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We're five games into the Premier League season, and there have been clear-cut standout performers in the competition so far. Noticeably, not all of these super performers are from the Premier League elite like the Manchester and London super clubs!
Clubs like Watford and Bournemouth have been mighty impressive this season, and that is down to their team efforts.
Based on their performances, and the resulting points scored in the Fantasy Premier League, a starting XI of the top performers (till date) has been created.
It comprises of 1 goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 strikers (these are the top 11 rankers in terms of points, so no tinkering was done to create a formation!). The fact that we have a goalkeeper and 10 outfield players from different positions proves how balanced the game is in the Premier League (in most of the other leagues, the top 11 in a fantasy game would mostly be strikers or attack-minded players!).
Let's see who makes it to the "Best of the best" Premier League XI
Goalkeeper
Neil Etheridge (Cardiff City)
There have been brilliant performances in the goal by the likes of Alisson, David De Gea, Joe Hart and many more. Rui Patricio of Wolves has made breathtaking saves this season. But Cardiff City's Etheridge has been the pick of the lot!
He's helped his team keep 2 clean sheets, has saved 2 penalties and has contributed to 20 saves in 5 games so far!
He's scored 32 points (in the Fantasy Premier League) taking him to the top of the goalkeepers' list, with his nearest competitor, Wayne Hennessey of Crystal Palace 5 points behind him!
The likes of Alisson, De Gea and the "world's costliest" goalkeeper Arizabalaga will have to come up with stellar performances to dislodge Etheridge from the prime spot!
Defenders
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Jose Holebas (Watford)
Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City)
With 46, 34, 34 and 32 points respectively, these four players are miles ahead of their competition.
Robertson and Holebas have been solid for their teams, while Alonso and Mendy have fulfilled defensive and offensive responsibilities for their teams in equal measure! It's no surprise that these four players feature for the top 4 teams in the Premier League this season!
Between them, they've scored 2 goals (1 a piece for Alonso and Holebas) and provided 16 assists - Alonso and Mendy with 5 each!
Alonso has continued to excel in his position, Mendy has made a brilliant start to his first full season (he was injured for most of last season) while Robertson and Holebas have been magnificent, especially considering their (lack of) experience in the Premier League.
All in all, a solid yet aggressive defensive unit, that would scare any opposition!
Midfielders
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)
Lucas Moura (Tottenham)
Eden Hazard has only started the last couple of games for Chelsea (came off the bench in the first few games), but his blistering performances have already seen him pull ahead of the pack! He's earned 47 points (highest for any position) in the Fantasy Premier League, with Mane, Fraser and Moura earning 41, 39 and 31 respectively!
He's currently the highest scorer in the Premier League and could end up being a genuine contender for the Golden Boot if he continues his form.
Mane has continued the impressive performances as part of the lethal Liverpool troika (Firmino and Salah being his "partners in crime").
Fraser has been a revelation for Bournemouth, and his contribution in the middle of the field has helped his team to the fifth place in the Premier League table.
Moura has been one of the "silver linings" in Tottenham's clouded season so far, and his contributions have earned him more points than some of the other brilliant midfield performers like Pereyra of Watford.
Between them, they've scored a breathtaking 15 goals (Hazard scoring a third of those) and provided 5 assists. That means they've been involved directly in 20 goals out of the 45 goals scored by their teams.
Strikers
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham)
The saying goes that "strikers hunt in pairs", and this pair would give nightmares to any defensive unit.
Fast, aggressive and lethal, these two have terrorized the teams they've faced so far.
Aguero has scored 3 (a hat-trick against Huddersfield) and assisted 4 goals, while Mitrovic has scored 4 and assisted 1.
Aguero has continued his rich scoring form, while Mitrovic seems to be enjoying the freedom and trust that he craved for under Benitez at Newcastle.
Mitrovic's performances have also raked up discussions about Chelsea's interest in buying him.
For statistical purposes, Aguero and Mitrovic have earned 37 and 31 points in the Fantasy Premier League so far.
