De Bruyne and Fernandes battle out for top award in Premier League Team of 2020

With the final round of matches of 2020 done and dusted, now is the perfect time to reflect on the past 12 months before we tick over to a new year. It's been a tough year for all and the football season has felt particularly long, particularly as 2019/20 concluded well into the summer.

To finish the year on a bang, in this piece we will shine light on those that truly flourished in the Premier League this past calendar year. Of players to have made at least 20 appearances in 2020, here is the WhoScored Premier League Team of the Year.

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal / Aston Villa) - 6.90 rating

Emiliano Martinez has really come from no where to establish himself as one of the Premier League's best goalkeepers this season. He made a name for himself at the back end of last season for Arsenal and has continued that form for new club Aston Villa. Only Ederson (0.54) has a better clean sheet ratio (0.5) than Martinez in the Premier League this year, while he also ranks second in the division for save success rate (77.5%).

Right-back: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - 7.33 rating

After barely managing an impression during his first six months at the club, Joao Cancelo has really come on strong for Manchester City in 2020. In fact, the 26-year-old created as many clear-cut goalscoring chances as the likes of Marcus Rashford, Wilfried Zaha, Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino (6) in 2020. Moreover, Cancelo averaged more key passes per game from open play than any other defender in the Premier League (1.6).

Centre-back: James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 7.14 rating

No defender kept more clean sheets than Burnley's James Tarkowski (14) in the Premier League this year, while the 28-year-old also ranked top for blocked shots (38) and second for the most clearances maed (159). Tarkowski only failed to start two league matches for Burnley in 2020 and the Clarets lost both.

Centre-back: Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) - 7.13 rating

Just as Jannik Vestergaard's time at Southampton appeared to be drifting, the 28-year-old has really kicked on in 2020 and ends the year as one of the best defenders in the division. Of those that qualified for this XI, Vestergaard won more aerial duels per game than any other defender (4.4). With an aerial duel success rate of 73.9%, Vestergaard ranks fourth of all players to have contested at least 100 in 2020.

Left-back: Lucas Digne (Everton) - 7.20 rating

While Andy Robertson understandby gets a lot of praise, there is also another left-back on Merseyside that has continued to excel on a regular basis. Digne doesn't have as many assists to his name as Robertson but he is just as creative. Digne averaged more accurate crosses per game (2) than any other player in the Premier League in 2020, while ranking second of all defenders for key passes per game (1.8). With Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the form of his life, there is no better supplier of crosses for him than Digne. The sooner he is back fit the better Everton will be.

Right wing: Sadio Mane (Liverpool) - 7.37 rating

Sadio Mane has formed one of the most effective front threes in the world alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino for Liverpool over the last few years and 2020 was no different. Mane finished 2020 with 17 goal involvements en route to lifting Liverpool's first ever Premier League title. Moreover, Mane averaged 2.4 shots per game, 1.4 key passes per game and 2.2 fouls won per game in the Premier League this year.

Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)  - 7.72 rating

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne narrowly beats out Bruno Fernandes to claim the WhoScored Premier League Player of the Year award. De Bruyne finished 2020 with more assists than any other player (15) and created at least 10 more clear-cut chances than any other player (26). With more key passes pg (3.7) to his name, there is no doubt De Bruyne was the most creative player in the Premier League this year. The Belgium international also weighed in with eight goals to play a direct hand in 23 goals, the fifth most in the division. Not just a creator, but De Bruyne also lead the press with possession won in the attacking third more times (28) than any other Premier League player.

Central midfield: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 7.68 rating

Bruno Fernandes is on course to go down as one of the best signings in Premier League history, if he hasn't already. The 26-year-old has completely transformed Manchester United into title challengers in the space of less than a year. Despite missing the first month of 2020, no player managed a direct hand in more Premier League goals than Fernandes (32) this calendar year. Moreover, Fernandes scored and assisted in eight different Premier League matches, at least three more times than any other player. The United star also ranked top in the division for more accurate through balls (10).

Left wing: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 7.45 rating

After helping Aston Villa beat the drop at the back end of last season, Jack Grealish has put a failed summer move away behind him to develop into one of the best players in the division. In fact, the Villa captain is the top WhoScored rated player in the Premier League this season. Across the entire calendar year, however, Grealish played a direct hand in 15 goals in 32 league appearances with 2.9 key passes per game and 2.3 shots per game. Not only was Grealish the only player to reach three figures for free-kicks won in the Premier League in 2020, Grealish was actually fouled at least 51 more times than any other player - more than Anthony Martial was fouled in total (45).

Striker: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 7.50 rating

Mohamed Salah finishes 2020 with more goals scored than any other player in the Premier League (23) to re-estbalish himself as one of the best goalscorers in Europe after doubters started to creep in. No player converted more clear-cut chances than Salah (16), while the Liverpool forward registered the most shots on target in the Premier League (58).

Striker: Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 7.64 rating

Tottenham striker Harry Kane concluded 2020 with the most goal involvements in the Premier League (26) behind Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah (both 32). Kane has shown this season in particular that he is not just a goalscorer but also a creator, as the England captain is one of only four players to have reached double figures for assists (10) in England's top-flight this calendar year.