We had a Premier League season of almost a year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, and somehow it seems like we had two seasons.
There was one that saw dominant Liverpool flee with the league, cruising Leicester City between the top two and Manchester United in search of form.
[ MORE: What has Project Restart changed for ‘Big Six?’ ]
Then there was the mini season called Project Restart in which the Reds claimed the league, but both Manchester teams looked better, Leicester fell off a cliff, and Southampton came up the table.
[ MORE: Grades for every club ]
So, before delving into the incredible challenge of naming a Best XI for the 2019-20 Premier League season, let’s take a moment to congratulate the men who crushed the reboot.
Premier League Project Restart Best XI
Although Van Dijk had a failure against Arsenal and was not legendary against Man City, the Dutchman was one of the best since the league returned from the coronavirus hiatus. But there were so many attackers to fit this, so …
Southampton had the fourth highest number of points of any team during the restart and Ings and Ward-Prowse were the key parts of their solid game.
Everton stumbled, but it was impossible to pin him on Keane and (until late on reboot) center-mate Mason Holgate.
This is difficult for Michail Antonio, but it was him or Ings.
Project Restart Better XI
E. Martinez (Arsenal)
– Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) –Keane (Everton) – Azpilicueta (Chelsea) –
– Ward-Prowse (Southampton) – Fernandes (Manchester United) – De Bruyne (Man City) –
– Pulisic (Chelsea) – Ings (Southampton) – Rashford (Manchester United) –
Premier League 2019-20 Best XI
This was the year of the attacker and there is a group of amazing talents that will not make the Best XI, the Second XI or even the Third XI if you don’t cheat with the positions.
Liverpool had Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah combine for almost 40 goals and 20 assists, while Sergio Agüero and Raheem Sterling of Man City were electric. Heck, Riyad Mahrez had one of the best minute-by-minute seasons in the league when he managed to get field time.
Then there are Kane, Vardy, Aubameyang and Willian. There are Ings, Rashford, Jiménez and Traore.
It is crazy. So we are prepared for your anger as we deploy our teams.
Best XI
Ederson (city of man)
– Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – Van Dijk (Liverpool) – Maguire (Man Utd) – Azpilicueta (Chelsea) –
– Henderson (Liverpool) – Ndidi (City of Leicester) –
– De Bruyne (City of Man) –
– Traore (Wolves) – Aubameyang (Arsenal) – Salah (Liverpool) –
Premier League 2019-20 Second XI
Not being able to find places for Agüero, Jiménez, and Rashford is really difficult, and fans of Alisson Becker and Dean Henderson will be aggrieved by the inclusion of Pope.
Perhaps the most annoying are the Spurs supporters, as Kane loses to Golden Boot winner Vardy, and Hugo Lloris was just wonderful on the stretch, but he missed many games with an elbow injury.
Moutinho alone comes over teammate Ruben Neves, and Georginio Wijnaldum was also considered here.
One thing is for sure: We would bet that two of these teams will look very different next season, and hopefully the first XI named in this post isn’t required.
Second XI
Papa (Burnley)
– Wan-Bissaka (Man Utd) – Tarkowski (Burnley) – Soyuncu (City of Leicester) – Digne (Everton) –
– Fabinho (Liverpool) – Rodri (City of Man) – Moutinho (Lobos) –
– Mane (Liverpool) – Vardy (Leicester) – Sterling (Man City) –
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