If I could have it my way, this would be a team of Liverpool’s starting 11. However, I know there have been clubs besides Liverpool with players that are key to their current standing in the league table.
Clubs like Nottingham Forrest and Fulham have had great spells in this season with key players stepping up at big moments. And I’ll be sure to take that into account while making this XI.
Enough talking… let’s get into it.
GK: Matz Sels, Nottingham Forrest
Reaching your peak at 33 is a very goalkeeper move to do, but Sels has reached another level this year. At this point last year he only had one clean sheet on the year and was sharing time on the pitch with both Matt Turner & Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Before the season started, Vlachodimos was sent to Newcastle & Turner was sent on loan to Crystal Palace. The man in between the sticks for the Tricky Trees was going to be Sels and Sels only.
Sels currently leads the league in clean sheets (13) and has been a crucial part of their rise up the table this year. In recent weeks their form has dipped slightly, falling to sixth from third, but they’re only two points off of third with four games to go.
Champions League football at The City Ground is still possible next year. And they have a great chance with this guy being the man in goal.
Honorable Mention: Alisson Becker, Liverpool
LB: Antonee Robinson, Fulham
During Fulham’s best spell this season, Robinson was the catalyst to every attacking move. His pace and movement with the ball created so many opportunities for both his midfielders and attackers, which helped him reach 10 assists on the season so far (tied for third in the league).
While facing the hardships of playing in the Premier League in December, arguably the hardest period in world football, Fulham managed to go undefeated in all 7 matches.
Robinson was in top form during this run, but his best game was against the eventual champions at Anfield. Every attack was going through him and with Liverpool losing Andy Robertson in the 17th minute to a red card, Robinson was able to focus less on defending against Mo Salah.
Robinson would assist both goals to grab the hard-earned point at Anfield, walking away with the man of the match award.
Honorable Mention: Milos Kerkez, Bournemouth
CB: Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
I mean… has there ever been an easier selection? Captain of the Premier League Champions and always stepping up in the biggest moments.
Genuinely is at least top three center-back’s of all time to me. You could make a case that at his best, no one can hold a candle to him.
The anchor at Anfield, the one who keeps it all structured from defense to attack. The skipper, Virgil van Dijk.
Honorable Mention: Murillo, Nottingham Forrest
CB: Gabriel Magalhães, Arsenal
By the way, Ibrahima Konaté is clear of this guy, but not by much. And that just shows you how much I actually rate him.
I would’ve put Ibou here, but I would’ve felt like I was being too biased. Plus Arsenal have let up the least amount of goals this season and Gabriel, in my opinion, is their most important defender.
He carries the most threat in front of goal from set pieces and you know Arsenal love their set-piece goals.
Genuinely, not even trying to be funny, I think he covers up a lot of Saliba’s faults and occasional recklessness.
Hopefully for Arsenal he’s back to full health sooner than later.
Honorable Mention: Ibrahima Konaté, Liverpool
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool
Improved drastically in defending, still the most creative player on the ball in the country & kept showing up in big moments.
Ladies and gentlemen I present to you… Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The “Scouser in our team” added on to his record of having the most assists by a defender in Premier League history with six more despite missing two chunks of time with injury.
And that last goal away at the King Power Stadium to inch Liverpool closer to their eventual Premier League title win was class.
What a player.
Honorable Mention: Ola Aina, Nottingham Forrest
CM: Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool
Liverpool twitter was VEXXED when they found out Martin Zubimendi rejected them to stay in the Basque region of Spain, where he grew up.
They collectively thought that another year without a true starting caliber #6 would be a real struggle.
Ryan Gravenberch put all of that to bed by the third match of the season against Manchester United. His calmness on the ball, ability to shield anyone off of it & how strong he was all year with his tackles. It was truly immaculate to watch.
Honorable Mention: Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forrest
CM: Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool
Just a reminder that Liverpool signed this guy, after he won the World Cup, £35m pounds. In this market, that’s one of the best deals we’ve seen in the last decade.
He’s not the biggest man on the pitch at any time, but he’s able to win any challenge that he’s asked.
He’s an elite ball-carrier, knows how to ping a perfect pass & can strike the hell out of a ball.
What a player.
Honorable Mention: Bruno Guimarães, Newcastle United
CM: Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa
Speaking of an elite ball-carrier, ladies and gentlemen, I want you to meet Morgan Rogers. The former Manchester City youth academy star was a big reason why Aston Villa were able to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League this year.
Rogers has scored eight goals and tacked on eight assists as well during his Premier League campaign, and with the way he’s playing, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tallies on about two more in each category in the remaining four games.
And his talent isn’t going unnoticed, as Fabrizio Romano recently tweeted that both Liverpool and Chelsea are “both monitoring” his situation in Birmingham.
Honorable Mention: Moisés Caicedo, Chelsea
FW: Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford
Now while Brentford are currently sitting at 11th on the Premier League table, Bryan Mbuemo has scored over 30% of his teams goals this year.
He currently is in fifth place in the league for most goals scored (18) and I honestly believe that if he wasn’t putting in these performances, the Bees would be battling relegation once again.
I don’t know if I’d want Liverpool to spend an insane amount of money on him, but I know that he can be a great player for a bigger club in this league or internationally.
Honorable Mention: Matheus Cunha, Wolverhampton Wanderers
FW: Alexander Isak, Newcastle United
The £100m man in England… Alexander Isak. If it wasn’t for a certain Egyptian king, Isak would be the man to watch for the Golden Boot this year.
He was one of the biggest contributors to their Carabao Cup triumph, Newcastle’s first major trophy since the 1954/55 season.
He scored in both the semifinal and final against the top two teams in the league (Arsenal and Liverpool), but this article is about the Premier League.
And there’s no need for extra explanation when it comes to the Swede’s league campaign, as he’s bagged 22 goals (second behind only Mohamed Salah).
If he doesn’t end up leaving, and Newcastle finishes in a UCL spot (they are currently third), then I don’t doubt for a second that he could do this again.
Honorable Mention: Chris Wood, Nottingham Forrest
FW: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
What’s understood doesn’t need to be explained.
Leading the league and goals (28) and assists (18) while leading his team to the Premier League title.
The only thing left for him is to break the G/A record in one season and to break Thierry Henry/Kevin De Bruyne’s assist record (20).
With four games left, it’s most certainly possible.
And to the rest of the Premier League…
Get ready for two more seasons.
Honorable Mention: No other pick would make sense
A season that I will for sure never forget, considering that the Reds won #20 and Salah is on track to win the Ballon D’Or (if the voters aren’t idiots).
Until next time, this is YSN, signing out.
