Arsenal have no representatives of their own in the Premier League team of the season but a couple of transfer targets make the cut.
Liverpool have three. And they are all out of contract this summer.
This is based on WhoScored ratings and at this stage, every player must have started at least 16 Premier League games.
GOALKEEPER: Mark Flekken (Brentford)
Brentford have had a more-than-decent start to their Premier League season but only Southampton have conceded more shots on target, so Flekken has made the most saves. It’s not a foolproof algorithm.
RIGHT-BACK: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Two assists in the 3-3 classic v Newcastle United took him to three for the season, and then he added a fourth in the thwacking of Spurs. A first goal of the season came v West Ham. Only Daniel Munoz has made more tackles from right-back this season, though it’s possibly worth noting that nobody has been dribbled past more often.
He was absolutely rotten v Manchester United, which has left bitter Liverpool fans screaming ‘let him go’. A fifth assist came v Brentford but he remains questionable defensively. Of course. A sixth assist came v Ipswich Town, which is why Munoz and Aaron Wan-Bissaka lag slightly behind here. And then there was another goal v Aston Villa.
CENTRE-BACK: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
The centre-half of the season? He passes the eye test as well as the stats test. He was utterly brilliant in the 2-0 win over Manchester City which made Liverpool the champions-elect.
CENTRE-BACK: James Tarkowski (Everton)
Everton have conceded fewer goals than Man City this season and a key reason is Tarkowski, who tackles more than any other centre-half and also ranks highly for blocks, clearances and interceptions. He is a busy boy.
LEFT-BACK: Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Ten Premier League assists are what catches the eye, but he has also made more tackles than any other left-back this season. It is surely only a matter of time before he joins a club in Europe. But that club probably won’t be Liverpool.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
Newcastle will regret selling Anderson to Forest but it was for PSR purposes, so they just about get a pass.
The 22-year-old has been brilliant in Nuno Espirito Santo’s midfield and finally scored his first Premier League goal against Southampton last month.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa)
After a slow start at Villa Park, Tielemans has really come to the fore in 2024/25. Aston Villa have been pretty inconsistent but the Belgian has not.
RIGHT WING: Mo Salah (Liverpool)
The Premier League’s best ever winger? The stats would suggest so. And this season he has scored 25 goals and claimed 16 assists, adding another one of each against Manchester City. He is nailed on for the PFA Player of the Year award.
ATTACKING MIDFIELD: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
A stupidly good player long before he decided to score four goals in one half against Brighton. He then claimed his fifth assist of the season in a daft game v Nottingham Forest. Scored his seventh v Newcastle United. He then claimed one of each v Aston Villa.
Now on 14 goals and six assists for the season but he wasn’t enough against Fulham and has since struggled to carry his team against Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Man City and Aston Villa.
LEFT WING: Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
Arsenal-linked forwards Cunha and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo have been crucial for their respective clubs this season and have similar match ratings. They faced off last weekend and Cunha came out on top, scoring the only goal of the game against 10-man Cherries.
STRIKER: Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)
Newcastle cannot afford to sell a striker who now has 19 league goals for the season. He is amazing and it’s no surprise Arsenal want him.
