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24th Mar 2017

Robbie Savage has gone early with his team of the season and found room for a Leicester player

Chelsea unsurprisingly dominate

Darragh Murphy

It’s not even April but Robbie Savage has seen enough to make his mind up.

Premier League Team of the Season honours usually start filtering out in early May if the Premier League race looks run but Savage likes getting his in early.

The divisive pundit has offered up his team of the season in his column for the Daily Mirror and champions elect Chelsea unsurprisingly dominate the side.

The Blues have four representatives – David Luiz, Marcos Alonso, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard – while Manchester United and Liverpool have two apiece.

Spurs’ sole star is Dele Alli and Savage even found room for recent England debutant and Burnley stalwart Michael Keane.

The remaining spot will surprise some as Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was given a vote of confidence by the former Foxes midfielder.

There’s no arguing that Schmeichel pulled off some heroics last season, when he played a starring role in Leicester’s fairytale, but he has flattered to deceive throughout this campaign.

By way of explanation for Schmeichel’s inclusion, Savage had this to say.

“With honourable mentions for Burnley’s Tom Heaton, who has forced his way into the England squad through sheer consistency, Stoke’s Lee Grant and Hugo Lloris at Tottenham, it’s got to be Schmeichel,” Savage wrote.

“Not only is he the sole Leicester player who has lived up to last season’s title miracle, I would argue he is the main reason why they have made it to the Champions League quarter-finals and they have managed to stay out of the relegation zone.

“His twin penalty saves against Sevilla, and last-gasp saves home and away against Copenhagen, made a huge difference in Europe. And that injury-time stop to foil Andy Carroll at West Ham last weekend was out of this world.

“Schmeichel is not just the best keeper in the Premier League on form – he is now in Europe’s very top bracket.”

Here is the team in full.