Only two players that did not spend the 2021-22 campaign on the books at Anfield and the Etihad Stadium make the grade in a star-studded XI
The 2021-22 Premier League campaign proved another memorable one, with Manchester City pipping Liverpool to the title by a solitary point while Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min shared Golden Boot honours.
Those exploits have not been enough to earn the South Korean forward a spot in the PFA Team of the Year, with only two men not from Liverpool or Man City making the XI.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is one of those from outside of Anfield or Etihad Stadium to get the nod, after showing no sign of slowing down during his first season back at Manchester United, while Real Madrid new boy Antonio Rudiger also impressed at Chelsea.
GOAL is on hand to walk you through a team which includes representatives from nine different nations, with Portugal topping that chart with three players.
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper | Alisson | Liverpool
The Brazil international shared the Golden Glove award with fellow countryman Ederson in 2021-22, but it is the Liverpool man that earns the right to fill a No.1 jersey for the PFA selection.
Alisson kept 20 clean sheets for the Reds and remains a model of consistency for Jurgen Klopp’s side in a vital area of the field.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRight-back | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool
Questions may have been asked of his defensive qualities at times, but Alexander-Arnold remains a poster boy for modern day full-backs and starred again for Liverpool in their quadruple quest.
Chipped in with two Premier League goals in 2021-22, but it was the 12 assists that he provided in English top-flight competition that continue to separate him from other occupants of a right-back berth.
Getty ImagesCentre-back | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool
For many, the Dutchman remains the finest centre-half in world football, with that big billing being reinforced by his presence in a third PFA Team of the Year.
Van Dijk was a defensive rock for Liverpool as they fell agonisingly short in another title tussle, with an impressive partnership struck up with Joel Matip at the heart of the Reds’ back four.
Getty ImagesCentre-back | Antonio Rudiger | Chelsea
Rudiger will be a tough man to replace for Chelsea after taking the decision to leave Stamford Bridge as a free agent and open up a new challenge in Spain with La Liga giants Real Madrid.
The German centre-half was a leader on and off the field for the Blues, with his personality set to leave a void as big as his talent in west London.