Sportsmail reporters pick their PL TOTY... Are those XIs better than PFA's?

Manchester City and Liverpool ruled the Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year for 2019.

The only player to feature from a team other than the title rivals was Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

Here, Sportsmail reporters pick their Premier League XI for this season.

LAURIE WHITWELL

4-3-3: Ederson; Doherty, Van Dijk, Laporte, Robertson; Son, Bernardo Silva, Hazard; Mane, Aguero, Sterling

An attacking team with a few square pegs in round holes but I couldn’t bring myself to leave out any of the frontline. Silva’s energy at least lends itself to a dynamic midfield role and all those around him have done brilliantly for long periods.

The one shock name is Matt Doherty at right back over Trent Alexander-Arnold. It may be my midlands bias but I feel Doherty deserves recognition for scoring eight goals and being a consistent performer in his debut top-flight season.

ADRIAN KAJUMBA

4-3-3: Ederson; Wan-Bissaka, Van Dijk, Laporte, Robertson; Fernandinho, Rice, Bernardo Silva (just in front of the two holding midfielders); Sterling, Aguero, Mane

Most of the selections are self-explanatory but the surprising lack of recognition for Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka displays this season is rectified by his inclusion.

West Ham’s Declan Rice has been another consistent performer this season in one of the Premier League’s less-heralded sides.

Wolves defender Conor Coady almost made the cut but shines in a back three for Wolves so, in my chosen formation, he misses out on partnering Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk to Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte.

CHRIS WHEELER

(4-3-2-1): Ederson; Wan-Bissaka, Van Dijk, Laporte, Robertson; B Silva, Fernandinho, Sterling; Hazard, Mane; Salah

Not a huge fan of the Christmas tree – certainly not in late April – but it’s just about the only way to shoe-horn this lot into anything resembling a credible formation.

It’s a tough call giving Salah the nod over Aguero but Bernardo, Sterling, Hazard and Mane fully deserve their slots. Fernandinho provides the only defensive balance in midfield on the basis that he’s got a pretty decent back-four behind him in which Aaron Wan-Bissaka gets my vote for a great season.

CRAIG HOPE

(4-2-3-1): Ederson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Laporte, Robertson; Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva; Salah, Mane, Sterling; Aguero

One change from the PFA team, and that is Pogba out and Salah in. I find it somewhat harsh that Salah (19 goals, seven assists) is being judged against his performance of last season. Even on this campaign alone I believe he is worthy of inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year and should have been shortlisted for the individual award.

ROB DRAPER

4-3-3: Alisson; Wan-Bissaka, Van Dijk, Laporte, Chilwell; Bernardo Silva, Sissoko, Eriksen; Sterling, Aguero, Son

To be honest, this could just be a Liverpool/Man City composite team, so I’ve tried to mix it up a little and reward players who have made huge breakthroughs this season, such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, almost unknown at the start of the season (though still older than Trent Alexander-Arnold!) and Ben Chilwell, who made a quantum leap in performance. (And, of course, Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson could easily be in these positions but I’m guessing they’ll get enough love).

Moussa Sissoko has arguably been Tottenham’s most consistent player. Who would have guessed that a year ago? That’s the only reason he’s above Fernandinho. It’s just we all knew how superb he is so it wasn’t unexpected. I really wanted to find a place for Luka Milivojevic but couldn’t quite do it. Likewise Conor Coady. But ultimately you can’t really leave out Aymeric Laporte.

While Christian Eriksen dipped a little in February and March, at times he has been a cut above almost anyone else. No-one could have argued with Mane replacing Son, but the improvement curve this season for the Spurs winger has been so steep that he gets the nod.

Virgil Van Dijk, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero are just so obvious you have to pick them. And the goalkeeper is a coin toss: I went for the one who has made most impact on his team this season, but only by virtue of being new.

MATT BARLOW

4-3-3: Ederson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Laporte, Robertson; Bernardo, Fernandinho, Eriksen; Sterling, Aguero, Hazard

Dominated by Liverpool at the back and City elsewhere reflects two teams well above the others.

ADAM CRAFTON

4-3-3: Ederson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Laporte, Robertson; Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Doucoure; Sterling, Aguero, Mane

Extremely harsh on Eden Hazard and Son Heung-min but there’s only three places up front and Sterling, Aguero and Mane have all produced the most consistent excellence.

Pogba should not be near the discussion but stand-out central midfielders have actually been hard to come by this season. I’ve gone for Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford, a powerhouse in central midfield who will go on to a top six club or European giant this summer.