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Predicting the Premier League Team of the Season

Reuters / Eddie Keogh Livepic

"Life ain't a track meet, it's a marathon."

When Ice Cube uttered the evergreen adage on 1999's "You Can Do It," who knew the California wordsmith's lyrics also applied to the nine-month slog that is the Premier League campaign?

Constructing a team of the year for England's top flight must take the long haul of the season into account, favouring footballers who have displayed their virtues throughout the campaign over those who have showed flashes of brilliance.

Fresh off the final whistle of Tottenham's 4-0 drubbing of Watford in Saturday's early match, here's a look at theScore's predicted Premier League Team of the Season:

Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)

With 13 clean sheets this season, towering Chelsea shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois leads the Premier League in that category, and when compared to the division's two other elite netminders - David De Gea and Hugo Lloris, who have 11 apiece - he merits the year-end honours.

The former Atleti stud has appeared in all 30 of his club's league affairs, something De Gea and Lloris cannot say, and his 49 saves are tops among the trifecta. Doesn't hurt that Courtois' clearances hit the target 71 percent of the time and his average distribution length (38 metres) dwarfs that of his peers.

Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

For those who remember Kyle Walker's early Spurs career and his loan spells with Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, and Aston Villa: No, you don't need to have your eyes checked. The South Yorkshire-born right-back really has become one of the league's best.

With Hector Bellerin's 2016-17 campaign representing a step back from the previous one, Walker has been the division's best, dominating left-sided attackers in 28 Premier League outings. Content to stay at home and defend while displaying a penchant for streaking forward, the 26-year-old England international has improved as a passer, notching five assists this season for second-place Tottenham.

Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Is there anything Cesar Azpilueta can't do at an elite level? A right-back by trade, the Spanish international affectionately known as "Dave" by Blues backers was used as a left-back prior to Antonio Conte's arrival at Stamford Bridge.

This season, Conte has shifted him inside to play as a right-sided centre-half in a three-man backline. The Osasuna academy product has hardly put a foot wrong, starting all 30 of the club's Premier League outings.

David Luiz (Chelsea)

Few players in England's top flight have quieted critics like David Luiz has in his second Chelsea spell. As part of a three-man backline with Gary Cahill and the aforementioned Azpilicueta, Luiz looks a more disciplined player under Conte.

Look no further than Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday, in which Luiz made seven clearances, two interceptions, and three blocks in a near-perfect display.

Those who laughed when the London lot splashed £34 million for the Brazilian international from Paris Saint-Germain have become noticeably reticent, and for good reason.

Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)

No Premier League defender has juggled responsible defending with threats in attack like Marcos Alonso has in his first season at Chelsea following a £24-million move from Fiorentina.

In 25 league appearances this season, Alonso, 26, has been a versatile presence for Conte's Blues, pairing a quartet of goals with a pair of assists while typically employed as a left-sided wing-back in the Italian gaffer's preferred 3-4-3 formation. His two-goal performance against Leicester City was one of the season's stellar displays - he paired 80 percent passing completion with a flawless four aerial duels won.

N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)

Arguably the most influential player in England's top flight, N'Golo Kante is set to win a second title on the trot while bossing the midfield for Chelsea.

Seemingly in two places at once, Kante is the rare player - like Idrissa Gueye and Mousa Dembele - who's able to break up an attack and start one with a perfectly weighted pass. With 2.3 tackles won and 2.25 interceptions per match, no player in England has played a bigger role from a midfield position like Kante has for Chelsea.

Idrissa Gueye (Everton)

Kante passes the eye test, but Everton's Gueye, a surprise inclusion to many, is a metrics monster. In his first season on Merseyside, the Senegalese international has quietly been one of the league's best players.

In terms of blocks and tackles won, Gueye leads all defensive midfielders - and to the astonishment of so-called football experts, the 27-year-old bests his counterpart Kante in a slew of areas, including interceptions, tackles won, total duels won, and shots blocked. Fanfare or not, keeping Dembele out of this squad requires being a monstrous ball stopper. Gueye is exactly that.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

After four erratic seasons at Liverpool witnessed Inter castoff Philippe Coutinho offer glimpses of brilliance between frustratingly pedestrian displays, the Brazilian international has emerged as one of the Premier League's best this season.

Coutinho is the most influential element of a a three-headed attacking monster that includes countryman Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, and while it would be nice to include the treble, it's not going to happen. Coutinho nips his Canarinho cuz Firmino by a hair.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

As with Kante and Sanchez, Eden Hazard's inclusion is a no-brainer. Since 2013-14, the Belgian leads Europe's top five leagues with take-ons, and he beats all other Premier League players with 11 Man of the Match honours this season.

His 13 goals this year are one short of his career-best output with Chelsea, and the table-topping Blues have not lost any of the 11 matches that Hazard's scored in this season. Pair that with the fact he's bagged tallies against Manchester City (two), Arsenal, and Manchester United, and it's plain that Hazard shows up when it matters.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

Heading into Saturday's play, Alexis Sanchez leads all players in goal involvement: 18 tallies paired with nine helpers. Without Sanchez, one of the few simple selections on this list, Arsenal would be sunk.

The Chilean has been responsible for 48.21 percent of Arsenal's league goals this campaign and has won Man of the Match honours on seven occasions. He's also only behind Kante and Coutinho in the league with tackles in the final third.

Dele Alli (Tottenham)

His 19 goals and 10 assists mean Dele Alli's been involved in more goals than any Tottenham player, and in Harry Kane's absence, the MK Dons product has picked up the slack with a stunning second half to the season.

Three braces on the bounce during a congested holiday period against Southampton, Watford, and Chelsea (in a 2-0 victory over Chelsea) have helped make Alli a Spurs leader. Look no further than his heroic rescuing of the three points against Swansea for proof.

Bench: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), David Silva (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Romelu Lukaku (Everton)

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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