By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports

Five Manchester United players made the six-strong Professional Footballers
Association award shortlist, but only four Red Devils found their way into
Yahoo! Sports’ English Premier League Team of the Season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s United have had another sensational campaign, romping to
a third consecutive EPL title while also surging to the UEFA Champions League
final. Much of the Old Trafford club’s success this term has been built on
defensive stability, which is reflected in the selections of goalkeeper Edwin
van der Sar and central defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Liverpool is also heavily represented, with three of its stars gaining a
spot. There was also room for a handful of players from outside the Big Four
clubs of United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

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Goalkeeper

Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United). Is he really 38? The Dutch goalkeeper
keeps getting better with age and was an automatic selection for this spot
after going three months without conceding a single goal.

Defenders

Glen Johnson (Portsmouth). Johnson is now living up to the promise he first
displayed as an 18-year-old with West Ham before struggling for a few years
at Chelsea. He was the standout in a tough season for Pompey.

Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United). One half of United’s rock-like central
defense, Ferdinand was exemplary once again as the Red Devils pieced together
another outstanding campaign.

Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United). A truly world-class defender, Vidic often
fails to get the attention he deserves in a star-studded United lineup. But
that is starting to change. Even Steven Gerrard admitted the Serbian should
be Player of the Year.

Leighton Baines (Everton). The little man makes few mistakes and adds
attacking impetus from the left-back position. His efforts for the Toffees
have attracted the notice of England manager Fabio Capello.

Midfielders

Ashley Young (Aston Villa). Much of Villa’s spectacular early-season run
came down to the dynamic displays produced by Young, who is one of English
soccer’s most exciting young talents.

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool). See “Player of the Season.”

Xabi Alonso (Liverpool). If this is Alonso’s last season at Anfield – Real
Madrid is preparing a blockbuster transfer bid – then he will have capped
off his Liverpool career in style with an excellent campaign. He was a big
reason why the Reds pushed United down to the final month in the title race.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United). Ronaldo could not match his incredible
feats of last season, when he scored 42 goals in all competitions (31 in the
EPL), but he was still a continually threatening presence and the lynchpin
for the United attacking machine.

Forwards

Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea). Anelka rebounded from missing the vital penalty
kick in the Champions League final to put together an excellent season. His
18 goals match Ronaldo for most in the EPL in 2008-09.

Fernando Torres (Liverpool). Two seasons in and already the Spanish striker
is well on his way to becoming a Liverpool legend. His pace and work off the
ball are remarkable, and his finishing is second to none.

And now Yahoo! Sports’ awards for the 2008-09 EPL campaign.

Player of the Season

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool). Quite simply, Gerrard is one of the most dominant
players in world soccer. Outgoing Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink hailed him as the
best player on the planet a few months back, and when Gerrard is in top form,
it is hard to argue.

Gerrard will have been stung by Liverpool finishing the season trophy-less,
but it was his energy and leadership that helped the club stick to the heels
of Manchester United for so many months.

For all of Frank Lampard’s fine efforts, this campaign firmly established
Gerrard as England’s standout player of his type.

Manager of the Season

David Moyes (Everton). Most EPL managers spend much of their time complaining
about how tough life is for those outside the Big Four. Not so for Moyes, who
gets on with his business with the minimum of fuss. He has turned Everton
into a finely-tuned outfit that fully deserves its place in the new UEFA
Europa League next season.

Best American

Tim Howard (Everton). Howard has blossomed into a world-class goalkeeper and
is looked up to as a senior and respected figure in the Everton dressing
room. He is certainly one of the finest keepers in the EPL, and probably in
the world’s top 15.

Most dramatic arrival

Federico Macheda (Manchester United). English soccer knew nothing of Macheda,
a 17-year-old Italian, when he made his United debut as a substitute on April
5. By the end of an incredible afternoon, though, the teenager was an instant
celebrity, having won the game with a superb curling effort deep into injury
time. Just for good measure, he backed it up a week later with another
crucial goal, this time against Sunderland.

Worst signing

Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United). Sure, Dimitar Berbatov cost three
times as much and has struggled to live up to his price with Man United, but
Coloccini – as $16 million worth of disappointment – has been symptomatic
of Newcastle’s drastic decline. The Argentina international is likely to be
sent packing this summer whether Newcastle avoids relegation or not.

Game of the season

Arsenal 4, Tottenham 4 (Oct. 29, 2008). Spectacular goals and non-stop action
lit up a sensational North London derby in Harry Redknapp’s first official
game in charge of Spurs. Arsenal looked to have it all wrapped up, but
Jermaine Jenas curled one in with a minute to go before Aaron Lennon clinched
an unexpected point in the dying seconds of injury time.
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