PFA Player of the Year 2018: CaughtOffside writers pick their winners, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and surprise pick for Manchester United star

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Team of the Year

Mark Brus

David de Gea; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Davies, Nicolas Otamendi, Harry Maguire; Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Mohamed Salah, Leroy Sane; Roberto Firmino, Harry Kane

David de Gea is an obvious choice in goal after yet another stellar season for Manchester United. Ahead of him in defence I feel Liverpool youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold has to be a late contender, even if people are only just starting to take notice of his quality. The 19-year-old is a huge talent and his solid and mature displays at the back for the Reds have been very welcome given their defensive woes and injury problems with Nathaniel Clyne.

Harry Maguire would be another slightly rogue pick for me, but the Leicester City man is sure to earn an England place now and perhaps a move to a bigger club with some remarkably composed performances at the back for the Foxes. Nicolas Otamendi is a popular pick alongside him, with the Argentine stepping up for City this season after an unconvincing start for him in England.

Ben Davies gets the nod at left-back after out-shining Danny Rose in that position. The Welshman is truly a Mauricio Pochettino success story having come on leaps and bounds under the Argentine.

I’ve gone for something a little different further forward, picking four midfielders and two strikers. Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are obvious picks in the middle, as are Mohamed Salah and Leroy Sane on the flanks.

Up front, I’m amazed not to see more love for Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, who has added goals to his superb work rate and all-round quality up front this season, earning him a spot alongside Harry Kane in my XI.

David de Gea has been out of this world for Manchester United again this season

Robert Summerscales

David de Gea; Antonio Valencia, Stephen Ward, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen; Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen; Mohamed Salah, David Silva, Raheem Sterling; Harry Kane

David de Gea has strengthened his claim as the best keeper on the planet, while Antonio Valencia has also shone in the Manchester United defence despite constant personnel changes around him.
With Vincent Kompany no longer fit on a consistent basis, Nicolas Otamendi has become Manchester City’s defensive leader and impressed in their title win, while Stephen Ward has been a key part of a Burnley side who look set to claim a deserved Europa League spot.
Kevin De Bruyne is City’s main man, while Christian Eriksen is his equivalent at Tottenham. Without Eriksen, Spurs often look devoid of ideas, but with him they are a frightening force.
Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah has been the best player in Europe this season, with former Reds star Raheem Sterling making a reasonable effort of impersonating the Egyptian. I mentioned that De Bruyne was City’s main man, but Silva isn’t far behind and – like Eriksen – is a master at unlocking defences.
Finally, Harry Kane may have appeared a little desperate after going to great lengths to claim Tottenham’s second goal – his 25th in the PL this season – from the 2-1 win at Stoke. But that obsession with goals is part of what has helped him become one of the best No 9s in the world.

Ron Carne

David de Gea; Kyle Walker, Nacho Monreal, Davinson Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen; David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane; Harry Kane

Given he was my pick for POTY, it’s no surprise I’ve gone for David de Gea in goal. Ahead of him, some fairly uncontroversial choices in defence, apart, perhaps from Tottenham youngster Davinson Sanchez, who should really be up for YPOTY. The Colombian has been a rock at the back for Spurs, displacing Toby Alderweireld and somehow staying one of the most solid back lines in the country.

In a rather attack-minded midfield, it’s City pair David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in the centre in what has been a dream partnership this season. Ahead of them, it’s also fairly City-dominated as Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane join Liverpool goal machine Mohamed Salah in attack.

Finally, who else but my YPOTY pick Harry Kane? With 25 goals in the Premier League, something tells me this ‘kid’ has a bright future…

Harry Kane has had another sensational season in front of goal for Tottenham

Sam Wilkins

David de Gea; Antonio Valencia, Nacho Monreal, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen; David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Mohamed Salah, Leroy Sane, Christian Eriksen; Harry Kane

De Gea has, undoubtedly, been one of the best players in the league this season, with there not being any ‘keepers that come close to his level of performances (even Ederson).
Valencia has been a mainstay in a United team that have had a had a massive improvement on last season, and has been, in turn, one of the most consistent and best performing defenders as well.
Vertonghen has been exceptional at the back for Spurs again, and alongside him Nicolas Otamendi has been a mainstay in City’s defence this season. The Argentine has turned into a real leader this campaign in the absence of club captain Vincent Kompany, and not only that, the 30-year-old has also seriously improved on his goal return this campaign, scoring four, with one of those a crucial winner against Man United at Old Trafford in December.
Monreal has had a very consistent season as the back for Arsenal, with the Spaniard contributing to six goals in 24 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side in a below-par season for the Gunners. The former Malaga man has been a shining star in a dimly-lit Gunners back-line this term, and has is deserving of his place in the Premier League TOTY.
David Silva has had one of the best seasons we’ve seen from a midfielder in recent years this campaign, with the Spaniard proving time and time again that HE is the one that makes this City side tick. His contribution of 8 goals and 11 assists really doesn’t do justice as to how good the midfielder has been this season. Alongside him, my POTY pick De Bruyne has been on another level this term – what a combination.
Mo Salah –  30 goals and nine assists in 32 appearances in a record that only Lionel Messi can better in Europe this season, and when that’s the case, not much else needs to be said. The Egyptian is currently having, arguably, the best goal-scoring season we’ve ever seen from a player in the Premier League, with a CL win and decent World Cup the only things that stand in the way from the Liverpool star being a serious contender for the Ballon D’Or.
Mohamed Salah has already scored 40 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, and 30 in the Premier League
Eriksen has been the main creative force in Spurs team that have excelled this season. 10 goals and 10 assists in a Spurs side that are headed for a third top 3 finish in three seasons, it wouldn’t surprise us to see some of Europe’s biggest and best clubs come in for the Danish international in the summer.
Sane, my pick for YPOTY, has been nothing short of superb, with his performances in the second half of the season being the only thing that got him into this team over Raheem Sterling, who has also been having a stellar season at the Etihad.
With the FA’s recent decision to award Kane a goal against Stoke instead of Eriksen, the England international has now become just the third player ever to score 25 league goals in three consecutive PL seasons. The Spurs talisman has been his lethal self this season, and considering just how good Salah has been, it’s amazing to think that Kane is only four goals behind the Egyptian in the race for the Golden Boot.

Billy Hodder

David de Gea; Kyle Walker, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Ben Davies; David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen; Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling.

David de Gea is an obvious and inevitable choice between the sticks having made over 100 saves this season (an extraordinary amount for a goalkeeper in a top four side!).

Kyle Walker has enjoyed his most impressive Premier League season under Pep and at Tottenham Ben Davies has replaced Danny Rose as the Premier League’s standout left back. The top clubs however have all struggled to provide consistent quality at centre-back. Therefore, Sean Dyche’s prized possessions Ben Mee and James Tarkowski get the nod with the duo registering over 80 blocks between the pair this season. (Gareth Southgate, take note!)

Christian Eriksen has had perhaps his best season for Tottenham

In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are obvious choices. It is Christian Eriksen however who narrowly gets the pick over Silva and De Bruyne’s midfield accomplice Fernandinho. Eriksen has created and scored goals in equal and high quantities this season.

Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane are nailed on picks in any team of the year this season with over 50 goals between them in the league. Raheem Sterling however edges out Firmino, Heung-Min Son and Leroy Sane to take the final spot with the Englishman enjoying his most prolific season in the Premier League having registered 17 goals already thus far.

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