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Best of Premier League’s starting XI this season

By Liam Price

COBHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Antonio Conte of Chelsea during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on January 30, 2017 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
COBHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Antonio Conte of Chelsea during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on January 30, 2017 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /
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Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Tom Heaton was a logical choice for my starting XI this season. The English-international has been on the forefront for Burnley’s biggest matches this season including their early victory over Everton, draws with Manchester United and their recent draw with league leaders Chelsea.

The 30-year old number 1 has featured for Burnley 23 times this campaign and in the process has kept six clean sheets. The shot-stopper has made over 100 saves and has made zero errors that lead to a goal.

While this pales in comparison to Thibault Courtois’s  record for this season, I believe his Heaton’s place is justified above both Courtois and Lloris. Heaton has had to earn his spot primarily alone, unlike the two keepers mentioned above, Burnley is not a star-studded cast of internationally ranked defenders who are willing to throw themselves in front of goal. That is not to say that Burnley’s last line of defense is not giving their all, but as will be mentioned when we get further into this list, they are not of the same caliber.

Out of Burnley’s 25 matches played this season, Heaton has only missed two matches- a 2-1 loss at home to Manchester City and a 2-0 away loss to Stoke City. These two matches were in a relatively large slump where the squad lost five out of six matches.

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