Who makes our Premier League XI for 2021?

It’s been a crazy year of Premier League football with freak results, thrilling clashes, much of last season spent behind closed doors and a return to packed stadiums this campaign. However, with 2021 drawing to an end we have picked out our Premier League team of the calendar year.

 

Best Premier League XI of 2021

 

Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)

The Premier League has great strength in depth in goal right now, but Mendy earns the spot. While the Brazilian duo of Alisson and Ederson have been regarded as the best in the Premier League for some time, 2021 was the year Mendy usurped them as the country’s top stopper.

While the Senegal star has been protected by a super-stingy defence since Thomas Tuchel took charge, Mendy is capable of stunning performances like his incredible display against Brentford.

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Mendy’s team-mate Reece James has a strong case to be the team’s right-back but the continued excellence of Alexander-Arnold means he narrowly gets the nod instead. Alexander-Arnold has already provided eight assists in the Premier League this term, with only team-mate Mohamed Salah having set up more goals in 2021-22.

Defensively, Alexander-Arnold is still improving but it is surely only a matter of time until he claims the England spot from Kyle Walker, though he will have a battle for the shirt with James.

 

Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

City are on track to defend their Premier League crown and much of their success in 2021 has been built on the solid foundations of a defence that is expertly marshalled by Dias.

He has contributed to City keeping 10 clean sheets in the league so far this season, the most in the division, with Dias almost going under the radar due to the fact he rarely makes an error. Dias has also chipped in with a couple of goals recently, adding to his importance at City.

 

Thiago Silva (Chelsea)

Chelsea’s form has dipped of late but their conversion over 2021 from mid-table also-rans under Frank Lampard into the champions of Europe owes much to the leadership skills of Silva.

At 37, Silva is coming to the end of a stellar career but he has proven that age is just a number. Chelsea will get their title tilt back on track in the new year with Silva key to their league hopes.

 

Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)

The best left-back in the Premier League is a right-back, which just shows how incredible Cancelo has been in 2021. No player has played more passes in the league this term than Cancelo, even though the Portugal international often lines up on the wrong side of defence for Pep Guardiola.

The City boss loves a full-back who can act as a playmaker and Cancelo follows in the footsteps of Guardiola game-changers such as Philipp Lahm in that regard.

 

Declan Rice (West Ham)

West Ham are in contention for Champions League qualification this season and their superb performances owe much to Rice, who is now the league’s outstanding defensive midfielder.

A stellar Euro 2020 for England saw Rice take his game to new heights and while it is a matter of time until he moves on from London Stadium, West Ham will demand a gigantic fee for him.

 

Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace)

Gallagher impressed in glimpses for a struggling West Brom side over the second half of last season but a switch to Selhurst Park has seen the 21-year-old ascend to the stratosphere.

With six goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, Gallagher is making a name for himself at Crystal Palace, but he will surely be a key player back at Chelsea next term. He could even force his way into the England team for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

 

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

United will not reminisce on 2021 with much fondness, but Fernandes remains a shining light.

The Portugal playmaker contributed 13 goals and eight assists in the Premier League over the course of 2021, with five goals and three assists coming so far this season despite compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to take over the mantle as the Red Devils’ main attacking threat.

 

Raphinha (Leeds United)

Leeds may be facing a relegation battle but in Raphinha they have a bona-fide star.

The Brazilian has his eight Premier League goals already this season to maintain his strong form in his first campaign at this level. Raphinha has forced his way into the Brazil team, scoring twice in five international games after breaking into the squad earlier this year.

Whether or not Leeds can hold on to their talisman for too much longer remains to be seen, with Bayern Munich rumoured to be interested.

 

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Salah is a no-brainer pick, with the Egypt star having had a career year in 2021. Indeed, Salah has been so good it raised lots of eyebrows when he drew a rare blank against Spurs recently.

2021 saw Salah become the most prolific African player in the history of the Premier League and he can already be considered among greats like Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer. With 23 league goals in 2021, as well as 11 assists, it is impossible to leave Salah out here.

 

Michail Antonio (West Ham)

Antonio has gone off the boil in recent weeks but he can look back on 2021 with a lot of pride.

This year saw Antonio capped at international level by Jamaica and his form over the course of the year makes it look strange he never had more of a chance with England.

Antonio has provided 13 goals and nine assists for West Ham in the Premier League in 2021. That means only Salah has recorded more direct goal involvements during the calendar year, ensuring Antonio earns his spot despite a recent drop-off in his performance levels.

 

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