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The Premier League has started in exhilarating fashion and the fans would have it no other way. With Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all tied at 20 points at the top of the table, the league title is still open to any team. While teams like Arsenal and Tottenham are hot on the chase behind these three teams.
The total money spent by the Premier League clubs this season was £1.24billion. With Liverpool being the highest spenders and Tottenham being the lowest, making no transfers at all throughout the window.
While many of the new transfers have signed, many of the veteran campaigners proved why they are the top players in the league and will continue to be for many more years. The rise of many academy players was a huge relief for Southgate and co. as the England managers might have found solutions to the problems the team faced over the course of The World Cup.
The likes of Chilwell, Maddison, Ross Barkley and Trent Alexander Arnold travelled to Rijeka as the three lions took on World Cup runner-ups, Croatia.
The Premier League has seen some stellar performances this season. While hattricks from the likes of Hazard and Aguero made everyone applaud the respective players on their feet, numerous saves from the likes of Cech, Patricio and Fabianski brought the "oohs" and "ahs'" out of all fans.
Some defensively solid performances from the likes of Kompany and Virgil Van Dijk have ensured clean sheets and some midfield geniuses have arrived at the scene wit Jorginho being the prime example.
As the international break dawns upon us, we get a better understanding of how the table might shape later this season. There have been crackling performances all around this season ut which eleven players make the cut into the team of the season so far? Here is my team of the season so far as we head into a week of Internation Friendlies.
Goalkeeper
Lukasz Fabianski
West Ham had a horrid start to the season as they lost the first four games. But ever since, Pellegrini has turned the team's fortunes around with important results against Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United. The goals coming from the front three of Felipe Anderson, Marko Arnautovic and Andriy Yarmolenko.
But behind this fierce attack, is a solid wall between the posts. While the Polish keeper has conceded 13 goals till now, he has not had much of a chance to save those goals. The defence took time to adapt to the new system and as a result, the dangerous forwards of Arsenal, Liverpool and Bournemouth were able to score numerous goals. However, Fabianski has had a great season till now.
He has the most saves in the league (36) and the most recoveries in the league (85). He has also controlled his box impressively well, making 6 claims and 5 punches. Overall he has kept West Ham in the game on several occasions but the flawed defence has led to the concession of many goals this season.
Honourable Mentions
Neil Etheridge
Neil Etheridge is the first Phillipenes player to play in the Premier League. His reflexes and concentration are second to none which is highlighted in the numerous saves he has made (30) and his two penalty saves. His game against Chelsea was particularly great as the Blues were frustrated going 1-0 down and it took individual brilliance from Eden Hazard to start getting the ball past the 28-year-old goalkeeper.
Rui Patricio
Nuno has been successful in bringing in top quality players from Portugal such as Ruben Neves, Jota and Jimenez. But when the Portuguese manager was able to persuade the Portugal no.1 to join the club, fans around the world were shocked and many critics wrote him off saying he is too old.
But Rui Patricio proved the critics wrong and has been pivotal in Wolves' fairly successful campaign till now. A stunning save on Sterling's shot against Manchester City and a few against Manchester United ensured that the two games ended in draws. These were important points for the Wolves as they look to finish in the top half of the table with the wall of Rui Patricio in goal.
The full-backs
Right-back: Matt Doherty
Wolverhampton Wanderers play with a back 3. This means that the two wing-backs Matt Doherty and summer signing, Jonny Castro, have more freedom and can link up with the wingers to provide an attacking threat.
While the latter has had a decent debut season, Matt Doherty has excelled in the position. He has played for the Wolves since 2010 and has a good relationship with the current manager, Nuno.
His attacking prowess was known from previous seasons and he even won the goal of the season in the championship in 2015-16 for a goal against Fulham. But the Irish right back has proved that he is no joke defensively making 13 tackles, 18 clearances and 35 recoveries this season.
He has scored one goal and given two assists which have all been vital for the Wolves. The energy and enthusiasm with which he runs up and down the flanks are second to none and if he continues this form, he could contribute a whole lot to the team.
Left-back: Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell was called up for the international friendlies that the Three Lions have scheduled. The position of left-back was earlier a position of weakness for Gareth Southgate as he would play Danny Rose, who didn't have enough game time with Tottenham or Fabian Delph, who is not a natural left-back. So Chilwell's recent run of form is a blessing in disguise for the England manager.
The 21-year-old has been a driving force behind Leicester City's campaign. Despite only winning half of the games, Leicester have performed better than their opposition on various days and was unlucky to drop three points. Chilwell has made 50 recoveries and 46 crosses this season which has been key to transitioning from defence to attack for the former champions. Ben Chilwell will be hoping to carry out this form through the season and probably attract the attention of big clubs
Honourable Mentions
Hector Bellerin
Hector Bellerin had a woeful start to the campaign, getting caught out of position in the matches against Manchester City and Chelsea. But the Spaniard has improved his game since, giving two assists and recovering his position more often. A new found confidence under Unai Emery allows Bellerin to overlap more often and exploit his threatening pace. He has gained some solidity over the past few games and maintains the back line with his fellow defenders. If Hector Bellerin is able to continue this balance, Arsenal can extend their 9-game winning streak.
Marcos Alonso
Marcos Alonso is another player thriving under the new manager. The build-up play from the back allows Marcos Alonso to play with more freedom on the left-hand side. His winner against Arsenal was a result of this freedom where he often makes Henry-esque runs into the middle of the box from the left flank. He has been an offensive threat the whole season providing two assists as well. Marcos Alonso will hope to carry his form from last season and ensure a top-4 finish for the Blues.
The Centre-backs
Virgil Van Dijk
Liverpool's main problem last year was a weak defence and no real ball-winners in defence. They conceded 38 goals last season, a number that could have easily been lesser had they not cheaply given the ball away on many occasions. Liverpool brought in Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton during the January transfer window for a record fee of £75 million in order to solve this problem
The Dutch defender has fit into the squad very well. He has formed a solid defensive unit with Joe Gomez which has given Liverpool 5 clean sheets till now. Virgil Van Dijk hasn't gotten a step wrong this season except for giving away a penalty against Manchester City and is looking exceptional.
Aymeric Laporte
Aymeric Laporte was labelled as one of the brightest centre-backs for the future a few years ago. With Manchester City having a team depleted by injuries, they needed a centre-back who could also cover as left-back occasionally. So, in the January transfer window, Pep Guardiola brought in Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for £57 million. The French defender did not disappoint.
He has been heavily involved in the build-up for Manchester City having the second most touches and passes in the league, only behind Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho in both of them. His average pass percentage is a staggering 92%. He has also contributed defensively with 21 clearances and 33 recoveries.
His amazing header against Wolves into the back of the net displays the sort of attacking threat he provides. All around he has contributed immensely to Manchester City, both offensively as well as defensively.
Honourable Mentions
Antonio Rudiger
The Chelsea man has been in top form this season. From winning aerial duels (23 won) to making tackles to recovering the ball (58 recoveries), Antonio Rudiger has provided defensive stability to a Chelsea team with an explosive attack. His lightning-quick pace makes him incredibly tough to get past and his physicality makes sure he is the winner of all aerial duels. Antonio Rudiger has developed into life under Sarri and will continue to grow as the season goes on.
The Midfield
Jorginho
The arrival of Maurizio Sarri meant the arrival of a new philosophy at Chelsea. To carry forward this philosophy effectively, Sarri had to bring the fulcrum of his team at Napoli to Chelsea. This was none other than 26-year-old Italian midfielder Jorginho. He was quick to make an impact as he made a pass every 27 seconds in the preseason match against Perth Glory.
But his amazing stats didn't stop there. Jorginho has the most passes in the league (853) and touches in the league (931). Jorginho has been pivotal to Chelsea's success this season and rotated the ball beautifully. He also scored on his Premier League debut with a stylish penalty, his run-up was then copied by Chelsea fans around the world. Jorginho has been the best midfielder in the tournament by far and will surely play an important role in Chelsea's season.
Etienne Capoue
Watford was one of four teams to have a 100% record after 4 games. Javi Gracia played a 4-4-2 with the experience of Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoré. Ettiene Capoue had a successful 2016/17 season where he scored 7 goals and contributed immensely from the heart of midfield. This time around the Frenchman has had an equally important role making the most interceptions (27) in the league and the second most recoveries (73).
The highly mobile and the industrious midfielder that he is, Etienne Capoue can carry the ball forward into the opposition's half causing all sorts of problems. His strength and shot power make it essential to close him down before he gets space. Furthermore, the midfielder has allowed the likes of Pereira and Hughes to play with more freedom which, in turn, has lead to goals - a lot of them.
Joao Moutinho
Wolverhampton Wanderers made smart acquisitions over the summer by bringing in Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho. While the former has been discussed earlier in the article, the latter has also been a decisive member of the team. His equaliser against Manchester United will be a fond memory of the season for all Wolves fans.
The Portuguese midfielder has an astounding 49 crosses which means he frees up space and allows the likes of Helder Costa, Jimenez and Jota to get more involved into the game. This has worked to great effect as the Mexican striker has grabbed two goals and three assists only nine games into the season. As Moutinho continues to act as the engine driving the Wolves to top performances week in and week out, one can also see them qualify for European competition this season
Honourable Mentions
James Milner
With the arrival of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig, many pundits expected James Milner to be the casualty when fitting the Guinean into the starting 11. But surprisingly the 32-year-old has retained his spot in the heart of the Liverpool midfield. He runs an astounding 2.37 kilometres per game and has high work rates, a surprising stat for his age.
The veteran midfielder has provided two assists and scored a penalty this season. His 51 recoveries and 17 tackles show how important he is to Liverpool for winning the ball back. He also conducts play for Liverpool making 494 passes till now. Overall, Liverpool's midfield might have been a headache for Klopp in terms of selection, but James Milner has solidified his spot in the starting 11.
Bernardo Silva
One of the surprising observations in the Community Shield match between Chelsea and Machester City was Bernardo Silva playing in midfield while summer signing, Riyad Mahrez took his place on the right flank. But the Portuguese midfielder performed brilliantly in the new position assisting one of Aguero's two goals and acting as the conductor for teh Sky Blues.
Bernardo Silva has carried out a similar role this season. The injury of Kevin De Bruyne left a huge void in Manchester City but the 24-year-old was able to fill this void. He has scored two goals and provided one assist this season. The Porugeuse has highlighted the strength in depth that Manchester City have and whether he starts or not, he will have a huge impact in the remainder of the season.
Wingers
Eden Hazard
On a recent interview, Eden Hazard claimed that he was the best player in the world and if stats are anything to go by, he might well be the best player in the world at the moment. He is the top scorer in the Premier League with 7 goals, which includes a hattrick against Cardiff City. He has completed 21 of his 34 dribbles, being the third highest rate of dribbles completed behind Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Allan Saint-Maxim of Nice.
The Belgian has also provided three assists this season and is linking up beautifully with the likes of Giroud and Pedro. Whether these performances are to push his dream move to Real Madrid next summer or just motivation from the new manager is a million dollar question. But amidst the doubt over his future, the 27-year-old continues to be a world-class player and might make this the best season of his career.
Ryan Fraser
Although Ryan Fraser is more of a wide midfielder, I have decided to include him in the team of the season so far as a winger. This is for two reasons - his past experience as a winger and his phenomenal season so far. He has played a role in 6 goals for Bournemouth this season. An important brace in the 4-2 victory over Leicester and a goal in the opening game have all been decisive in Bournemouth's overperforming campaign.
The Cherries are 6th on the table with 16 points. They are above teams such as Machester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers and are just two points shy of Arsenal and Tottenham. The Scottish international has made 41 crosses till now which has allowed the likes of Callum Wilson and Josh King to unleash their pace and skill to catch teams on the counter. Eddie Howe has usually put immense trust in his younger players and the performances brought out by players like Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson and Josh King are all proof for the same.
Honourable Mentions
Sadio Mané
Sadio Mané was given the number 10 season and this change in jersey number seems to have sparked a new found confidence in the Senegalese. While top scorer last season, Mohamed Salah, has struggled in front of goal, Sadio Mané has scored on four occasions for The Reds. His exclusion from the team of the season is mainly because he has slowed down since his blistering start to the campaign and failed to make a real impact in the big matches against Chelsea and Manchester City.
Richarlison
Everton made a large list of acquisitions this summer. Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina, Richarlison and Kurt Zouma are just a few of them. But it is the Brazilian winger who has made the biggest impact for The Toffees. The Brazilian scored a brace in the opening fixture and scored the winner against Southampton. His performances earned him his first cap for the national team and he will be hoping to add more ahead of the 2019 Copa America.
Richarlison has been the key to victories for Everton as they failed to win, grabbing only one point out of the two games he was suspended. But the 21-year-old's red card leaves him out of the team of the season so far as he missed two important games.
Striker
Sergio Aguero
Was there a shadow of a doubt?
The Argentine striker has had his doubters over the past few seasons and rightly so. He was not scoring as much and looked lethargic at times. But, after Agüero took the final few weeks of last season off to make a visit to Guardiola’s faithful doctor Ramon Cugat for some long-overdue knee surgery, he has looked much sharper and hungrier.
Aguero has scored 5 goals in 8 appearances and scored a hattrick in Manchester City's 6-1 mauling of Huddersfield. The main reason why Aguero gets the nod over his counterparts is his contribution to the build-up play. Having embraced Guardiola’s philosophy, the Argentine has added new dimensions to his game – his xA (expected goals off a shot/pass from a teammate) per 90 has increased to 0.48 from 0.25, for example – and remains the most devastating striker in the league. He also tops xG and post-shot xG (goal expectation rate) metrics and it won't be a surprise if he bags his second golden boot this season
Honourable Mentions
Aleksandr Mitrovic
Fulham has conceded 21 goals this season, the most by any team in the Premier League this season. While goals have flown into their own goal there is one man who is responsible for goals up front. Scoring 5 out of the 9 goals Fulham has scored, Aleksandr Mitrovic has made his return to England's top league in style.
The 6ft 2 in striker is a traditional no.9, using his height to nod the ball on to quick wingers or to score goals. He has won 38 aerial battles and 3 of his goals have come from headers. The Serbian has grown under Slaviša Jokanović over the past two years and has been vital in Fulham's promotion to the Premier League. Can the Serbian ensure that The Cottagers stay in the top league for another year? if he continues his scoring spree, he sure can.
Alexandre Lacazette
Unai Emery didn't start Lacazette in the first three games of the campaign including two big games against Chelsea and Manchester City. Many fans were baffled and urged their new manager to play both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette together.
The former Sevilla manager was able to come up with a tactic to play both explosive strikers together. Aubameyang, however, would have to fill in on the right flank. But, the result was seen in a very short period of time. Both Aubameyang and Lacazette scored as Arsenal beat Cardiff 3-2
While Aubameyang has himself had a decent season till now scoring 4 goals and providing an assist, the French striker has grabbed all the attention. He looks much sharper and clinical than anyone on the team and his hunger to score is almost second to none.
He has had 3.24 shots every 90 minutes and an xG of 2.29, the highest for a regular Premier League starter in Arsenal. With the Arsenal talisman often being left out of the French national side, he will hope to prove Deschamps wrong by excelling this season and ensuring a top 4 finish for the gunners.
