The 2019/20 Premier League season finally came to an end this past Sunday.
Liverpool who sealed the title with seven games to play, came from a goal down to overcome a spirited Newcastle United side while second placed Man City thumped Norwich City 5-0 to ensure they score 100 or more goals for the second time in three seasons.
Man United would finish 3rd after a nervy 2-0 victory over Leicester who ended up 5th. Chelsea sealed top four status thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Wolves.
Despite a 3-2 victory over Watford, Arsenal finished in 8th while Spurs clinched 6th spot after drawing 1-1 away to Crystal Palace.
In the other results, AFC Bournemouth beat Everton 3-1, West Ham United drew 1-1 with Aston Villa, Brighton overcame Burnley 2-1 while Southampton powered past Sheffield United 3-1.
In the end, Bournemouth and Watford joined Norwich as the three sides relegated while Leicester’s Jamie Vardy won the golden boot after scoring 23 goals, one ahead of Danny Ings and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
Here are the XI players who stood out in the 2019/20 season, according to Shaban Lubega.
GK: Ederson (Man City)
Ederson fittingly slots in-between the sticks for my team as he kept 16 clean sheets this past season, the most by a goalkeeper in the League. Despite Man City’s issues at the back and the lengthy injury to Aymeric Laporte, the Brazilian was impressive once again.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
To think that he is still only 22 is scary to the opposition. Anorld has once again impressed at right back in Liverpool’s run to the title, assisting 13 goals, the most by a defender and only second to Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
LB: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
For the second consecutive season, Robertson makes my team of the campaign. He once again did own the left flank, setting up an impressive 12 goals, the third-most in the Premier League.
CB: John Egan (Sheffield United)
No one could have predicted the sort of season Sheffield would have this past camapign. Key to it was a strong defensive display and at the center of it was little-known Egan who played all but two of the 38 games, scoring twice.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
There is no doubt Van Dijk makes my team of the season after yet another eye catching campaign. I am starting to think he ranks so high on the list of the most influential signings in the Premier League history as he has been the key to Liverpool’s recent success.
MF: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
The Nigerian came to Leicester and had an almost impossible task of replacing Ngolo Kante but oh my world, he has done exactly that. They may not have won the League like it was the case with Kante but who in their right mind would think they would do it again even if the Frenchman never left!
MF: Kevin De Bryne (Man City)
Arguably the best footballer in the league currently and the Belgian has justified that tag by assisting a record-equaling 20 goals whilst scoring 13 of his own.
MF: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Aston Villa struggled all season and had to wait until the final day to secure their status but Grealish did shine, scoring a team-high 10 goals. No wonder he is linked to some of the best teams in the country.
FW: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Once again Aubameyang has scored 22 goals and became only the second player-after Thierry Henry, to score 20 or more goals in successive seasons for Arsenal.
FW: Danny Ings (Southampton)
Led Southampton’s revival at the forefront and did it by scoring 22 goals which means he finished only one shy of the golden boot. He was so impressive that it fealt like he would score in every game, especially after the resumption of the league in June.
FW: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Vardy scored the most goals (23) in the 2019/20 season and as a reward, won the golden boot. He is the oldest winner of the gong at the age of 33.
Manager: Chris Wilder (Sheffield United)
I know this selection raises eyebrows but i will go with Wilder for leading Sheffield to one of the most surprising seasons by a newly promoted side. Despite finishing 9th after they seemed to run out of steam at the last hurdle, Sheffield will always be remembered for their brilliant displays in a season in which they started as strong favourites to head straight back to the Championship.
Substitutes:
Allison (Liverpool), Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City), Caglar Soyuncu (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Bruno Fernandes (Man United), Sadio Mane (Liverpool).
