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I’m sure that if you’ve been keeping tabs on my previous posts, you’ll gage that I’ve been quiet enjoying the Premier League season so far.
We’ve seen some spell binding football and countess storylines and narratives have been formed throughout the season, and I can’t wait to see what twists and turns we’re still in for in 2024.
Today, I wish to glance at the standout performers in the Premier League so far, picking of team of the season or TOTS as i refer to it as in the title. I’d like to start with some honourable mentions in each position before delving in to the bets of the best so far in each position.
In goal, though it should be no surprise which player will take the mantle of best goalkeeper in the league so far later on in the article, I’d like to shoutout Emi Martinez at Villa, who has been instrumental in their defensive strength this season, but also to the revelation in North London of Guglielmo Vicario. I was sceptical of the Italian when he joined from Empoli last summer, but so far has seemed like a very steady pair of hands in the short and long term at just 27 years old. Vicario has made 65 saves in 22 games at time of writing, conceding 31 goals from 34 post-shot expected goals. Impressive pick up for just £17.2 million.
At left back, 2 players quietly having decent seasons are Antonee Robinson at Fulham and Alfie Doughty. Before the season, following the signing of top championship left back Ryan Giles and the presence of Amari’i Bell already in the position, minutes may have looked scarce for Doughty, but has locked steady defensively and always positive going forward. Though the question over starts did not hang above Robinson before the season, he has really stepped up this season and made the position his for define for Fulham (perhaps he has upped his game following the signing of former AC Milan and Monaco full back Fode Ballo-Toure).
At centre half, barely missing out are Ruben Dias and Pau Torres. While the class of Dias has been well known ever since he pitched up in Manchester in 2020, Torres has been sensational under Emery and with little surprise, given how strong and important he was under Emery and Villareal. Both are incredibly unfortunate to miss out here if not for the top form of the centre half pairing I’ve gone for.
At right back, England international Kyle Walker misses out here, despite Walker’s good form since rejecting Bayern Munich this summer. Elsewhere, Pedro Porro is unfortunate to miss out here. despite his top performances locking down the right back position in Ange’s new look Spurs side for the short and long term. So far this season, he’s made 34 successful tackles and 36 blocks in 16 games. Impressive.
In midfield, Joao Palhinha has been even better than he has last season, making sure Bayern Munch regret not going for him sooner in the summer. Dominik Szoboszlai has also had a great impact on Liverpool’s midfield, not only looking more positive and expressive than any Liverpool midfielders last season but also contributing greatly defensively also. Perhaps the most unlucky player to miss out here though is Bruno Guimaraes, who despite an 85% pass competition rate and 155 progressive passes from a deeper defensive position so far this season, misses out here, barely.
On the right, though his numbers haven’t been as impressive as last season, Saka has still looked fantastic down the flanks for Arsenal (as has Martinelli, who also misses out). Moussa Diaby has also been a revelation at Aston Villa, and despite their good fortunes in Germany this season will surely have 0 regrets leaving a high flying Bayer Leverkusen side as Villa fly high also.
Similarly, on the left, Antony Gordon has really started to step up for Newcastle this season as he begins to show promise following bis 40 million move from Everton almost a year ago now. On the similar wave of stepping up, Yoane Wissa has also started to step up on the pitch and contribute to a Brentford forward line that has done well enough without Ivan Toney so far this season, with 5 goals and assists in 17 games so far. Unfortunately though, both are not quirt team of the season worthy.
And finally, though the debate has the same ending here (spoiler alert), the debate around best striker this season is much closer than it a last year. Ollie Watkins has looked sublime and simply unstoppable at some points this season, leading the line for Villa following years of competition for the space while he’s been at the club with the likes of Danny Ings, Wesley and Samatta at the club while he’s been trying to cement himself as Villa’s number one, and it seems he’s finally done that.
So that concludes the honourable mentions section, meaning now its tome for the real deal. This is, in my humble opinion, the team of the season so far. Let’s start in goal, which should be of little surprise (especially given how subtle I was in the honourable mentions section…)
GOALKEEPER: ALISSON
Let’s not cut any corners here, Alisson is not only the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, but the best goalkeeper in the world, and is now firmly in conversations for the best goalkeeper the Premier League has ever seen.
Alisson has saved Liverpool on multiple occasions this season, with no moment sticking out in my mind than the sensational save he made to deny Almiron a goal at St James Park that would have made it 2-0 to Newcastle before held time, a game in which he would make 6 other saves in (totalling 7) as Liverpool would go on to win 2-1.
Along with this, his ball control, comfortability in possession and impressive passing range make him one of the best with playing with his feet. A colossal in goal, Alisson will surely be in the TOTS come May.
LEFT BACK: DESTINY UDOGIE
In the honourable mentions section, I mentioned what a revelation Vicario had been in goal at Spurs so far this year, but he’s not the only Italian in North London surprising many this year.
When Udogie put pen to paper at Tottenham in August 2022, I feared a loan back to Udinese- the club they signed him from, who finished 12th the season before- would have hampered his development. However, following a Serie A season with 7 goals and assists, Udogie has flourished like many others under Ange, forming a strong bond with captain Heung-Min Son on Spurs’ left flank.
So far, he’s provided 3 goals and assists and 25 shot creation actions this season, acting as a crucial cog to the new-look Spurs side this season.
If he can maintain fitness and form, he could establish himself as one of the best left backs not only in the Premier League, but perhaps the entire world.
CENTRE HALF: VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Virgil Van Dijk has had a miraculous return to the top since returning from his ACL injury 2 years ago, and this season has reestablished himself as an elite defender.
He’s embraced the mantle of Liverpool captain seamlessly, which would surprise little given the leadership qualities he obviously possessed while Jordan Henderson was with the club, which can be further displayed by the decision to make him captain of the Dutch national team in March 2018 after Arjen Robben.
Van Dijk continues to raise the levels in himself and his team mates, a trait he’s always possessed while he’s been at Liverpool, like with Joe Gomez in the titre winning 19/20 season or with Joel Matip in 21/22. So far this season, he’s made 27 tackles, 31 blocks and 33 interceptions. Sharp.
CENTRE HALF: WILLIAM SALIBA
William Saliba’s rise to stardom has been not only impressive,l but has been a a joy to watch him progress, and will surely go down as one of Arsenal’s greatest signings ever for a reported £27 million.
Saliba lacks very little in his overall game-speed, intelligence, composure, a fantastic passing range, and possesses leadership qualities that, if jot for Odegaard’s age, could have made him a future Arsenal captain (Odegaard being just 25 means Saliba may not get this mantle for a few years yet, if at all).
Though Gabriel’s level may have slightly dropped from last year’s almost title winning campaign, Saliba’s definitely has not. Tres bien, Monsieur Saliba.
RIGHT BACK: TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to the top in my opinion, and has obviously worked very hard behind the scenes to get back.
Whilst his defensive flaws have been highlighted to an extreme degree in the past, especially last season, the noise has rightfully lessened this season as his defensive aspect of his game has improved vastly, averaging a tackle or interception every 33 minutes this season.
He’s also increased his attacking output when shifting into midfield more this season as per the recommendations to Jurgen Klopp from Pep Lijnders, averaging a shot creating action every 26 minutes.
Trent simply has to be on Gareth Southgate’s plane to Germany next summer and if he continues at his current level, he may even be his starter.
DM: Declan Rice
Declan Rice has been so good everybody has forgotten he cost £100 million pounds. Read that again. That’s how important, influential and downright fantastic he’s been.
The numbers tell you he’s sharp, and the eye test tells you he’s smooth. Declan Rice is a special player I look forward to watching for years to come, especially in an England shirt.
Former West Ham captain, future England captain and Arsenal’s best player, Rice impresses every week and gets better and better. He’s versatile, hard-working and incredibly composed. He’s been the beating heart of this Arsenal team and will continue to be for many years to come.
DM: Rodri
Both Rice and Rodri, whilst playing the same kind of role in their respective sides, have been too good to miss it in a team of the season. Though if this fantasy team was to take to the pitch, the midfield balance may not been the best, but Rodri and Rice have been too good to miss out here.
Like many members of the Manchester City team, I’m running out of adjectives to describe how fantastic they are. Rodri is no acceptation.
Look at the games he’s missed this season. Looking at not only the performances but the results too show that Rodri is very heavily missed when out of the team, which comes to no surprise when you truly realise how fantastic he is.
Bought for £62.9 million in July 2019, Rodri initially took a little time adapting to the Premier League, but once he got caught up he was unstoppable and has arguably been the best DM in the league for the last 3 years.
I firmly believe that when he decides to close the book on his career, he’ll firmly be remembered as one of the best and most influential midfielders the league has seen and will probably see ever.
CM: James Maddison
Just because Maddison hasn’t kicked a ball in the Premier League since November 10 doesn’t mean we shouildn’t credit the worjk he did to until that period, which I think has been forgtotten slighlty by the footbaklling world.
When Maddison joined Tottenham in July, many praised the business from all parties: £40 million was a great price for a player of Maddison’s quality an experience, and was a sensible move for the player to be part of Ange’s new look Spurs side. And boy, did it work.
Before his unfortunate injury against Chelsea, he’d played 1057 minutes and created 80 shot-creating actions. That’s one every 13 minutes. Simply sublime.
I can’t wait to see him come back and cement his place in England’s euro squad this summer.
LW: Heung-Min Son
23 goals and assists in 27 games for club and country this season. Need I say anymore?
Son continues to maintain his spot on the table of best players in the league, even at the age of 31. Even beneath those fantastic goals and assist numbers, he produced a shot creating action every 31 minutes and has a pass completion rate of 81.4%, showing his not only instinctive attacking nature but his creative powers also.
Son will always be on of this league’s best entertainers and continues to be the true spearhead of Ange Postecoglu’s Tottenham Hotspurs. He’ll also be one of the league’s nicest blokes as long as he’s here.
ST: Erling Haaland
Don’t get me wrong, I like Ollie Watkins, I like Dom Solanke and all the other striker shouts from the masses. But Haaland continues to be a phenomenon and a force in front of goal. 26 games, 27 goals and assists for club and country. Once again his number of goal contributions is greater than the games he’s played. Just because he’s been doing it for a while now doesn’t mean that it’s normal.
I think it’s a fair criticism to say that Haaland is doing in a better team, whereas the other shout for best striker so far Ollie Watkins has been doing it in a worse side. Not only does this suggestion downplay Villa’s quality, which in doing so disrespects them, but creates conflicting social commentaries around Villa’s quality. When Villa are doing well, they’re on of the best in the league- but when comparisons are made, Villa are portrayed as underdogs and massive overachievers. It’s a complex issue that can be explored for another day, but regardless of commentaries, both strikers are in great team and both are great players, but Haaland has been on another level for a while now and continues to stay there.
There really isn’t a lot his game lacks and is still just 23. As mentioned, like most of City’s team now, you run out of adjectives to describe them. And, like Rodri, Haaland is no acceptation. Simply a machine. But he’s not the only machine in this league…
RW: Mohamed Salah
Is Mohamed Salah the best footballer in the Premier League? There’s a very good case there and would be a long, LONG debate for the football community. I’m going to sit on the fence between him and Kevin De Bruyne, but either way, Salah is a phenomenon the likes of which we may never see again, especially not with the story line his career has followed.
The eye test tells you he’s hard-working, creative, and confident. The numbers tell you 34 goals and assists in 33 games. Either way, he’s sensational and continues to push the bar higher.
One of the spearheads of Liverpool’s title charge this season, Salah is simply incredible and slowly people are beginning to realise why Liverpool rejected £150 million for him from the SPL last summer.
If Salah leaves in the summer to pursue some wealth and sunshine for him and his family, he will leave an incredible void in that Liverpool attack and will leave as one of their best players ever. But something’s telling me his relentlessness to continue to push himself won’t let him leave Liverpool 2.0 just yet.
So there we have it. Will anyone break in by the end of the season? Only time will tell. For now, it’s time to strap in and let the title race heat up.
