‘Amazing’ £96k-a-week Chelsea player included in stats-based PL team of the year for 2022

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Thiago Silva is the sole Chelsea representative in a stats-based Premier League team of the year for 2022.

It’s been a turbulent calendar year when you check out Chelsea’s domestic form in the league.

The Blues did manage to clinch a top-four finish in the first half of the year. The Blues have now closed out 2022 someway off the top-four spots in the ongoing season, though.

Silva, who turned 38 in September, has continued to perform at such a high level during some challenging times on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

The £96,000-a-week centre-back has been a superb ever-present for both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter during 2022.

Premier League team of the year

Statisticians Opta have used their date to compile a starting line-up for BBC Sport of the best individuals in the English top flight for the last 12 months.

One significant rule is that only players that featured in both the 2021/22 season and 2022/23 campaign were included, so that omits the likes of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland from the equation.

Opta named a backline of Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Silva (Chelsea), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal) and Andy Robertson (Liverpool).

The midfield consisted of Rodri (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham) and Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).

Finally, the attack was completed by James Maddison (Leicester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham) and Heung-Min Son (Tottenham).

Described as “amazing” by Bruno Guimaraes, Silva breezed through yet another fantastic year.

The veteran Chelsea defender had question marks against his name when he came to England in his mid-thirties, but he’s rightfully still rated among the Premier League’s top players.

You would be a brave man to bet against him continuing in the same fashion in 2023.

The Blues kickstart the new year today with a trip to Nottingham Forest in an important league clash.

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