Pressing Issues

The concept of a ‘Team of the Season’ is nothing new. Each year, pundits and fans pick who they think has been the best player in each position that season.

The common theme of these teams are that they are dominated by a few teams and leave little room for anyone playing for a non-Champions League side. Both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 PFA Team of the Year featured players from just 4 clubs each time – with Harry Kane’s inclusion in 2022/23 the only player at a side who didn’t finish in the top 4.

For the sake of keeping things fresh then, for this Team of the Season (so far) selection, only 1 player from each club is allowed to be selected – although notable absentees will also be discussed.

Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga

If Kepa Arrizabalaga’s football career was a purchasable stock, it would perhaps have fluctuated more than anyone else in the Premier League.

Since being loaned to Bournemouth in August, only shortly after returning to Chelsea from a loan at Real Madrid in 2023/24, the 30-year-old has enjoyed the third highest save percentage in the league, conceding just 18 goals from 20.32 expected goals against.

Kepa has also become integral for Bournemouth in possession, proving a reliable pair of feet, as well as frequently stepping out of goal to prevent counterattacking passes in behind the Bournemouth defence.

Other contenders for goalkeeper of the season so far could include Mat Sels of Nottingham Forest – who has the most clean sheets in the league, David Raya at Arsenal who has continued to grow his stock as a world class goalkeeper this season, or perhaps Jordan Pickford, who has grown into the season well and is a large part of why Everton aren’t currently sat in the relegation zone.

Left Back: Antonee Robinson

Recently called “one of the best left backs in the league” by his manager Marco Silva, Fulham’s Antonee Robinson has quietly been a top level full back for a couple of seasons now.

Yet he has gone to another gear this season. His 7 assists are the most of any defender in the Premier League, with his dynamism on the left flank: crossing ability, explosive pace and defensive prowess all making him a top selection at left back.

Progressive Carries per 90	Progressive Passes Received per 90	Interceptions per 90	Passes into Penalty Area per 90
2.98 (top 13%)	6.78 (top 9%)	1.76 (top 5%)	1.55 (top 11%)

He has recently become linked with both Manchester United and Liverpool, but Marco Silva will be reluctant to sell the American, who has become one of his most useful assets, and could prove key to any hopes Fulham may have of finishing in the European places.

Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez was the other standout option in the left back spot, but at least in my eleven, Robinson just about supersedes him.

Centre Back: Nathan Collins

The centre back spots were both very difficult to fill when considering the ‘one player per club’ rule. As a result, Virgil Van Dijk and Gabriel Magalhaes are obvious omissions from these positions.

Despite being the ‘home track bullies’ of the Premier League, Brentford have impressed to be sat in 11th at the halfway stage.

Imperious, reliable Irishman Nathan Collins has been a largely unsung hero for the Bees this season – with forwards Bryan Mbuemo, Mikkel Damsgaard and Yoanne Wissa often stealing the limelight.

Collins ranks 1st for blocks in the Brentford squad with 39, and has been an ever present at the heart of the West London club’s defence. He is also yet to make an error leading to a goal this season.

As well as his defensive work, Collins is among the top 15% of Premier League centre backs for progressive carries per 90.

Still just 23-years-old, the former Wolves man has found a new level this season, and looks set to blossom into a top centre back in the near future.

Centre Back: Murillo

With Nottingham Forest currently sat in 3rd and conceding just 19 goals so far this season, it should come as no surprise that a Forest defender finds themselves in the Team of the Season so far.

The biggest difficulty was deciding which one – Ola Aina has been amongst the best right backs in the league, and the two centre backs, Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, have both been in the form of their lives.

In the end, Murillo has received the nod. The Brazilian has had a number of performances where he has stood out as a difference maker for Nuno Espirito Santo’s defence – most recently and perhaps most notably his impenetrable showing against Tottenham on boxing day.

While both Murillo and Milenkovic are very ‘traditional’, in the sense that they aren’t brilliant ball-playing defenders, Murillo is second only to Ola Aina for passes for Forest in the Premier League this season. He often appears as the leader of their defence – which has proven tricky to get through for many opponents this season.

Right Back: Jurrien Timber

With Arsenal sat second in the Premier League and with a range of standout players to choose from, Jurrien Timber is a worthy selection at right back.

Of course, Bukayo Saka was having an incredible season until being recently sidelined with injury, and the Englishman is unfortunate to miss out, only due to a certain Egyptian King sharing his position.

Mikel Arteta has so frequently relied on his Dutch Swiss army knife since the season’s beginning – and Timber has played all the way across the back four, never putting in a bad performance and providing consistency amidst a defence that has faced a myriad of injury issues.

Competition for the right back spot was fierce, with Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina enjoying an exceptional season, with his thundering strike against West Ham in November the highlight so far.

However, Timber’s all-round ability – not necessarily excelling in any particular role but always being dependable, adaptable and demonstrating great game-awareness, is what has earned him his spot at right back.

Defensive Midfield: Moises Caicedo

Chelsea have been the surprise package of the season so far and there were 4-5 players who are worthy of discussion for a place in the best eleven: Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Nicholas Jackson and Romeo Lavia were all considered as options.

Yet 23-year-old Moises Caicedo has been a constant in Enzo Maresca’s new-look Chelsea team, playing a vital role in defensive midfield or as an inverted right back to provide Maresca the ability to play a differentiated version of his favoured ‘3 box 3’ formation.

Averaging 6.84 passes into the final third per 90 which puts him in the top 3% for Premier League midfielders, as well as 3.2 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per 90 is a perfect example of Caicedo’s reliability as a top midfielder. He frequently snuffs out opposition counterattacks, and is equally capable of finding passes between the lines himself.

The Ecuadorian was an absolute no brainer for the defensive midfield spot.

Central Midfield: Carlos Baleba

21-year-old Carlos Baleba is the latest on the long list of Brighton’s exceptional scouting works. Signed for £26 million from Lille in 2023 after making just 6 starts for the French club, Baleba was used largely as a rotation player last season.

But the arrival of Fabian Hurzeler has led to him starting most Premier League games this season and becoming an integral part of Brighton’s midfield.

The Cameroon international has demonstrated ability as a complete midfielder – capable of regaining possession with great anticipation and interceptions. He carries the ball well, ranking in the top 20% of Premier League midfielders for successful take ons this season.

Baleba has also frequently provided piercing passes between the lines, most memorably his pass into Danny Welbeck which led to Brighton’s last minute winner against Manchester City in November.

While there were a number of potential selections for this second midfield role – Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson chief amongst them, Baleba has shown talent beyond his years and looks like a world class midfielder in the making.

Attacking Midfield: Dejan Kulusevski

In a Spurs team whose results have been nothing short of bipolar this season, Dejan Kulusevski has been the diamond in the rough in North London.

The Swede has played in both full back roles, central midfield, attacking midfield, both wings and up front under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, but his versatile nature is best utilised when he is given the freedom of an attacking midfield role.

Kulusevski’s ability to drift into spaces on the right wing, as well as pick up the ball in tight spaces in the centre of the field and find key passes, are two characteristics that make him not only effective, but an absolute joy to watch.

The 24-year-old leads Tottenham for the most shot creating actions in the Premier League this season with 98, and has provided 9 goal involvements across his 18 league starts.

Postecoglou has relentlessly praised Kulusevski’s drive – “he’s got this real laser-eyed focus about how good he can be”, the Tottenham boss said in November.

Left Forward: Matheus Cunha

The fact that Matheus Cunha makes this eleven despite Wolves only reaching double figures for points three days before Christmas is in itself, testament enough to the Brazilian’s performances.

Cunha has been directly involved in 14 Premier League goals this season, which accounts for almost 50% of Wolves’ total league goals. He has produced moments of magic – most memorably a brace of belters in Wolves 4-2 win over Fulham.

Yet alongside this, his all round performance and consistency is the main reason that Wolves aren’t in an even worse position. Wolves’ run of four unbeaten in October and November were the result of the 25-year-old providing 4 goals and 3 assists over this period.

He has single handedly lifted Wolves’ level this season – and his playmaking ability isn’t fairly reflected in his 4 assists, as Cunha is in the top 15% in Europe for long passes completed and passes into the final third.

Right Forward: Mohammed Salah

Mohammed Salah may well be having his best ever season in a Liverpool shirt. This is remarkable in itself, as the 32-year-old has performed at a world class level for over half a decade now.

Racking up 30 Premier League goal involvements (17 goals, 13 assists) in just 18 league appearances is nothing shy of exceptional.

He has, beyond doubt been the league’s top performer this season, and his inclusion in the Team of the Season so far will come as a surprise to nobody.

Liverpool have had a range of star performers: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk and perhaps most notably Ryan Gravernberch, but there was only ever one Red who could make the eleven – the Egyptian King himself.

Striker: Alexander Isak

Selecting a striker for the Team of the Season so far was remarkably difficult. Many names stood out – Chris Wood, Nicholas Jackson and Yoanne Wissa were the other front-runners, but Alexander Isak moved into a new gear in December, and subsequently separated himself from the rest.

Scoring 9 times in the league since the start of December, Isak now finds himself with 13 goals and 4 assists this season.

Yet with the Swede, it is not just his goalscoring that stands out. He is constantly involved in build up for Newcastle. He averages 1.91 key passes per 90, 1.6 successful take ons, and 3.69 shot creating actions. All of these figures are amongst the best for his position in the league.

The Newcastle forward has previously been plagued by injury, but having found fitness and started 18 Premier League games this season, there seems to be no stopping him at the moment.