The Premier League returned last month with many looking forward to how the players will shape up after the lock coronavirus-enforced break.
Since the resumptions, there have been some high points for players while some academy graduates like Bukayo Saka, Mason Greenwood stake their claim in the team.
Who makes the Premier League XI after lockdown?
So, let us look at the best rates Premier League XI after COVID-19 lockdown ahead of the last round of Premier League games on Sunday.
Nick Pope
Two goalkeepers proved their worth during the period under review- on-loan Manchester United goalie, Dean Henderson, and Burnley’s Nick Pope.
Pope has been tipped to replace Jordan Pickford as England’s No.1 with his recent performance with the club. The goaltender has been in good form after keeping four clean sheets in eight games since the restart and averages 3.6 saves per game in that time.
Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Lucas Digne
Cesar Azpilicueta has proven to be the most important player in the Chelsea backline. The ever-present captain has been used in a variety of positions of late but he wins the right-back position in the starting XI.
Since the resumption, Azpilicueta has registered three assists in eight league appearances, as many as in 27 outings pre-lockdown. The Spaniard is also a good tackler with an average of 4.3 tackles and interceptions combined per game during the period under review. He is also part of the only three players who have completed more crosses (excluding corners).
The credit to Burnley’s significant season won’t be completed without mentioning James Tarkowski. The center back has been compared to Virgil van Dijk by his Burnley manager, Sean Dyche since the restart because he has generally been in superb form all season for the Clarets.
The 27-year-old since the lockdown won more aerial duels than any other defender (48) . He also doubled his goal contribution for the campaign in eight outings from the two he initially scored from 29 appearances before the break.
Former Burley defender, Michael Keane also shown much improvement since the break, having completed both more clearances (56) and headed clearances (32) than any other player in the Premier League.
Lucas Digne joins his teammate, Keane on the list. Digne who had earlier struggled with injuries since joining Everton has two assists to his name since the restart, and he averages 4 clearances per game. He is just one short of aerial duel won with Virgil van Dijk having 41 in the Premier League since the restart.
Midfielders: Allant Saint-Maximin, Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling
One can say the long break was a blessing in disguise to Newcastle’s Allant Saint-Maximin. He continued from where he stopped before the break by involving himself in four goals since lockdown, which includes a hat-trick of assists in just 62 minutes against Bournemouth.
The 23-year-old is behind Adama Traore dribble stats post lockdown more as he dribbles every 13.5 minutes of action.
It won’t be surprising to see Bruno Fernandes winning the player of the year for Manchester United. He has been a big coup for the Red Devils that has now found themselves in the Champions League spot.
Since joining from Sporting Lisbon, the 25-year-old has scored and assisted nine goals in the Premier League post-lockdown.
This season’s assist king, Kevin De Bruyne makes the list after registering three assists in eight league appearances post-lockdown, The Belgian is desperately chases down Thierry Henry’s Premier League record for most assists in a single campaign. Since the restart, he has created the most clear-cut chances (9) and registered the most key passes (30).
Raheem Sterling is having the best time of his life in terms of goals for Manchester City, Unfortunately, the club has lost the Premier League and FA Cup but Sterling has been in red hot form since the restart with eight goals in as many outings to set a new personal record for goals in a single Premier League campaign for himself.
Strikers: Anthony Martial, Michail Antonio
Since the restart, Anthony Martial has found the goalscoring touch that made United purchase him from Monaco as a then 19-year-old.
He has now been consistent for the Red Devils Manchester United, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave him the chance to repay the faith in him.
Martial since the restart has been involved in nine goals, which is the joint-most in the division. The Frenchman has also managed more touches in the opposition penalty area than before (59).
Since the restart, Michail Antonio has been in his career-best form. The striker who score four past Norwich is level on goals with Raheem Sterling for most goals scored in the Premier League (8).
His goals have saved West Ham from the relegation battle and he is among the only two players who have won possession in the attacking third more times than the West Ham frontman (10).
