Who Would You Choose for Your Premier League Team of the Season? Our Writers Share Their Selections!
As the festive season approaches, our writers have revisited the beginning of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, selecting a starting XI featuring the best performers thus far.
Many standout players are likely to feature in everyone’s lineup: think your Salahs, Sakas, and Palmers. Chris Wood and Moises Caicedo were also highlighted by most of our team, but the recent decline of Manchester City has led to even Erling Haaland missing the cut.
But who would make it into your lineup? Share your starting XIs and thoughts in the comments below.
Stay updated with the latest transfer news from The Athletic…
Who’s in, who’s out and why?
I was particularly struck by how many Nottingham Forest players made a memorable impression on me. While only two made my selection, Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Alex Moreno, Elliot Anderson, and Morgan Gibbs-White were all deserving of consideration. This reflects a squad that is performing well.
The challenge was realizing how many of the standout players were right-sided forwards: Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Dejan Kulusevski, and Bryan Mbeumo. Realistically, how many can you fit into even a conceptual lineup? I opted for three, with Saka squeezed into a left-wing position, yet excluding Kulusevski and Mbeumo felt unfair.
It’s strange to overlook the league’s joint-leader in goals, but Erling Haaland, after a sensational start, hasn’t been performing well in a Manchester City team that has lost its edge. Wood is indeed a more deserving selection at this time.
Aside from Forest’s central defenders, Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba have both excelled for Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively, but I opted for their less-lauded partners, Ibrahima Konate and Gabriel. Trent Alexander-Arnold performed well enough (especially defensively) to surpass Aina.
Ultimately, I selected Antonee Robinson after his standout man-of-the-match display for Fulham at Anfield. He made my Premier League team last season and has elevated his performance further since then.
Oliver Kay
Who’s in, who’s out and why?
There may be some debates over who occupies the right-wing position between Salah and Saka. I took the safe route and included both. Palmer and Wood round out the forward line. The Chelsea playmaker possesses a carefree talent that adeptly disrupts defenses, while the Nottingham Forest striker exemplifies classic center-forward play that is perpetually in style.
Caoimhin Kelleher may not add to his Premier League appearances shortly, but he has shown himself to be an exceptional backup goalkeeper, earning him the selection ahead of Matz Sels in this XI. Special mention goes to Nikola Milenkovic, who enjoys defending, and Antonee Robinson, a left-back thriving in an era with a lack of left-back talent.
Many of my colleagues and readers of this piece would likely agree on the same central midfield duo. A great tactical pleasure this season has been observing Gravenberch’s evolution into a holding midfielder. As for Caicedo, he’s proving to be worth every penny of his transfer fee to Chelsea. The Ecuadorian is among the most astute midfield architects currently.
Carl Anka
Who’s in, who’s out and why?
Mark Flekken has adapted to a new role this season under Thomas Frank at Brentford, focusing more on building from the back. No goalkeeper has attempted more passes than Flekken this season, and he has performed admirably.
The leadership and quality of Van Dijk pairs well with the formidable presence of Milenkovic, who has significantly strengthened Forest’s defense. On either side, Bournemouth’s tireless Milos Kerkez, a player elite clubs should monitor this summer, and the versatile, technically sound Noussair Mazraoui, who is arguably one of the few Manchester United players pleased with their season’s start.
The press-resistant Gravenberch is a guaranteed choice alongside Caicedo, who has adapted brilliantly to the demands of Enzo Maresca’s tactical approach. Palmer is another must-have with his effortless ability to either score or create. Leaving Saka out was tough, but Salah’s 13 goals and nine assists place him firmly as a guaranteed selection.
On the left wing, Alex Iwobi might not be the most common choice, but he has demonstrated incredible adaptability on both flanks, creating excellent attacking triangles with Emile Smith Rowe and Antonee Robinson.
Leading the attack is Forest’s Wood, who has already reached double digits this season. Many underestimate just how technically capable he is, but he’s flourishing in Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, providing more than just target man qualities.
Mark Carey
Who’s in, who’s out and why?
What stands out in creating this team is the lack of any Manchester City players, with only Haaland feeling unlucky to be excluded.
In goal, Mads Hermansen has been exceptional in a struggling Leicester side, with his performances keeping them slightly above the relegation zone. Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk have returned to their dominant best in Arne Slot’s cohesive Liverpool team, while Milenkovic has been crucial to Forest’s revival under Nuno. Antonee Robinson, Fulham’s dynamic left-back, has had a standout season, contributing two assists at Anfield and effectively neutralizing Saka’s threat earlier this month.
Gravenberch appears to have resolved Liverpool’s ongoing No 6 dilemma with his deft touches and ability to escape tight situations. Meanwhile, Caicedo has finally hit his stride at Chelsea, and his teammate Palmer is so talented that he now models for Burberry. Special mention for Matheus Cunha, who has sprinkled some flair into a struggling Wolves side, narrowly missing inclusion.
In the attacking department, Saka has been outstanding and edges out Mbeumo from Brentford, while Wood’s contributions have propelled Forest to an unexpected Champions League charge and Salah has been the Premier League’s standout performer.
Tom Burrows
Who’s in, who’s out and why?
Facing less stability this season compared to the previous one, David Raya has been called upon more often and has met the challenge with resilience. He ranks among the league’s most dependable keepers so far, capable of making impressive saves.
Milenkovic has been a vital component in Forest’s robust defense, and Van Dijk has been superb for Liverpool, rising to the occasion of increased responsibilities in building their attacks under Slot’s direction. Robinson has emerged as a key player, maintaining his exceptional attacking contributions from last season while also showcasing his defensive capabilities — against Arsenal, he played a crucial role in nullifying the threats posed by Saka and colleagues. Alexander-Arnold continues to be one of the league’s premier right-backs, even though his form has dipped a bit.
Caicedo’s abilities in winning the ball and detecting danger have been instrumental to Chelsea’s revival this season, while Palmer has firmly established himself as a game-changer. Anderson is a name I didn’t anticipate including at the season’s beginning, but his adaptability (having predominantly played as a defensive or left midfielder before transitioning into the No 10 role to replace the injured Morgan Gibbs-White) and competence in all those positions earns him a spot on the left of midfield. Arguably, his performances in the 10 position reveal that it is where he truly excels.
I’ve positioned Saka on the left of my attacking trio, which may not be optimal, but I couldn’t exclude him, and Salah has secured the right side with his performances. The striker position presents an interesting dilemma. Though Haaland is the league’s top-scoring forward, others have been more impressive in terms of form. Wood is unquestionably deserving, but I’ve opted for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who has made Brentford’s loss of Ivan Toney much more manageable.
Sarah Shepherd
Who’s in, who’s out and why?
Flekken has been essential to Brentford’s solid start, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is included for his early-season performances. Van Dijk embodies the best version of himself, so the confident captain naturally makes the cut. Alongside him in defense is Gabriel, who exudes a similar confidence in his play. Together, they would form a formidable partnership.
I aimed to highlight some players who may not often receive recognition, which is why Bournemouth’s Kerkez is included along with Mikkel Damsgaard from Brentford. Kerkez displays craftiness, audacity, and fearlessness when competing up and down the wing. In contrast, Damsgaard showcases impressive intelligence on the ball, smoothly navigating the pitch and seamlessly knitting plays together. Both present an enjoyable viewing experience.
Next come the more expected picks. Gravenberch would likely be hailed as Liverpool’s best player so far this season if not for Salah’s outstanding form and vision. Both players made it into my selection. Naturally, I felt compelled to include Saka, so I positioned him on the left. Wood’s impressive performances have assured him a place in numerous selections. With his Harry Kane-like finishing capabilities and consistency, he’s certainly deserving of recognition.
Caoimhe O’Neill
Who’s in, who’s out and why?
There’s a hint of controversy in my choices. Technically, any reputable team of the season should be arranged in either the dominant formation of the moment (likely 4-3-3, still) or the one that has significantly influenced the season (the 4-2-3-1 employed by Slot’s Liverpool and Nuno’s Forest, among others).
Instead, I’ve adopted the system favored by Ruben Amorim, primarily to accommodate Salah and Saka. I feel an intense guilt over excluding Milenkovic, Iwobi, Sels, and Carlos Baleba; Antonee Robinson could have similarly displaced Kerkez.
Although it wasn’t part of the initial task, I’ve devised this team to play away from home; in a home setting, Wissa and Mbeumo would have secured spots in my selection. Among those included — aside from the obvious picks like Palmer — there are two threads: Konate, crucial to Liverpool’s strong start, is one of those players receiving less recognition outside his own fanbase than he truly deserves; Kepa Arrizabalaga, Gravenberch, and Wood collectively serve as a reminder that there are no bad players, only players in the wrong contexts. Their prominence this season has been refreshing.
Rory Smith
