In 2022, the Premier League put up a fantastic display, living up to its reputation as the best league in the world. Manchester City were outstanding under Pep Guardiola and deservedly won the Premier League after a stunning comeback on the last day of the season.
Real Madrid went on to win the UEFA Champions League by defeating Liverpool. I predicted that the team who scored first would win, and the Spanish giants delivered as promised. Liverpool will not disappoint with their achievements this season, and they are deserving of their celebration following a fantastic season.
This season, Chelsea has struggled with consistency. They defeated Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, giving Manchester City a push for their money.However, they did not show up against the Premier League's lower-ranked opponents.
Tottenham Hotspur just missed out on a place in the UEFA Champions League to Arsenal and Manchester United, and will have to work hard to finish in the top four again next season. In each of the Premier League's big six this season, here's my assessment on the standout players and those who didn't quite live up to expectations.
Manchester United is ranked #6 in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo is possibly Manchester United's only player who hasn't disappointed this season. He has been their most consistent performer over the last year, and his individual numbers add up.
While Ronaldo scored goals, I don't believe he contributed much to the squad. The new manager has a difficult task ahead of him. If you keep Ronaldo for another year, you'll have another year with little to no plan. It'll be a waste if he does well next year and Manchester United finishes third, since he'll depart after that.
Manchester United requires a long-term strategy, which they must implement as soon as possible.
David De Gea is the second-best player.
At Manchester United, David De Gea was the only other player who came close to matching Ronaldo's abilities. He's a great shot-stopper, which is the first quality I look for in a goalkeeper if I'm a manager. He seemed to be back to his best, I thought.
All of them aren't good enough.
It's a difficult challenge to choose only one guy from the rest of the United squad. This season, the most of them were a farce. Apart from Scott McTominay and Fred's occasional displays of consistency, none of the other players merited more than a five on ten for the season.
Arsenal is ranked #5 in the world.
Aaron Ramsdale is the best player on the team.
I could have gone with Bukayo Saka instead, but Aaron Ramsdale has been outstanding. He's had a few shaky performances, but he's outperformed expectations in the majority of the games he's played.
When Arsenal was after him last year, I was perplexed as to why they wanted a goalie who had allowed more goals than anyone else.Ramsdale's made me eat my words, and Arteta got it right here.
Bukayo Saka, second-best player
Bukayo Saka came in second place, just ahead of Aaron Ramsdale, and has been a revelation for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta. He's a threat in the last third and has had a fantastic year.
Alexandre Lacazette: "It's not good enough."
After Aubameyang went, I expected Alexandre Lacazette to step up, but he failed to do so. He's a far better player than his recent results have indicated. Gabriel Jesus has been linked with Arsenal, and I believe he'll be a wonderful fit alongside Eddie Nketiah, who is only getting better.
Arsenal will have to choose a new captain next season, and I believe it will be Ben Affleck.They require a player who can lead by example on the field, and White fits the bill.
Tottenham Hotspur (4th)
Son Heung-Min was named the best player.
Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-Min was absolutely superb. He was the Premier League's Golden Boot winner and has been outstanding. He puts in long hours and rarely receives the recognition he deserves.
Son was not chosen to the PFA Players' Player of the Year shortlist, which I believe is pitiful at the top level. He's been reliable throughout the season and, in his current form, he can play for any team in the world.
Harry Kane is the second-best player.
In 2022, Harry Kane completely transformed his season. Despite not scoring a goal in the Premier League until December, he was only a couple goals behind the Golden Boot winner.
Emerson Royal: "It's not good enough."
This may come across as harsh, but I expected Emerson Royal to be better than he was. Under Antonio Conte, he played every week, although he never quite lived up to expectations in the Premier League.
Chelsea is ranked third.
Antonio Rudiger is the best player on the team.
Antonio Rudiger has been a standout performer for Chelsea. If I'm being honest, I don't recall him having a horrible game. This season in the Premier League, he's been consistently outstanding.
Thomas Tuchel is going to miss Rudiger a lot next season. He'll be difficult to replace, and I'm not sure if Kalidou Koulibaly and Jules Kounde will be able to fill his shoes. Finding a successor for Rudiger is Chelsea's main concern this season.
Mason Mount is the second-best player.
Mason Mount is one of my favorite players, and he has been excellent for Chelsea this season. Reece James was also quite good, although he was out for a lengthy time due to injury. When James and Ben Chilwell were injured, Chelsea's title hopes were dashed.
Romelu Lukaku: "It's not good enough."
All season, Romelu Lukaku has been a disappointment. He got off to a good start against Arsenal, and we all thought, "All right, here we go!"We haven't seen him do it since - he just couldn't get started.
Chelsea will sell him this summer if they can recoup their £100 million investment or something close to it. A loan would be of no benefit to anyone, and it would be of no help to Thomas Tuchel.
Liverpool is ranked second.
Fabinho is the best player on the team.
I'm going to take a risk and choose a player whose absence led Liverpool to struggle. Liverpool can still win even if Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah do not participate. Fabinho, on the other hand, is a must-have for Jurgen Klopp's squad.
Liverpool's midfield isn't especially strong, and Fabinho does an outstanding job of keeping his squad together. He's a must-have in the midfield three, and he's been instrumental in their best performances.
Alisson Becker is the second-best player.
With all of Liverpool's quality on the field, it's easy to forget that Alisson has produced so many outstanding saves for them this season. I might have gone with Salah or Van Dijk, but this goalie, more than any other, produces big saves at big times in major football matches.
Naby Keita: "It's not good enough."
The signing of Naby Keita didn't do much for me. When he came in in the Champions League final, I was taken aback. Liverpool needed a goal, yet in over a million games, he's only scored one.
Manchester City is the best team in the Premier League.
Kevin De Bruyne is the best player on the team.
In Manchester City's 2-2 tie with Liverpool, Kevin De Bruyne was the best player on the field.
When the going gets tough, De Bruyne comes through for his team. He was out for a portion of the season due to a bad ankle, but he's a big-game player who elevated Manchester City to new heights when he returned.
Riyad Mahrez is the second-best player.
This is a tough one, but Riyad Mahrez can't be overlooked. Despite having to contend with Grealish, Foden, and Sterling, Mahrez has appeared in every major encounter this season. That tells you all you need to know about his flawless season.
Aymeric Laporte: "It's not good enough."
Aymeric Laporte was a different player when he originally arrived at Manchester City. City were in peril two years ago if Laporte wasn't fit. This may come across as a little harsh.
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