So the final Premier League games of 2014 have come to a close. Chelsea and Manchester City seem destined to battle for this season’s title whilst Manchester United have climbed up to third after a slow start. West Ham United and Southampton are defying expectation whilst at the other end of the battle to avoid the drop could develop into a six-team affair.

Who have been the stand out performers this season? Who would make it into combined Premier League XI? The temptation would be to load the side with Chelsea’s stars given the Stamford Bridge side’s near flawless campaign so let’s add a little caveat; this team can only include one player per side. That makes the task that little bit harder. Who would be your starting eleven?

GK: David de Gea (Manchester United)

This season has been somewhat of a slow burner for Manchester United but the one consistently excellent performer for the Old Trafford club has been goalkeeper David de Gea. He has made a total of 57 saves thus far this season according to ESPN FC and has been as important as any player in securing vital points for Louis van Gaal’s side. De Gea’s contributions against the likes of Everton, Arsenal, Stoke and Liverpool has ensured that United’s shaky defense hasn’t been as punished as it perhaps should have been and has secured the Red Devils position in third. 

Notable mentions: Thibaut Courtois & Hugo Lloris 

RB: Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)

Doom mongers were swirling around St. Mary’s after the Saints lost key personnel including Mauricio Pochettino, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert. How wrong they all were with the club sitting in a Champions League position. There have been a number of success stories like the impact of Dušan Tadić but it’s been the breakthrough of Clyne that has caught the eye. He has scored twice this season against Liverpool and Aston Villa (neither winning causes though), has looked sharp going forward whilst being solid at the back. From an English perspective he could be his country’s right-back for years to come and not before time as the position has been somewhat of a problematic one for the past few seasons.

Notable mentions: Seamus Coleman, Branislav Ivanović & Pablo Zabaleta 

CB: Winston Reid (West Ham)

After a shaky start to the season Winston Reid has picked his performances up and has been a big influence in West Ham’s positive Premier League campaign. The big New Zealander has been key for the Hammers as their more adventurous play this season has led to them becoming more exposed at the back. Indeed Sam Allardyce’s men have only kept a clean sheet on three separate occasions.   Reid though has marshaled the backline well, scored an important goal against Liverpool, and has formed a good partnership with James Tomkins. Reid is in the final year of his contract and could potentially be a bargain purchase. Arsenal are apparently interested in signing the New Zealand international and it’s not hard to see why.

Notable mentions: John Terry & José Fonte 

CB: Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa)

This choice is rather left field if not controversial as the other option I mulled over was Martin Skrtel. As much I wanted to include the Liverpool man, Clark’s performance and maturity fighting his way back into the first team in what has been another frustrating season for Villa swayed it.  There hasn’t been much to shout about for Aston Villa this season but the Villans’ problems have been at the other end of the pitch. Indeed they have the worst attack in the league scoring just 11 times. Defensively though, Paul Lambert’s side have the sixth meanest backline in the league and that is in no small part due to Ciaran Clark. The Irish international has been crucial at the back since breaking into the starting eleven and has at points been the senior partner in the Villa defense. Paul Lambert has suggested that Clark and young Danish international Jores Okore can become first team regulars and the Scot could be tempted to cash in on Ron Vlaar given how well the duo have been performing in trying circumstances.

Notable mentions: Vincent Kompany & Martin Skrtel

LB: Leighton Baines (Everton)

It hasn’t been a good season thus far for Everton. They’re floundering in 12th and their form has been patchy to say the least. Baines on a personal note has been one of Everton’s few bright sparks scoring two goals and providing seven assists. Defensively, Everton have been extremely leaky but that’s as a result of the expansive style of play they employ and they have been regularly punished. Could Baines be performing better? Perhaps but from an individual point of view he has been one of Everton’s steadier players alongside James McCarthy. Baines will be a key figure for Roberto Martínez if the Toffees are to have any hope of regaining lost ground.

Notable mentions: César Azpilicueta & Kieran Gibbs

CM: Nemanja Matić (Chelsea)

Chelsea have so many strong candidates that it was hard to pick just one. John Terry has been one of the best defenders in the league, Diego Costa has provided the cutting edge that the Blues missed last season, Eden Hazard has been mesmerizing, César Azpilicueta has been world class at fullback and Cesc Fàbregas has slotted in seamlessly. However making this team is the Serbian giant who has been outstanding for José Mourinho. He’s been a near impenetrable shield in front of the Chelsea back four. According to WhoScored.com he averages 3.8 tackles per game and makes 2.1 interceptions. Matić doesn’t waste possession either as his passes rarely goes astray. At £21 million he represents an absolute bargain.   

Notable mentions: Vincent Wanyama & Moussa Sissokho

CM: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City)

Talk about a homecoming. After stagnating at Tottenham Gylfi Sigurdsson returned to the Liberty and has prospered. One of the leading creative forces at Swansea Sigurdsson has set-up no fewer than eight goals and has scored four including a winner at Old Trafford in the first game of the season and that delicious effort against Aston Villa. Ideally, the Icelandic international would feature further forward in this team but he is versatile enough to play a deeper role but it would be remiss not to include him in this side.

Notable mentions: Michael Carrick, Cesc Fàbregas & Yaya Touré 

FW: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)

Christian Eriksen has been one of Spurs’ standout performers. Tottenham may not be as high up the table as they wish to be but that’s more down to a shaky defense than a lack of spark up front. Whilst Lloris has been keeping Tottenham in games, Eriksen and Harry Kane have contributed match winning moments in recent times that have seen Spurs convert one point into three. Eriksen has scored seven goals and provides a creative spark for Pochettino’s side and has the potential to become one of the brightest stars in the Premier League.

Notable mentions: Eden Hazard & Bojan Krkić   

FW: Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)

Has a signing fitted in so seamlessly as Alexis Sánchez? He is Arsenal’s key man at the moment and if the Gunners are to have any hope of retaining a place in the Champions League next season then he’ll need to maintain his fine form. He’s already scored 10 and set-up six already and has been a bright spot in a turbulent season for Arsenal. A talisman for the Gunners, Alexis has been a breath of fresh air and is relishing being the central figure after playing second fiddle to Lionel Messi at Barcelona. The Premier League is a better place with him in it.

Notable mentions: Stewart Downing & David Silva

FW: Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)

This team would not be complete without the Argentinean hit man. Agüero was City’s main man before he succumbed to injury. City have coped alright in his absence but there’s no doubt that he adds an X factor that the other strikers do not possess. He’s nearly scoring at a rate of a goal a game netting 14 times in 15 matches including a four-goal haul against Tottenham and the winner against Manchester United at the Etihad. Agüero seemingly has it all – pace, power, clinical finishing and an appreciation of what’s going on around him. Simply put, he’s the complete forward. 

Notable mentions: Wayne Rooney & Raheem Sterling 

ST: Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers)

Austin is the Premier League’s top scoring Englishman. Not a bad accomplishment considering he’s playing at a struggling club. Like de Gea for United, QPR would not have the points tally they currently enjoy if it wasn’t for Austin. He netted a crucial hat-trick against West Brom, scored the winning goal against Sunderland and Leicester, struck a brace against Aston Villa, was crucial in earning QPR a point against champions Manchester City and earned his side a victory against Burnley (before being sent off against Sean Dyche’s side). An argument can be made that Austin is directly responsible (or at the very least played a huge part) for 16 of QPR’s 18 points.

Notable mentions: Diego Costa, Harry Kane & Diafra Sakho

So the final 11 would be:

Decent XI? Absolute bobbins? Who’d be in your team?