TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2017 SPORTS A look back on the 2016-17 EPL season The team of the season AFP Sport’s London football reporters pick the team of the Premier League season, deployed in the 3-4-3 formation used so suc- cessfully by champions Chelsea: DAVID DE GEA (MANCHESTER UNITED) In a season when United’s Achilles heel has been their failures in front of goal, keeping the opposition out at the other end has been more crucial than ever. Fortunately for United manag- er Jose Mourinho, he has a goalkeeper who remains the gold standard in the top flight. CESAR AZPILICUETA (CHELSEA) Converted from right-back to one of Chelsea’s three central defensive anchors, the 27-year-old has been a model of consistency for the champi- ons. Azpilicueta’s clever reading of the game never lets him down and he is also comfortable in possession. DAVID LUIZ (CHELSEA) During Luiz’s previous stint at Chelsea, former LONDON: Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante poses with the English Premier League Manchester United captain Gary Neville opined trophy, as players celebrate their league title win at the end of the Premier League football that the Brazilian played like he was being “con- match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. — AFP trolled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation”. Yet Luiz has enjoyed sweet redemption on his return to N’GOLO KANTE (CHELSEA) ALEXIS SANCHEZ (ARSENAL) Stamford Bridge this season, performing with An unassuming figure on and off the field, Almost single-handedly, the Chile forward such steel and style that Neville now say he fits Kante’s performances once again did the talking has kept spluttering Arsenal from completely “perfectly” into Antonio Conte’s defence. for him as he scooped up a host of awards. After imploding during a trying year for the player playing a major part in Leicester City’s title tri- and his club. Despite stalling over a new con- TOBY ALDERWEIRELD umph 12 months ago, Kante’s peerless play in tract, Sanchez has been unstoppable at times, (TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR) the midfield holding role helped transform scoring 24 goals while also hitting double fig- Possessing the strength and aerial prowess to Chelsea from a rudderless shambles to worthy ures with his assists. cope in the rough and tumble Premier League, champions. Alderweireld also has the football intelligence HARRY KANE (TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR) required to thrive in Tottenham’s fluid formation. DELE ALLI (TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR) Having become only the fourth player to His value was clear to see last month when the Alli was named Professional Footballers’ score at least 20 goals in three consecutive club reportedly offered to double their Belgian Association (PFA) Young Player of the Year for the Premier League seasons, the England striker is defender’s wages in a bid to fend off interest second consecutive campaign as the 21-year-old rapidly emerging as one of the world’s top fin- from Europe’s leading teams. continues to develop into a midfielder of genuine ishers. His goals helped Tottenham finish above guile and grace. Combining an eye for goal with Arsenal for the first time in 22 years and VICTOR MOSES (CHELSEA) clever movement and deft passing, Alli is now the although they missed out on the title, Kane’s star LONDON: Arsenal’s Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey (R) celebrates with team- When the Nigerian turned up for pre-season fulcrum of one of Europe’s most vibrant teams. is on the rise. mates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football training at the start of the Conte era, it seemed match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium. — AFP only a matter of time before he was sent packing MARCOS ALONSO (CHELSEA) EDEN HAZARD (CHELSEA) from Chelsea once and for all. But despite When Alonso was signed for �23 million ($30 He may have missed out on the individual spending most of his five-year Chelsea career on million, 27.7 million euros) from Fiorentina just awards to Kante, but Hazard’s return to form was The five best matches loan elsewhere, Moses became one of the sea- before the transfer deadline, many pundits dis- just as significant in Chelsea’s title triumph. After son’s most pleasant surprises as Conte turned missed the former Bolton Wanderers defender as struggling for much of the previous season, the ARSENAL 3 LIVERPOOL 4 (AUGUST 14) League defeat this season. Christian the inconsistent winger into a powerful pres- a panic buy. But just months later, the Spaniard Belgian playmaker’s bewitching skills and cool Kicking off the season in style, Jurgen Eriksen’s superb strike gave the visitors a ence at right wing-back. has silenced the critics and cemented his place finishing were on display as he was revitalized Klopp’s Liverpool left Arsenal with what flying start, but Pedro curled in a spectac- as Chelsea’s left wing-back. by Blues boss Conte. —AFP would become a familiar sinking feeling. ular effort to draw Chelsea level. Spurs’ Theo Walcott fired Arsenal ahead miserable record at Stamford Bridge was moments after missing a penalty. But extended to 30 games without a win Philippe Coutinho equalised with a bril- after Victor Moses scored the winner six The five best goals liant free-kick before Adam Lallana put minutes into the second half. Liverpool in front after the break. DIMITRI PAYET (WEST HAM Coutinho poked in his second and Sadio MANCHESTER CITY 1 UNITED 1-1 MIDDLESBROUGH) Mane slammed home after a brilliant run, CHELSEA 3 (DECEMBER 3) Payet became a pariah at West Ham after before Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade- Chelsea’s eighth successive league forcing through a move to his former club Chamberlain scored a fine solo goal and win cemented their place at the top of Marseille in January, but he left the club’s fans Calum Chambers headed in to set up a the table and sparked a furious with one last shimmering memory of his talent. tense finale as Liverpool held on. response from City as Sergio Aguero With West Ham trailing 1-0 at home to and Fernandinho were sent off in a Middlesbrough in October, Payet picked the ball TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 WEST HAM spiteful finish. Chelsea trailed to Gary up wide on the left and span around Antonio UNITED 2 (NOVEMBER 19) Cahill’s own goal on the stroke of half- Barragan. He drove into the box, cut inside Tottenham maintained their unbeaten time, but Diego Costa equalised and Marten de Roon, threw Calum Chambers with a start to the league season in sensational Willian came off the bench to put step-over and forged past Ben Gibson and the fashion as Harry Kane struck twice in the Chelsea ahead. Eden Hazard’s strike sliding George Friend before easing a shot into final moments of a classic London derby completed a significant statement of the bottom-left corner. at White Hart Lane. Michail Antonio’s intent from the champions elect. first-half header for West Ham was can- HENRIKH MKHITARYAN (MANCHESTER celled out by a Harry Winks goal on his BOURNEMOUTH 4 UNITED 3-0 SUNDERLAND) full league debut for Tottenham. A LIVERPOOL 3 (DECEMBER 4) Mkhitaryan made a slow start to his United Manuel Lanzini penalty put West Ham Bournemouth staged the comeback career, but he was well on his way to becoming a back in front, but Kane’s late show turned Henrikh Mkhitaryan fan favorite by the time he scored with a daz- the contest on its head. In the 89th of the season as they recovered from 3-1 zlingly innovative volley against Sunderland in minute, the Tottenham star converted down to rock Liverpool with three goals ing Hector Bellerin’s pass into the path of Granit the hapless goalkeeper as Carroll netted a text- December. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s cross from the Son Heung-Min’s cross and two minutes in the last 14 minutes at Dean Court. Xhaka, who helped it on to Alex Iwobi. Iwobi book scissors kick in a 2-0 win in mid-January. right arrived just behind the Armenian as he later the South Korean was brought Sadio Mane and Divock Origi scored to played it down the left flank to Alexis Sanchez, Michail Antonio picked him out with a cross moved towards the near post. But he adjusted down in the area by Havard Nordtveit put Liverpool in control, but the second- who cut inside and crossed. Giroud had got from the left and the giant striker launched him- brilliantly, throwing himself to the ground and and Kane tucked away the resulting spot- half introduction of Bournemouth ahead of the ball, but he jutted out his left heel self into a sublime mid-air bicycle kick that sent using his right heel to ping the ball inside the far kick. Kane’s heroics meant Mauricio winger Ryan Fraser was the turning and hooked a volley over his own head, over the the ball crashing into the top-right corner. post. To the chagrin of United’s rivals, the goal Pochettino’s team were 12 games point. Fraser quickly won a penalty that despairing dive of Wayne Hennessey and into was allowed to stand despite a clear offside. unbeaten-the first time they managed was converted by Callum Wilson. Emre the net via the underside of the crossbar. “Oh my EMRE CAN (WATFORD 0-1 LIVERPOOL) that since the 1960-61 season. Can restored Liverpool’s two-goal advan- gosh,” said Gary Neville on Sky Sports’ commen- A forgettable early May encounter at Vicarage tage, but Fraser gave Bournemouth hope OLIVIER GIROUD tary.