A bizarre and hugely eventful 2019/20 Premier League season will live long in the memory of footballing fans for a number of reasons.
Whether it be Liverpool's rampant displays to win their first ever Premier League title, or Leicester's impressive capitulation to finish outside the top four despite being the Reds' closest challengers for a while, or Sheffield United's charge towards the European spots, or Arsenal.being, well, Arsenal, or even Norwich finishing the season with 21 points and a goal difference of -49 (blimey, -49?!), it's safe to say it has been a unique season that has been filled with drama.
Oh, did we also mention play was halted for three months due to a global pandemic? No? Well, there's that as well.
Nonetheless, this shouldn't take away from the real quality that was on display for all to see throughout the campaign. Indeed, there have been a number of standout performers in 2019/20 and here, we rank the 25 best from this season
25. Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic is a star in the making.
You only need to look at his display against the champions Liverpool to see that. He was only on the field for 31 minutes, yet he managed to grab himself a goal and an assist - but, more broadly, he made the Reds' defence look.well, average.
Sure, the Blues have Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech now, while Kai Havertz could also be on his way (seriously, does Frank realise who he has in defence?) - but 21-year-old Pulisic must be a starter for Lampard next season.
It's that simple.
Appearances: 25
Goals: 9
Assists: 6
24. Wilfred Ndidi
Wilfred Ndidi's work at the base of Leicester's midfield allows those ahead of him to flourish.
While he may not play the most glamorous role and may not put up astonishing figures in terms of goal contributions, Ndidi is a tireless team player who fights for every ball.
Ndidi tops the list for tackles made in the Premier League this season, underlining his importance to this Foxes team. Sniffing out danger and nipping in to win the ball back calmly and efficiently, there aren't many better in his position than the 23-year-old.
Appearances: 32
Tackles Made: 129
23. Mateo Kovacic
Is it at all possible to dispossess Mateo Kovacic? Ever?
As it has turned out, it is possible - but it's just very rare because it's that challenging.
Kovacic has been a key figure in the heart of Chelsea's midfield, keeping things ticking over with precise passes, but he has also shown his ability to weave through defences and drive forward with terrifying ease time and time again.
Appearances: 31
Take-Ons Completed: 77
22. Harry Kane
When Harry Kane picked up the ball on the edge of the box wide on the left against Leicester recently, it was clear what he was going to do.
Shift it onto his right foot and shoot.
But it's one thing to know what the Spurs man is going to do, and it is another thing to stop him. When Kane is fit and firing, that ball is only going to end up in one place - the back of the net. And this is exactly where it ended up, of course.
Kane is back to his lethal best and when he's in that mood, there's no stopping him.
Appearances: 29
Goals: 18
Assists: 2
21. Adama Traore
Well, if Kovacic is tricky to stop, what about Adama Traore?
Gone are the days of Traore racing towards goal at frightening speed, leaving opposition defenders perplexed before looking up and slicing his cross straight into the stands. Instead, the Spaniard has combined his outrageous dribbling ability with an end product.
It doesn't come as much of a surprise that Traore tops the list for most take-ons completed in the Premier League this season - it's just a case of how much by. Traore managed 20 more take-ons than any other player.
Stop him if you can, however you can.
Appearances: 37
Goals/Assists: 4/9
Take-Ons: 183
20. Jack Grealish
To say Aston Villa relied on Jack Grealish this season would be.well, a massive understatement.
Yes, his form dipped after the restart, but it just had to be him who scored the all-important goal to keep his side in the top flight, didn't it?
Grealish has his critics, but his efforts kept a very average Villa side in the top division for another year.
A talented player? Yes, but that doesn't make him worth £80m, however.
Appearances: 36
Goals: 8
Assists: 6
19. Riyad Mahrez
Mahrez makes the beautiful game look so ridiculously easy.
Defenders are fully aware of his intentions most of the time, but the speed at which he moves leaves opponents with very little time to act.
But it's his intelligence and reading of the game that is so impressive. Take his goal against Burnley, for example. Aware that the defender was looking to shift him onto his weaker foot, Mahrez spotted the gap and indeed turned onto his right before ruthlessly firing home - much to the surprise of Charlie Taylor.
Taylor tried to stop him, but he still ended up being embarrassed.
Appearances: 33
Goals: 11
Assists: 12
18. Marcus Rashford
Dr. Marcus Rashford was another player who thought he would not play again this season due to injury, but the enforced break gave him the time to recover and play a key role in United's push to finish for a top four finish.
The 22-year-old's game is continuing to progress at an alarming rate. Not only did he enjoy his best goalscoring season, he also played a more creative role as well.
Highly influential both on and off the pitch this season.
Appearances: 31
Goals: 17
Assists: 8
17. Dean Henderson
Could he be Man Utd's number one next season?
It is possible, even though many would not have said so at the start of the season. And that is down to Henderson's excellent form for Sheffield United in 2019/20, playing a key role in their push for European football.
Henderson did make mistakes this campaign, but it was his ability to bounce back and prove his worth time and time again that is so impressive.
Man Utd now have a decision to make.
Appearances: 36
Clean Sheets: 13
16. Son Heung-min
Son could have taken up his place on this list simply because of his ridiculous goal against Burnley in December. It was that good.
The goal summed him up perfectly, as well. He showed the willingness and desire to sprint the entire pitch while also showing his quality to skip through challenges, before then producing a world class finish to round off the move.
It doesn't get much better than that.
Appearances: 30
Goals: 11
Assists: 11
15. Raul Jimenez
Raul Jimenez is one of the best all-round forwards in the Premier League.
Goalscoring? Check. Hold up play? Check. Aerial ability? Check. Impressive work rate off the ball? Check.
With 17 goals to his name and with talk of a big money move elsewhere, it would be easy to forget that this is the very same Jimenez who managed a whopping tally of six goals in 33 league appearances for Benfica in 2017/18.
Appearances: 38
Goals: 17
Assists: 6
14. Anthony Martial
"Anthony Martial isn't a striker."
"Anthony Martial can't hit a barn door."
Martial has been criticised by many for lacking the striker's instincts, but he has proven his doubters wrong this season. The Frenchman has always been ruthless in front of goal, but he has added different types of goals to his game now.
The United man has developed into a lethal attacker, forming an excellent partnership with notably Rashford.
Appearances: 32
Goals: 17
Assists: 7
13. Nick Pope
Nick Pope only just missed out on the Golden Glove award this season, an award he would have rightfully earned had he managed to keep a clean sheet on the final day.
Move over Jordan Pickford, England has a new number one.right Gareth?
Appearances: 38
Clean Sheets: 15
12. Andrew Robertson
Andy Robertson was able to surpass his assists tally from the previous season, doing so on the final day against Newcastle.
When considering his partner in crime's performances from right-back, or Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah's goals, or Virgil van Dijk's solid defensive displays.the list goes on.it is perhaps easy to neglect the fact that Robertson managed 12 assists in the Premier League.
It is an astonishing return for a player who works tirelessly for his side, making lung-busting runs up and down the left to support his teammates.
Appearances: 36
Goals: 2
Assists: 12
11. Raheem Sterling
It has been another season of proving critics wrong for Raheem Sterling and showing why he is one of the very best forwards in the world.
The thing is, Sterling doesn't need to prove anything to anyone - he already has. Now one goal away from 100 for Man City in all competitions, the Englishman is in a class of his own - despite what his critics may say.
Appearances: 33
Goals: 20
Assists: 4
10. Danny Ings
Danny Ings' form has been one of the feel-good stories of the season.
The Englishman has thrived in a high-pressing, counter-attacking Southampton side, with his 22 league goals helping them to an 11th placed finish. Ruthless in front of goal but also willing to set the tempo with his work rate, Ings led by example up front.
Appearances: 38
Goals: 22
Assists: 2
9. Bruno Fernandes
You must be really, really good if you grab ninth place on this list and you only joined the league in late January.
Bruno Fernandes only made 14 league appearances for Man Utd in 2019/20, but he still contributed eight goals and seven assists.
The Portuguese magnifico transformed United and drove them towards the top four. This is a player that has already delivered so much on the pitch, but Fernandes' personality and hunger to succeed have also been crucial to improving the dynamic at the club.
Appearances: 14
Goals: 8
Assists: 7
8. Mohamed Salah
Another mesmerising season from Mohamed Salah. The forward's 19 goals were crucial to helping Liverpool achieve Premier League glory, although this tally wasn't enough to see him pick up the Golden Boot again.
Oh, and for a player who seemingly 'doesn't pass', he sure did manage a fair few assists in 2019/20.
Ten, to be precise.
Appearances: 34
Goals: 19
Assists: 10
7. Trent Alexander-Arnold
If Trent Alexander-Arnold isn't whipping in ferocious crosses from the right, he is most likely scoring outrageous free-kicks.
Alexander-Arnold featured in every league game this term and managed to surpass his tally of 12 assists from the previous campaign as he picked up 13 this time around.
At just 21, Trent still has room for improvement as well - which is a very scary thought for opposition defenders.
Appearances: 38
Goals: 4
Assists: 13
6. Sadio Mane
There are few players in world football who work as hard off the ball, and have the same quality in possession as Sadio Mane.
Mane rounded off his campaign in some style, scoring a stunning goal against Newcastle to make it 18 goals for the season. Perhaps what is most impressive about the forward, however, is his ability to step up and deliver when his side have needed him most - particularly early in the season.
Appearances: 35
Goals: 18
Assists: 9
5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
It's almost as if Arsenal should be doing whatever they possibly can to get Aubameyang to sign a new deal, eh?
Even though he would be more dangerous through the middle, he has still managed to grab 22 goals while operating primarily on the wing this season. It has been a difficult season for Arsenal, but the captain has continued to deliver throughout.
Appearances: 36
Goals: 22
Assists: 3
4. Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy became the oldest Golden Boot winner in Premier League history this season as he managed 23 goals (even though he went ten games without a goal at one point).
The striker's goals were crucial to helping Leicester compete right at the very top of the table. And even when the goals began to dry up, Vardy's importance to the team never changed as his game involves so much more than just finding the back of the net.
Appearances: 35
Goals: 23
Assists: 5
3. Virgil van Dijk
Well, this is obvious, isn't it?
At least we know Van Dijk is human after all after a rare mistake (or two) recently. But this doesn't change the fact that he had another phenomenal season at the back for Liverpool.
We dare say the Reds have made back most of the £75m they spent on him.
Appearances: 38
Goals Conceded: 33
2. Jordan Henderson
There are some players who offer so much more to their team than will ever be appreciated or even recognised. One of these players is Jordan Henderson.
The captain has been outstanding all season, whether it be his range of passing or his leadership. You only need to look at how Liverpool performed in his absence to see his importance.
Appearances: 30
Goals/Assists: 4/5
Passes: 1,856
1. Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne can play a pass that very few - if any - others could even spot, let alone execute. In fact, the Belgium international is so good that he has been able to play passes that aren't even visible on the television screen with the camera zoomed out.
His 20 assists this season mean he has matched Thierry Henry's record. But because of this, it would have been easy to forget that he also managed 13 goals.
World class.
Appearances: 35
Goals: 13
Assists: 20
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Source: 90min
