Premier League: Team of the Season so Far

• As we end the year, we list the Premier League Team Of The Season so Far
• Premier League returns on Boxing Day
• The Return is just eight days from the Qatar 2022 World Cup

A mid-season World Cup significantly disrupted an exciting start to the domestic season, with Arsenal as the surprise league leaders at Christmas.

We’ve selected some of the Premier League’s early-season stars ahead of the league’s return. So far, here is our Premier League Team of the Season.

GK: Nick Pope (Newcastle)

Nick Pope. Photo/ Irish Examiner.

Nick Pope joined Newcastle last summer, capitalizing on Burnley’s relegation to sign one of the division’s most dependable goalkeepers.

Pope’s arrival has proven to be wise business for Newcastle, who have outperformed all expectations in pursuing Champions League qualification. Their third-place finish has been built on a solid defensive record, with no team in the division conceding fewer than 11 goals in 15 games.

RB: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)

Nick Pope joined Newcastle last summer, capitalizing on Burnley’s relegation to sign one of the division’s most dependable goalkeepers.

Pope’s arrival has proven to be wise business for Newcastle, who have outperformed all expectations in pursuing Champions League qualification. Their third-place finish has been built on a solid defensive record, with no team in the division conceding fewer than 11 goals in 15 games.

CB: Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)

Lisandro Martinez of Argentina kisses the FIFA World Cup trophy. Photo/ United In Focus.

Lisandro Martinez was written off not long ago by some, with the defender’s difficult transition to the Premier League drawing many critics.

Accusations that the diminutive Argentine could not cope with the rigours of English football have since been dispelled, with Martinez emerging as a critical figure in Erik ten Hag’s early reign at Manchester United.

CB: William Saliba (Arsenal)

Arsenal is leading the Premier League, and Mikel Arteta’s inexperienced team is gaining confidence.

Among the changes from last season has been the inclusion of defender William Saliba, who joined the Gunners in 2019 before going on three consecutive loan spells. These moves have accelerated the development of the centre-back, who has been one of the Premier League’s best defenders in his debut season.

LB: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)

Joao Cancelo continues to put his mark on the left-back position for Manchester City, with the defender carrying out his duties in a distinctive manner for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Cancelo’s influence in advanced areas often makes his freedom more rewarding than the risk for a full-back. Cancelo is a vital cog in City’s ball-dominant machine, and his flair makes him one of Europe’s most watchable defenders.

CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Kevin De Bruyne. Photo/ Goal.com.

Kevin De Bruyne, the best passer in the world, is increasingly regarded as deserving of a place in the all-time terrific Premier League XI.

De Bruyne has been even more lethal than usual this season, thanks to the arrival of a certain Norwegian centre-forward. All he seems to have to do these days is hang the ball up by the back post, and Erling Haaland will find a way to force it into the net.

After a disastrous World Cup with Belgium, De Bruyne will be more eager than ever to get his campaign back on track in the coming weeks.

CM: James Maddison (Leicester City)

Given Leicester City’s comical start to the season, it’s nothing short of a miracle that James Maddison’s reputation has continued to improve ahead of the World Cup.

Four-goal assists in his first six games, none of which the Foxes won, set the tone for a season in which the midfielder has desperately tried to help his side out of a terrible rut.

Nowhere was his influence more visible than in Leicester’s 4-0 derby thrashing of Nottingham Forest, a result that brought their season back from the brink of disaster.

Maddison scored twice, including an inch-perfect free kick, and assisted on another in a performance that undoubtedly prompted his call-up to England’s squad for Qatar 2022.

CM: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Martin Odegaard is quickly becoming Arsenal’s answer to the aforementioned De Bruyne, with the midfielder improving in north London.

Odegaard has shone in the dual role of club captaincy and creative burden, weaving together attacks for a team that has been vibrant and impressive this season. In 13 appearances, he has six league goals – one less than last season – and Arsenal’s best moves have frequently flowed through him.

After failing to find his place at Real Madrid, the 24-year-old looks home at Emirates Stadium.

RW: Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United)

Since an enraged Jack Grealish used Miguel Almiron as a punchline during Manchester City’s title parade, the Paraguayan has been on a vengeance tour worthy of Beth Mead.

Almiron has gone from a fun figure to the most productive Wideman in the Premier League after scoring eight goals in just 15 Premier League games.

The threat of being replaced by your club’s new super-rich owners will motivate you more than anything else.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

Due to unfortunate timing and shaky form, Gabriel Martinelli’s hype train had been more of a rail-replacement bus service since he burst onto the scene.

This season, however, the Brazilian has been one of the primary beneficiaries of Mikel Arteta’s footballing revolution. He is on course to record his best-ever season goal tally for Arsenal.

Martinelli had consistently remained one of Arteta’s most dependable attacking options, scoring in each of Arsenal’s first two games. His match-winning performance against Liverpool was when he truly arrived as a Premier League superstar.

ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland. Photo/ Planet Football.

There has been so much written about Erling Haaland’s otherworldly performances that it is difficult to find a fresh perspective on his brilliance.

Haaland is currently on pace to score over 50 goals in a Premier League season, and while that figure may be a stretch, it would take a brave person to bet against him breaking the single-season scoring record by the end of the season.

He is impossible to defend against, and he is now receiving the best service of his career from Phil Foden, De Bruyne, Cancelo, and others; who knows what other statistical anomalies he will make a reality in the coming months?