Premier League team of the season – 2022/23
After 10 months, 380 games, 1,084 goals and 16 managerial changes, the 2022/23 Premier League season is finally over.
And, all told, it was a pretty historic one.
A certain Man City striker broke historic record after historic record, Arsenal produced a rather historic bottle job, and Chelsea fans endured a historic season of perrenial woe.
After all that, 90min have decided to pick our very own team of the season.
GK – Nick Pope
Nick Pope may never displace Jordan Pickford between the sticks at international level, but at club level this season the Newcastle United number one proved he’s one of the very best goalkeepers around.
Signing for a measly £10m (measly in the football world only, of course), Pope conceded a league-low 33 goals and bagged himself two Castrol Save of the Month awards as the Magpies secured UEFA Champions League qualification.
RB – Kieran Trippier
It wasn’t that long ago that Kieran Trippier was probably making ‚worst team of the season‘ articles during the latter stages of his Tottenham career.
Following a stint under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid, however, Trippier has returned to the Premier League as a new and improved footballer.
The Newcastle captain was at the heart of his club’s stunning 2022/23 campaign, providing attacking prowess in the final third – bagging seven assists – and defensive nous at the other end too. A brilliant season from the 32-year-old.
CB – William Saliba
Want to know just how good William Saliba is?
Well, while he was fit, Arsenal were eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
After he got injured, Arsenal dropped 15 points and missed out on their first league title in almost 20 years.
Saliba was extraordinary until he suffered his season-ending injury.
CB – Nathan Ake
Very few people expected Nathan Ake to be Manchester City’s best defender during the 2022/23 season.
And yet, he bloody was.
The piano-playing defender covered at centre-back and left-back for Pep Guardiola’s side and never once looked out of place in either position.
LB – Luke Shaw
Another defender who played brilliantly at centre-back and left-back this season was Luke Shaw.
The England international enjoyed a career-best campaign in a rivatalised Manchester United team, becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet for new manager Erik ten Hag in the process.
CM – Kevin De Bruyne
When was the last time Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t in a team of the season?
The Belgian cemented his legacy as one of the Premier League’s true all-time greats this past season, bagging a league-best 16 assists as Man City romped to yet another title.
KBD is now one of just five players to hit the 100 assist mark in the league’s history.
CM – Ilkay Gundogan
If there’s one thing Manchester City need to do this summer, it’s get Ilkay Gundogan to sign a new contract at the club.
The German was electric in a more advanced role for Pep’s side this season. His eight league goals were key to City winning yet another league title.
AM – Bukayo Saka
2022/23 will be remembered as the season in which Bukayo Saka went from ‚Starboy‘ to a genuine footballing superstar.
His quite stunning return of 14 goals and 11 assists were both career bests for the 21-year-old, and the safe money is on Saka hitting similar numbers next season, and the season after that, and the season after that too.
AM – Martin Odegaard
Odegaard is now officially the player we all signed in Football Manager 2015. He is now officially that good.
The Norwegian’s 15 league goals were crucial to Arsenal mounting an unlikely title challenge, and his new-found leadership qualities have made him the heart and soul of Mikel Arteta’s exciting young team.
ST – Harry Kane
How did Harry Kane manage to score 30 goals for a team as bad as 2022/23 Tottenham Hotspur?
It’s staggering.
Truly staggering.
The England captain continued to his jaunt towards the Premier League all-time top scorer crown with yet another brilliant campaign in front of goal. Whether or not it’s his last with the Lilywhites remains to be seen…
ST – Erling Haaland
Rounding off 90min’s team of the season is a man who broke the record for most goals in a single Premier League season: Erling Haaland.
The 22-year-old bagged himself 36 goals in 35 appearances following his summer move to Man City.
Which is just utterly ridiculous.