Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka and GOAL's Premier League Team of the Season for 2022-23

There are a few contenders for the keeper spot. No-one has kept more clean sheets than David de Gea, but despite that, the Manchester United stopper has had a far from convincing season. Aaron Ramsdale has been largely excellent for Arsenal and has made some exceptional saves, while the usual suspects on Alisson and Ederson have been impressive.

But Nick Pope has been brilliant for Newcastle and has barely put a foot wrong, barring the odd error in terms of distribution. Pope has played such a key role in the Magpies' unexpected success this season, so he just gets the nod.

Kieran Trippier has been a revelation at Newcastle since his move from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, and has played a major role in Eddie Howe’s side securing qualification for the Champions League this season.

Defensively he has been excellent, and going forward he has been an exceptional supply line for the Newcastle attackers, causing opposition teams constant problems with the quality of his delivery, both from open play and from set-pieces. He has seven league assists and one goal, while his leadership qualities have been vital all season.

Ben White deserves a mention for his performances for Arsenal. He has been incredibly consistent and his partnership with Bukayo Saka down the right has been eye-catching, but Trippier just shades this one.

What a debut season it’s been for William Saliba in the Premier League. He started the campaign with people doubting whether he was ready to make the step up after his loan spells in France, but those doubters have long been silenced.

The young Frenchman, alongside the equally impressive Gabriel Magalhaes, has been a colossus for Arsenal, and his injury certainly played a major role in Mikel Arteta’s side just missing out to Manchester City in the title race. 

Another player who started the season with many questioning him. Was he worth the money? Was he too small to be a top level centre-back in the Premier League? Those questions are not being asked any more.

Like Saliba, Lisandro Martinez has missed the end of the season due to injury, but prior to his spell on the sidelines he had been superb at the heart of the United defence. His aggression, his will to win and his technical ability really make him stand out. He’s been a fine addition to the Premier League.

It says a lot that the three Manchester City players who were up for the club’s Player of the Year award were Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake, given the latter's status compared to two genuine superstars of the game.

When Pep Guardiola started to use Ake as cover in the left-back role, many thought it could be a weakness that City’s opponents could potentially expose. But it has proven to be the opposite. Ake has been so impressive and has made himself one of the first names down on the City teamsheet when he’s fit.

Luke Shaw has had a good season at United, while Oleksandr Zinchenko has made a transformative impact at Arsenal, but Ake just comes out on top in the left-back battle. 

Casemiro fans will no doubt fume at this given the season he’s had, while Thomas Partey has also been impressive despite his late dip in form, as have the likes of Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes and Moises Caicedo.

But Rodri has once again been so vital to Manchester City. The Spaniard is such a crucial cog in the City machine and has had another excellent season. It’s easy to overlook the job Rodri does for City, but Guardiola couldn’t do it without him.

One of the best pieces of transfer business in the last few years of the Premier League. At just £30 million, Martin Odegaard has proven to be an absolute steal for Arsenal.

He has scored 15 Premier League goals, that’s more than any other midfielder for the Gunners in a single season in Premier League history. His work rate, his vision and his leadership has been a constant driving force that his team-mates have fed off. A quite wonderful footballer. 

What more is there to say about the genius that is De Bruyne? He has been so impressive once again and the partnership he has struck up with Erling Haaland has been at the heart of City’s incredible end of season form.

There was a point in the campaign when Guardiola issued a bit of a challenge to De Bruyne following a few underwhelming performances. His playmaker-in-chief responded in the best way possible and has had a huge say in the title run-in.

Look away now, Liverpool fans. Yes, Mohamed Salah has had another superb goalscoring season and deserves a lot of credit, especially as the Reds have been so hit and miss. But Saka has just gone up another level for Arsenal this season.

He has scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists at the age of just 21. The winger is a generational talent who helped Arsenal push City all the way in the title race. He has to make the team of the season, despite a late dip in form over the final weeks.

What can you say? An absolute goalscoring machine who has taken the Premier League by storm and ripped up the record books in his debut season in England.

Haaland has been nothing short of a sensation, scoring 36 times in the league and firing City to the Premier League title. He has also chipped in with seven assists, which isn’t a bad number for a striker who many say has nothing to his game aside from scoring goals. Sensational. 

What a season it’s been for Rashford. At times it felt like he was driving United’s bid for Champions League qualification by himself in terms of his attacking output.

A tally of 17 league goals is an excellent return from a player who started the season with many questioning whether he had lost his spark, and he would probably have scored more had it not been for some frustrating injuries towards the end of the season.