Premier League Team of the Decade: Virgil Van Dijk, Sergio Aguero, Eden Hazard and more
Our writers recap the past decade with their best XIs
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Your support makes all the difference.The end of the decade is approaching with an array of stars gracing the Premier League in that time.
It’s been a period dominated by the Blues: Manchester City (4) and Chelsea (3) have shared seven titles between them. Another team in blue, Leicester City won the most memorable title of the lot, while Manchester United claimed two titles, although that seems a long time ago now given their recent struggles.
Global stars have come and gone; Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Eden Hazard used the league as a platform to earn moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But the game’s best managers, including Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino arrived to help the league dominate in Europe once more.
After Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville debated their own teams of the decade on Monday Night Football, our writers pick their best XIs from the last decade.
Miguel Delaney: De Gea; Azpilicueta, Kompany, Van Dijk; Silva, Kante, Toure, Hazard; Kane, Suarez, Aguero
Miguel opts for firepower up top and three at the back – a system that came back into fashion in England during Antonio Conte’s time at Chelsea in 2016.
Melissa Reddy: De Gea; Azpilicueta, Kompany, Van Dijk, Robertson; Kante, Toure, Silva; Hazard, Suarez, Aguero
In one of the most interchangable positions in our sides, Melissa selects Andrew Robertson at left-back in a back four, with the Scot fundamental to Jurgen Klopp revitalising Liverpool over the course of the last few years.
Mark Critchley: De Gea; Zabaleta, Kompany, Van Dijk, Azpilicueta; Kanté, Toure; Suarez, Hazard, Bale; Aguero
Mark is the first to select two-time PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale, whose stay in England was short-lived before his big move to Real Madrid, though he left his mark with a collection of stunning goals.
Vithushan Ehantharajah: De Gea; Kompany, Van Dijk, Azpilicueta; Hazard, Kante, Toure, Silva; Vardy, Suarez, Aguero
Vish pays tribute to that Leicester City side with Jamie Vardy, whose renaissance under Brendan Rodgers has provided a reminder of how lethal he can be in front of goal – still holds the record for scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches.
Ben Burrows: De Gea; Ivanovic, Kompany, Terry, Azpilicueta; Silva, Toure, Kante, Hazard, Kane, Aguero
Ben selects John Terry at the back, who appears to be the only competition for Virgil Van Dijk and Vincent Kompany at the back. Terry won three titles in the last decade with the Blues and became one of just four players to play every single minute of a title-winning season in 2014/15.
Jack Rathborn: De Gea, Ivanovic, Kompany, Terry, Azpilicueta; Yaya, Kante, Fabregas; Bale, Aguero, Hazard
David Silva has his place locked down in most sides, but Cesc Fabregas should push him close; his end to his time at Arsenal is included here, before a renaissance at Chelsea after his time at Barcelona turned sour. His very best was arguably better than Silva’s, as demonstrated in one of his two title-winning seasons with the Blues in 2014/15 with his 18 assists.
Tom Kershaw: De Gea, Azpilicueta, Kompany, Van Dijk, Robertson; Toure, Kante, Silva; Hazard; Suarez, Aguero
Tom opts for Luis Suarez to join Sergio Aguero in a South American double act up top, Suarez dragged Liverpool to the brink of their first title since 1990 in 2013/14 with his 31 league goals.
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