Liverpool are top of the Premier League and have two players in the Premier League XI of the season so far. But one of them isn’t Mo Salah.
This is based on WhoScored ratings and at this stage, every player must have started at least 10 Premier League games.
GOALKEEPER: Mark Flekken (Brentford)
Brentford have had a more-than-decent start to their Premier League season but have somehow conceded the most shots on target, so Flekken has made the most saves. It’s not a foolproof algorithm.
RIGHT-BACK: Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
Scored his second goal of the season in Tottenham’s annihilation of Manchester City, in which he also made seven clearances. Only creates marginally fewer chances than Trent Alexander-Arnold and batters him for interceptions.
CENTRE-BACK: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
He’s back to something approaching his best, which is apparently worse than Davinson Sanchez. He was predictably excellent v Crystal Palace and Chelsea before scoring against Arsenal. And kept another clean sheet v Aston Villa. He made seven clearances in his brilliance v Manchester City.
CENTRE-BACK: Nathan Collins (Brentf0rd)
When it comes to central defenders, doing sh*t is the key in terms of the algorithms. And Collins does sh*t, leading the Premier League for aerial duels won. He also added an assist v Leicester City as he dominated the Foxes’ attack.
LEFT-BACK: Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Three 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. Liverpool need a successor to Andy Robertson for starters.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)
Quietly having a brilliant season in that Chelsea midfield, he logged four tackles and six interceptions in the victory over Newcastle United. And then scored his first goal of the campaign against Manchester United. Nobody mentions that fee anymore. He even turned his hand to playing at right-back v Aston Villa.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
Finally claimed his first Premier League assist of the season v Southampton, giving him a much-needed algorithm boost because all that quiet excellence wasn’t getting him anywhere.
RIGHT WING: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Keeps Mo Salah out of this team because we’re not doing any Garth Crooks-style crowbarring of all the best attacking players. A goal and two assists in victory over West Ham took him to five goals and 10 assists this season. Yes, that’s a lower total than Mo Salah’s, but Saka’s defensive work keeps him ahead of the Egyptian.
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. There are question marks over his performances against the better teams of the Premier League but for now he keeps out Matheus Cunha and the inconsistent James Maddison here.
LEFT WING: Son Heung-Min (Tottenham)
Claimed a fourth assist of the season v Manchester City to keep out Bryan Mbeumo. He also keeps the ball incredibly well for an attacking player.
STRIKER: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Twelve goals in 13 games. His statistics continue to be utterly ludicrous, regardless of City’s obvious woes.
Leave a Reply