While champions Manchester City ran away with the league title in 2020-21, there were plenty of individuals from other clubs who shone this season
Manchester City claimed the Premier League title ahead of Manchester United, while Liverpool and Chelsea ended up in the Champions League places at the expense of Leicester City. But which players stood out enough to guarantee a place in Alex Keble's Premier League team of the season? Getty ImagesGK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Aston Villa’s goalkeeper was probably the signing of the summer. Martinez equalled Brad Friedel’s record of 16 clean sheets for Villa in a single top-flight season, helping transform Dean Smith’s side from one of the leakiest in the division to one of the strongest.
Martinez ranks third in the Premier League for shots saved (15) and second for ‘prevented goals’ (9.71), a statistic that measures a goalkeeper’s saves against the expected goals (xG) of the opposition shots.
But Martinez’s influence goes far beyond shot-stopping. His unrivalled skill in catching shots and crosses – where others would parry or punch – has completely reshaped Villa’s tactical organisation.
Martinez’s sticky gloves allow Villa to reset and get back up the pitch, hence their strength on the counterattack.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
Nobody typifies Manchester City’s season like Cancelo, an intelligent and versatile footballer who nominally played as a left-back or right-back throughout 2020-21, but in reality popped up all over the pitch.
His influence as an inverted full-back has been startling and progressively courageous; at times this season he has advanced in the right half-space like Kevin De Bruyne.
The key to City’s title win was their tactical unpredictability, created by Pep Guardiola through the rotation of full-backs. Depending on the configuration he chose, City could line up with three at the back, dual overlapping full-backs, two extra bodies in midfield, or an extra playmaker in the number 10 position.
Cancelo is the only City player who could perform any of these roles, and from either side too.
Getty ImagesCB: Wesley Fofana (Leicester City)
Leicester City’s 20-year-old centre-back has been a revelation.
Brendan Rodgers probably did not expect to be able to rely on Fofana in his debut campaign quite like he has, but his aggression and anticipatory skills have already made him one of the most revered centre-backs in the Premier League.
Tellingly, Fofana ranks fourth in the division for interceptions (2.2 per game), a stat normally dominated by defensive midfielders. This speaks to Fofana’s tendency to step out from the back and boldly shut down the opposition play, an eye-catching feature that works particularly well in a back three.
Getty ImagesCB: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Almost every player who joined the Premier League from abroad last summer has endured a difficult debut campaign in England, which is perfectly understandable given the country has been in lockdown for so much of the last year.
It is even more remarkable, then, that Ruben Dias has been rock solid for Manchester City.
Dias started the most Premier League games (32) of any City outfield player, his power and athleticism not only keeping Aymeric Laporte out of the side but also drastically improving John Stones.
After the fallow year without Vincent Kompany, City have found their defensive leader for the next decade.