Premier League 2019/20 - Team of the Season so far!

With the Premier League now back in full swing after the winter break, I felt it was time to reflect and come up with my 'Team of the Season'. There have been so many impressive performers this season, from runaway leaders Liverpool to surprise package, Chris Wilder's Sheffield United. There has been a debate that the standard of the Premier League has not been as good this year due to the dominance of Liverpool, but there has still been enough players to make this decision a tough one.




GOALKEEPER - Alisson Becker (Liverpool)


The Brazilian has carried on his phenomenal form from last season in this year's campaign. Liverpool's number 1 was injured for the first 8 games of the season but has still registered a total of 10 clean sheets in the league and even notching an incredible assist for Mohamed Salah in the game against Manchester United. There have been a couple of other contenders for this award, Dean Henderson at Sheffield United has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and Ederson is always a reliable source for Manchester City however on this occasion its the Liverpool 'keeper that gets my vote.




RIGHT BACK - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)


For a lad who plays at right back, Trent Alexander-Arnold has such an influence on how this Liverpool side show their teeth and show how deadly they are going forward. Scoring in crucial games at Stamford Bridge and the King Power, Alexander-Arnold is breaking the mould for the common right back and showing how the modern full back is expected to play. As a youngster you may have questioned his defensive abilities but this season he has matured into a fine defender and has probably gained a reputation as the best in the world. Along with his goal scoring he has also equalled his own record of 12 assists for a defender in the Premier League and looks a certainty to win PFA Young Player of the Season.

CENTRE BACK - Joe Gomez (Liverpool)


Don't be warned, this team is not going to be 1-11 of Liverpool players, however saying that Joe Gomez's recent form must not only be putting a smile on the face of Jurgen Klopp but will also be pleasing Gareth Southgate ahead of the European Championships. Gomez, alongside Virgil Van Dijk have looked a formidable partnership and for somebody who is just 22 years old, Gomez looks to be on the way to a wonderful career. The fact he only came back into the team because of an injury to Joel Matip could have scared the average player and influenced on performances in the season. That certainly hasn't been the case with Gomez who has taken Liverpool's defence to a different level this season and the confidence the Liverpool team have in each other defensively is exceptional.




CENTRE BACK - Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)


I am genuinely running out of words on how to describe Virgil Van Dijk. Robbed of a Ballon D'or victory back in December but possibly on course to become a back to back winner of the PFA Player of the Year. Van Dijk has been an absolute colossus at the back for Liverpool once again this season, he seems to improve whatever defensive partner he plays alongside whether it is Gomez, Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren. A threat in either box for the opposition, he sets the tone for every game Liverpool play and his passing range is simply sensational. This season looks as if it is finally the end of Liverpool's title drought and Virgil Van Dijk has played a big a part as anyone in ending that, he will go down as a club legend without a doubt and once again he is a definite for the Team of the Season.




LEFT BACK - Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)


Arguably the easiest decision this season due to the lack of quality in the position is yet another Liverpool player in the form of left back, Andrew Robertson. Robertson unlike the rest of the left backs in the league has performed very well this season even popping up with a rare goal in the win at Villa Park which turned out to be crucial in this season's title race. His playful competition with Alexander-Arnold when it comes to assists shows how competitive the Liverpool full backs are, even though Robertson only has 7 in comparison to Alexander-Arnold's 12. The way Liverpool widen the pitch with diagonal passes between players is such a crucial part of how they have played this season and Robertson has been a huge part of that this season.


CENTRAL MIDFIELD - Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)


This lad does not deserve to be where he is in the table at the moment, he is carrying Aston Villa! If the Midlands club were to stay in the Premier League this season they have their captain to thank for it, he has been absolutely tremendous. There has been an ongoing debate this season on who is the better player out of Grealish and James Maddison at Leicester City, for me, Grealish is a better player and will become a more influential player in the future than Maddison. I expect Grealish to get his first national team call-up in the coming months and Gareth Southgate would be foolish not to start him in the Euro's.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD - Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)


The man who is the spearhead of a wonderful Manchester City team, Kevin De Bruyne has had a tremendous season. De Bruyne has an outstanding total of 16 assists in just 26 games and add to that 8 goals, including a goal of the season contender at St James' Park. He is now the player in the Premier League where when he stands over a dead ball or has the ball in a dangerous area, you know your team is in trouble. The fact that Liverpool have been so dominant yet De Bruyne is still one of the favourites for the end of season accolades shows just quite how influential he has been this season and reflects what a special talent he is. I cannot see De Bruyne winning the player of the season however he has been quite magnificent for Manchester City.


CENTRAL MIDFIELD - Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)


The current favourite for the player of the season is Liverpool's captain, Jordan Henderson. What an achievement it will be to be the captain of the Liverpool team that wins its first title in 30 years. Henderson has already became the 5th Liverpool captain to lift the European Cup back in June so he is on the way to hero status at Anfield. Apart from exceptional leadership, Henderson has also taken his game to a different level this season and he has even chipped with a few more goals from midfield, scoring 3 including a crucial equaliser at home to Spurs. With an injury for Harry Kane there is a good chance Henderson will captain England at the Euro's in the summer and his experience could come in handy when it comes to crunch games at the end of the tournament.


RIGHT MIDFIELD - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)


Mohamed Salah has now scored 15 goals in the Premier League this season yet people still seem to think he is not having a good season. Salah is still the player in the Liverpool team who you would be looking for if you need a moment of magic in a game or if you need that goal to start things off. There have been so many goals that Liverpool have scored this season which spring to mind but the one that sticks out is Salah's goal against Manchester United, a goal which seemingly sealed the title for Liverpool and broke Salah's duck against the red half of Manchester, a goal which showed all of Salah's strengths, pace, composure, strength, it had it all and it epitomises Salah's Liverpool career, coming up with the goods when they need him.

LEFT MIDFIELD - Sadio Mane (Liverpool)


Another member of Liverpool's fantastic front 3 gets into this team in the shape of Sadio Mane. The man who seems to be the one who is scoring the late goals for Liverpool this season, his winner at Aston Villa giving Liverpool the confidence boost going into the Manchester City game earlier in the season. Mane has gone to another level this season, terrorising full backs down the wing this season and becoming the most feared winger in the premier league. Mane was an easy choice for this team for me, I don't feel a winger has put in as many important performances as the Senegalese international this season and his link up play with Andrew Robertson has been deadly down Liverpool's left hand side and if they don't get you down the right with Alexander-Arnold and Salah, they will get you with Robertson and Mane.


CENTRE FORWARD - Danny Ings (Southampton)


Danny Ings is probably keeping Southampton in the Premier League this season and he has performed magnificently. Ings has 15 goals this season, 2 off the leader's for the golden boot Jamie Vardy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Southampton looked in a rut when they lost 9-0 at home to Leicester City and their days in the Premier League looked numbered, however manager Ralph Hasenhuttl rallied his team and with Ings upfront the goals started to come back. Ings could be playing himself in to a starting berth at the upcoming Euro's with the injuries to Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford and also with the international retirement of Jamie Vardy. What Tottenham would have paid to have Ings upfront now with the injuries to Son Heung-Min and Kane, there are a couple of top 6 teams who will be looking at Danny Ings in the summer and Southampton will do well to keep hold of the England international if he carries on his wonderful form.

Grand National 2020 - 5 Horses to Watch

With the weights announced today for the 2020 Grand National, I have drawn up a list of the 5 horses I am tipping to look out for in the coming weeks. With the amount of leading contenders going to post this year, it has the makings of a classic at Aintree, so many horses with so many different stories, one story however will take over the news in the build up. Are the history books going to be rewritten? Wouldn't it be excellent if they were.


POTTERS CORNER - 20/1


My first contender for the race is Welsh Grand National winner, Potters Corner. The Christian Williams trained contender is having its first run in the big race and would love for the rain to come in time for the race as those were the conditions back in December at Chepstow. A worry going into the race is the inexperience of jockey, Jack Tudor. The 17 year old will be having his first ride in the race and although Derek Fox and David Mullins have both won on their first rides in the race in the last 4 years, you worry that the inexperience could work against Tudor on this occasion. However saying that, Potters Corner is my leading contender for the race, going off a mark of 10 st 6 lbs I feel if Tudor can get round the treacherous Aintree course, it'll take a good horse to stop it. It's current odds in the market with Sky Bet are 20/1 but I expect that to be a lot narrower once the race goes off. I feel you may see Potters Corner go off at around 14/1 for the Grand National and I wouldn't be surprised if this is the horse that goes on to win the race.


Here is Potters Corner winning the Welsh Grand National in December


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvMYVWdtSB4


Cadmium - 25/1


A horse that knows how to win over the famous Aintree obstacles is Cadmium. A winner at the Grand National meeting last year on the Friday in the Topham Chase at 8/1, trainer Willie Mullins is opting to go for the big one this year with the 8 year old. With jockey Paul Townend in the saddle you would fancy that he will have the know how on how to get the horse round and sustain the energy for the key parts of the 4+ mile round trip. My main concern for Cadmium is its recent form since the win at Aintree, going off as an outsider at Leopardstown in December and failing to make an impression, eventually finishing 7th, a whopping 94 lengths behind winner, Delta Work. I feel Cadmium will run a big race, whether it will be able to handle the extra distance is a huge question mark hanging over its chances, but Mullins has been around long enough to prepare the horse for such a test. I can see Cadmium going off around its current mark of 25/1 for the big race.





Kimberlite Candy - 16/1


One of the most fancied horses for the Grand National is the Tom Lacey trained, Kimberlite Candy. 2nd in the Becher Chase back in December behind Walk in the Mill and looked as if it was still travelling with a decent stride which bodes well for its staying power. Another impressive performance at Warwick in January has got the attention of the punters with a 10l win, stretching the field out in a 3 mile 5 furlong race must bode well for the chances. Jockey Richie McLernon has been around for many a year now and has great experience in the big race, there aren't many other jockeys who know Aintree as well as him. I expect Kimberlite Candy to be second favourite for the Grand National as I believe Native River will be more focused for a second triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I think we will see odds of around 10/1 for the Grand National for Kimberlite Candy and it has every chance.





Ramses de Teillee - 28/1


Pulled up in last years Grand National, the David Pipe trained Ramses de Teillee is going for its second crack at the race in 2020. You would be forgiven for excusing last season's run with it being just a 7 year old and the last 7 year old to win the Grand National was Bogskar back in 1940 so you could say it is a rarity that a horse that young would win the National. Tom Scudamore will probably be the jockey on board, a jockey without a National victory in such an illustrious career, you'd imagine he will surely get one win at the Aintree centrepiece, is this the year this wait comes to an end? I feel Ramses will have a far better tilt at the race this year, whether it will be able to keep up the gallop and not pull up this year we will have to see, however I expect it to go off at around 18/1.





Tiger Roll - 5/1


Well you can't overlook the Tiger can you? The overwhelming favourite for the race and the possible history maker going for its 3rd straight Grand National, the first horse to win 3 Grand National's since Red Rum. I would love to see Tiger Roll win the National for a 3rd time and you have to say it's in the best position to win the race over its rivals. Davy Russell has given the Tiger 2 wonderful rides in the last 2 renewals of the National, timing his pursuit of the leader wonderfully, after coming round the bend into the final 2 fences, delivering its charge and on both occasions jumping the last either in front or joining the leader. You just worry how much weight will hamper the chances of a 3rd straight win, whether it will be too heavy for such a little horse. Owner Michael O'Leary was quoted as saying he did not fancy the chances last year before the triumph over Magic of Light. I don't feel Tiger Roll will win the 2020 Grand National, however I feel it will be the shortest priced favourite in such a long time, I feel it will touch 11/4 with the Aintree crowd backing it all the way.


Here are Tiger Roll's victories in the Grand National.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2K29d_mxoc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V83Jm_gdC8