League leaders Man City and Liverpool dominate Premier League Team of the Season
With all to play for on the final day of the Premier League season, Sunday's action didn't disappoint. Manchester City came from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 and pip Liverpool to the Premier League title, while Tottenham romped to a 5-0 win at Norwich to wrap up a top-four finish. Only three teams are represented in the Premier League team of the season - Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham - as we run through the XI that changed on the final day of 2021/22.
Liverpool may have missed out on the Premier League title on the final day of the season, but it's the Reds who dominate the team of 2021/22 with Alisson the first Liverpool representative. Only David Raya (74.3%) had a better save success rate than Alisson (73.8%) in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, the Brazilian also conceding fewer goals (24) than any other goalkeeper and keeping the joint-most clean sheets (20) to secure the spot between the sticks with a WhoScored rating of 6.87.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 7.51
Only Mohamed Salah (13) registered more assists than Trent Alexander-Arnold (12) in the Premier League this season and it's not a real shock to see the England international nail down the right-back spot. Alexander-Arnold made more key passes (90) than any other player in England's top tier to return a WhoScored rating of 7.51 in 2021/22.
Liverpool had the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League this season, shipping 26 league goals, and while Virgil van Dijk is perhaps the poster boy for the Reds' defensive resolve, it was Joel Matip who was the star centre-back for the Reds. Matip occupies one of the centre-back spots having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.35, with three goals and three assists contributing towards his fine rating
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.18
Partnering Matip at the back is his Liverpool defensive teammate Virgil van Dijk with a WhoScored rating of 7.18. The towering Dutchman won the third most aerial duels (117) and made the third most accurate long balls (165) of Premier League centre-backs to feature at the heart of the defence.
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 7.43
Rounding off the defence is the first of three Manchester City representatives. Joao Cancelo was incredibly influential in City's title triumph, landing a WhoScored rating of 7.43 in the process. Cancelo made more passes (2951) than any other player in England's top tier this term, and ranked among the top 10 players for the most tackles (83) this season. In addition, the Portuguese star was directly involved in eight City goals, assisting seven, to feature.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 7.54
No player scored more goals (23) and he registered more assists (13) than any other player as Mohamed Salah takes his place on the right flank in the best XI. Salah mustered more shots (139) than any other player and finished the campaign with the ninth most key passes (63), and created the joint-second most clear-cut goalcoring chances (18) to land his spot in the side with a WhoScored rating of 7.54.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.64
With a WhoScored rating of 7.64, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is the Premier League player of the season. De Bruyne was direcltly involved in 23 City goals in their title winning campaign, netting 15 times and laying on an additional eight assists. 3.6 key passes per 90 was far and away the most in the division to cap another superb season for the Belgian.
Rodri (Manchester City) - 7.44
Joining De Bruyne in the middle of the park is club teammate Rodri. The Spaniard may have endured a sub-par debut campaign in England, but Rodri is now the midfield lynchpin in this Manchester City midfield, as noted by his fine WhoScored rating of 7.44 this season. Only Tomas Soucek (134) won more aerial duels of central midfielders than Rodri (85) in 2021/22, while 2865 passes was more than any other player in his position to contribute towards his selection.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) - 7.52
Son Heung-Min became the first ever Asian player to win the Golden Boot in any of Europe's top five leagues on the final day as the South Korean star ended 2021/22 with 23 league goals to share the award with Mohamed Salah. In addition, the 29-year-old registered seven assists and is the first of two Tottenham players in the team of the season with a WhoScored rating of 7.52.
Son's attacking partner in crime features on the frontline as Harry Kane makes the team of the season with a WhoScored rating of 7.45. Kane started the season poorly following a failed move to Manchester City, yet ended the campaign strongly under the watchful eye of Antonio Conte as he hit the back of the net 17 times, provided nine assists and created more clear-cut goalscoring chances (19) than any other player to secure his place in the side.
Sneaking into the Premier League team of the season on the final day of the campaign, Sadio Mane joins Kane in attack in the best XI. The January arrival of Luis Diaz saw Jurgen Klopp move Mane into a central role and the German was justified by his decision with seven of the Senegal star's 16 league goals coming from starts as the focal point of the Reds attack.
