Paul Pogba is the only player not from Manchester City or Liverpool to be named in the PFA Team of the Year.
According to Skysports, England forward Raheem Sterling makes his first appearance in the PFA XI and is among six City representatives while fellow Britons Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are two of four inclusions from Liverpool.
PFA Team of the Year
Ederson (Manchester City), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).
Mohamed Salah is not among that number while Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard is also a surprise omission, despite being on the six-man shortlist for the Players’ Player of the Year award.
City’s enviable attacking options have been at the heart of their title defence and Sergio Aguero has once again led the line with aplomb.
The Argentine, currently the joint top-scorer in the league alongside Salah and Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on 19 goals this season, is the only player to retain his position in the PFA side from 12 months ago.
Aguero has edged out – among others – Harry Kane, who is absent from the list for the first time in five seasons.
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane – with 18 goals so far this term – completes the forward line. The front trio are all in contention for the Players’ Player award – as is Bernardo Silva, who has earned rave reviews for his performances in City’s midfield.
The Portuguese and tenacious City team-mate Fernandinho take their spots in the centre of the park, as does Pogba, despite some lackluster displays in United’s recent dip in form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Aymeric Laporte, who signed for City in January 2018 for a then club record fee of £57m, breaks up the Liverpool hegemony in the back four.
Virgil Van Dijk, who joined Liverpool in a record £75m transfer in the same month Laporte completed his move to City, has been a reassuring and instrumental presence in the Reds’ back line.
The Dutchman will be a strong contender to win the Players’ Player award and he partners Laporte at centre-back, with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson occupying the full-back berths.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has conceded two fewer goals and kept two more clean sheets than City counterpart and Brazilian compatriot Ederson.
But it is Ederson who takes the number one jersey with the PFA, which will honour the players at its annual awards ceremony in London on Sunday, April 28.
Samson Oyedeyi
