded more tackles than Kanté this season, no outfield player has more recoveries and he is behind only Burnley’s Josh Brownhill (41) for successful interceptions (37) this season.
Bruno Fernandes was the Premier League’s standout player of 2020; The Portuguese has turned heads at Manchester United since his debut and hasn’t looked back since, winning three Player of The Month awards this year. Fernandes has hit 18 goals and 14 assists from only 29 appearances in 2020 as he surpassed Frank Lampard’s record (29) of the most goal involvements in a calendar year (32).
Bruno’s purchase was the main catalyst for United finishing third last season and he has become an FPL legend this season as United closed out 2020 only two points behind Liverpool in second place.
- Bruno Fernandes and Kevin de Bruyne mirroring similarities
- Premier League flops of the 2020/21 season
Kevin De Bruyne had a record campaign winning the PFA Player of The Year in 2019/20 but the form of Bruno Fernandes has made him impossible to ignore in 2020. The Belgian maestro delivered 13 goals and 20 assists in the Premier League last season but Manchester City have dropped a level attacking-wise after losing David Silva, then Sergio Agüero for much of this season.
KDB’s performances haven’t dipped this season but the lack of goal threat means he has ‘only’ two goals and seven assists having created 11 big chances for teammates. The 29-year-old would be looking forward to additions in the striker department as City struggle to convert chances.
Attack
Mohamed Salah is well on course to break more historic Liverpool records after scoring 19 and assisting 10 to help them to their First Premier League title. The Egyptian is on an even more purposeful run this season having netted 13 goals and three assists in only 14 games.
The 29-year-old’s form would be a huge catalyst in Liverpool’s quest for a consecutive title which they are currently in control of. Salah has looked very sharp in 2020/21 and is already one of the players of the season; if he stays fit, then Liverpool would have had another memorable campaign.
Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min have struck up quite the attacking duo this season. The Tottenham attackers are benefitting from six seasons of playing together as they have set each other up 12 times this season. Kane has superbly taken on the creative role from deep in José Mourinho’s team while Son haunts the spaces with runs looking to feed off Kane’s ranging passes.
Kane has more assists than anyone this season (10) and only Salah has scored more than Son’s 11 goals. Both men are now in the hunt for the record Premier League goal combinations by Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba (36) and would look to hit that number sooner rather than later in the new year.
Picking a manager for this Premier League Team of The Year 2020 was probably the hardest bit, considering each of Jürgen Klopp, José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti had deserving records in their own right.
However, for the sheer consistency and durability of his team, despite key injuries in 2020/21, Klopp’s place as the manager of 2020 would go alongside his surprising FIFA The Best Coach of the Year accolade and 2019/20 Manager of The Season. Klopp’s Liverpool suffered only four Premier League defeats in the whole of 2020 as they preserved their unbeaten home record to a fourth calendar year.
Who would be in your own Premier League team of the year 2020? Add yours in the comments below
