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What a Premier League season we have on our hands! The league is just seven games old but it is already shaping up to be a classic campaign with some high profile strikers looking to light up the matches in each game week. Sergio Aguero, Romelu Lukaku, Harry Kane and Kevin De Bruyne have been the most consistent performers for their respective sides whereas some have not yet lived up to their billing.
It is looking like a two-way contest between the Manchester clubs at this moment for the title but the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are not far behind. Crystal Palace and West Ham United are struggling at the moment whereas we have already seen one manager getting the sack.
With the ever so boring international break going on at the moment, we thought of looking at the Premier League's team of the season so far to assess the early leaders in the league and also to make the most of a football-free Sunday. Let's see who gets the nod ahead in our Premier League's best XI based on current form:
Goalkeeper
Ederson (Manchester City)
Manchester City's goalkeeping issues came to the fore last season with Pep Guardiola being heavily criticized for his custodian choices. He looked to solve the issue by bringing in the former Benfica man, Ederson to the Etihad who has acclimatized to the Premier League as well as any other new signing this summer.
The Brazilian looks the real deal which is proved by his tally of just two goals conceded in seven games with one of them being a belter from Charlie Daniels. Ederson is a sweeper keeper and looks to be a perfect Guardiola player - the first player to start an attack. With five clean sheets to his name, Ederson deserves to be on this list ahead of David De Gea and Jonas Lossl.
Defence
Centre back: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Chelsea's unsung hero to the title last season, Cesar Azpilicueta has slotted in wherever the team has asked for this season. With Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Victor Moses missing some games, Azpilicueta has played as a centre back and as a right/left wing back this season.
Dependable as ever, Azpilicueta has managed 2.3 tackles per game and 1.3 interceptions every 90 minutes which is a respectable statistic for any defender. On top of that, 'Dave' has provided as many as four assists this season with three of them being delivered to Alvaro Morata. Talk about the Spanish connection flourishing for the Blues!
Centre-back: John Stones (Manchester City)
After a big money move from Everton, Stones had a relatively quiet first season with the club where his performances were scrutinized to the tee. But England's most talked about centre-back has proved his worth by his start to this season by delivering assuring displays one after the other.
With Vincent Kompany being in and out of the side, his partnership with Nicolas Otamendi has given Manchester City a ray of hope for life after their captain.
According to Whoscored, Stones has a passing percentage of 96.6 in the Premier League - the best by a huge margin. He has misplaced just 15 of his 446 passes and has also been impeccable with his defensive duties.
Centre-back: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
Many had predicted a tough run for the Terriers in the Premier League. But the new boys made a mockery of all the pre-season predictions by having a dream start to life in the first division. Winning their first two games, Huddersfield announced themselves on the big stage and one of their star players this season has been the German centre-back, Christopher Schindler.
Statistically, Schindler is the highest rated central defender in the league right now with the former 1860 Munich man making 2.6 interceptions and 3.7 tackles per league game. Before their 4-0 defeat to Spurs in the last match, Huddersfield had conceded just three goals in six games and inarguably their best defender on the field was none other than Christopher Schindler.
Midfield
Right wing back: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
One of Louis Van Gaal's most important contributions during his time with the Red Devils can be said as the making of a fine fullback in the form of Antonio Valencia. Carrying his good form into the current season, Valencia has become one of the mainstays of Jose Mourinho's Manchester United so much so that the manager has made him the captain of the team in Michael Carrick's absence.
Solid in defence, Valencia has improved his attacking output this season and has formed a good partnership with the forward line. He seldom scores a goal but when he does, he makes sure it's special. This was evident from his goal of the month strike against Everton where the Ecuadorian smashed a thunderbolt from 30 yards out.
Left wing back: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Danny Rose deputy has taken his chances this season with both hands and has ensured that his side does not miss the injured and the outspoken Rose. Davies has been in scintillating form this season and has improved upon his attacking prowess.
With two goals and two assists already, the Wales international is on course for a stellar season ahead. His defending has always been his strong point but now with his new-found attacking prowess, the Spurs side have found a reliable option to rely on to provide another dimension going forward.
Central defensive midfielder: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United)
One of the main reasons behind Manchester United's brilliant run of form this season has to be the arrival of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea. The new signing has been absolutely colossal for his side and even if United does not win the league this season, Matic can be said as the signing of the summer.
Along with his tough tackling, it is his passing which has caught the eye this season. More importantly, his arrival has meant that Paul Pogba has received the freedom to bombard forward without having a thing to worry about the back. This has brought a spark in United's midfield which was lacking before.
Centre midfield: David Silva (Manchester City)
After a below par last season by his standards, David Silva has returned with a new hairstyle and a new vigour this season. Playing deep in the Guardiola system, Silva has been able to carve out chances from the midfield and has been highly effective in feeding the two strikers ahead.
With 3.3 key passes per game, Silva has provided the highest number of assists this season - six in seven games. The Spaniard also has a passing percentage of 89.6 which can be said as purely world class from a creative midfielder's perspective.
Centre attacking midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
If a Premier League player can be said to be as influential as Lionel Messi then it has to be Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has been performing on a different level altogether compared to his peers and can be said as a top contender for the player of the year award. Yes, yes, it's just October but that is exactly how good De Bruyne has been this season!
The 24-year-old has created 24 chances so far this season - more than any other player in the country. He has notched up three assists so far and is set to replicate his tally of 20 which he achieved last season. His goal against Chelsea was a stunner and reflected just how effective he has been for the Citizens. If he continues to perform at this level, there is no stopping Guardiola from claiming his first Premier League title.
Forwards
Striker: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
The doubters were quick to latch onto the price which Manchester United paid to secure the services of Romelu Lukaku. But the Belgian has surpassed everyone's expectations by having a belter of a start. With seven goals in seven games, Lukaku is currently the top scorer in the league. And looking at his current form and the system in which he is playing, another 25+ goal-a-season beckons the 24-year-old.
The only person standing between Pep Guardiola and Manchester City winning the league title is Jose Mourinho. And the Special One has chosen his special player in the form of Romelu Lukaku to bring the glory days back to the club. Judging by his start, the £75 million paid for Lukaku is looking like a steal deal for United.
Striker: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Imagine a striker not scoring a single goal in August to spring back to form in September and then levelling a record shared by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi! Harry Kane has divided opinions in his career but this might be the season where people finally consider him as one of the best in the business.
0 in August. 6 in September. 13 in the season (level with Ronaldo and Messi for most goals scored in a month) and 36 in 2017. Kane is on a roll and if it goes like this, the golden boot award may go to North London for the third time running.
The Englishman has been in scintillating form this season and has scored left, right and centre for club and country, domestically and in Europe. He deserves this place ahead of another sensational striker in sensational form, Sergio Aguero. That's how good Harry has been!
Bench
Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield Town)
Nacho Monreal (Arsenal)
Phil Jones (Manchester United)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Mohammad Salah (Liverpool)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Alvaro Morata (Chelsea)
Manager - Pep Guardiola
The Spaniard went trophyless last season for the first time in his illustrious career. But he identified the problem areas of his side, delved into the transfer market to solve them and completed a major overhaul of his ageing side.
Result? An all-round squad with tremendous depth to fight for all the possible honours. To top all of that, his side is playing the brand of football which is associated with Pep Guardiola and which was starkly evident in the win against Chelsea.
