Which stars made the perfect starting XI for the 2013/14 season.
With the new Premier League season just under two short weeks away, fans all over the country are scrambling away to get their fantasy football teams in for the latest effort. A new wave of stars have made their way into the top flight this summer, and some have already proved to be very popular indeed, however, there are some players that are still worth considering thanks to their top ranking last term.
The squad is as follows:
GK: Petr Cech – Chelsea
Price: £5.8m
2013/14 points – 183
The Blues stopper led the league with the joint most clean sheets last term (16) and should he keep Thibaut Courtois at bay he’ll likely perform similar feats with Terry and Cahill in front of him.
RB: Seamus Coleman – Everton
Price: £6.1m
2013/14 points – 244
The Republic of Ireland star enjoyed a 88.5 per cent success rate with passing, and an uncanny eye for goal from a defensive wide position doesn’t hurt either.
CB: Per Mertesacker – Arsenal
Price: £6.7m
2013/14 points – 223
The big German is now a World Cup winner and capped off a fine season that saw him win 96 out of 142 aerial duels, as well as earning a 93 per cent pass succession and made 248 clearances from the Arsenal back line last year.
LB: Leighton Baines – Everton
Price: £6.5m
2013/14 points – 222
Baines became the first player in Premier League history to have taken more than 10 penalties and never miss last season, proving that there is an Englishman out there that does indeed know how to take a penally!
CM: Yaya Toure – Manchester City
Price: £11m
2013/14 points – 342
Toure increased his attacking input art season to score 20 goals and create nine assists in City’s march to the Premier League title. It also meant that Toure clocked up three extra points per goal than a striker would.
CM: Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
Price: £9.5m
2013/14 points – 290
Gerrard clocked up the Premier League’s most assists last year with 13. The Liverpool skipper also scored the same amount of goals and showed that his influence is still just as great despite his advancing years.
LW: Samir Nasri – Manchester City
Price: £9.4m
2013/14 points – 261
Nasri represents excellent value for money having scored seven goals and created seven assists. And now that he has seemingly rediscovered his form he could be good value to improve on last season’s numbers.
RW: Raheem Sterling – Liverpool
Price: £9.8m
2013/14 points: 228
The teenage star made 92 dribbles down the flanks for the Reds last term, as well as clocking up nine goals and five assists. Having grown in exceptionally into his role at Anfield, he will be expected to make an increased input once again.
CAM: Eden Hazard – Chelsea
Price: £10.5m
2013/14 points: 284
Hazard took over from Juan Mata as Chelsea’s new number 10, and Mourinho’s decision to replace the Spaniard with him has been justified. In 32 Premier League appearances, Hazard scored 14 goals and created seven assists, averaging two shots, and making three key passes and four dribbles per game.
ST: Olivier Giroud – Arsenal
Price: £10.2m
2013/14 points: 279
Giroud averaged more than three shots a game last year and scored himself 16 goals in the process. Not bad when you consider that he was forced to do it all by himself.
ST: Luis Suarez – Liverpool
Price: N/A
2013/14 points: 362
Ok, so you can’t sign the Uruguayan hit man anymore, but Suarez scored 31 goals in 33 games for Liverpool last year before joining Barcelona in a £75m deal. Strike partner Daniel Sturridge would make an ideal replacement.
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