Liverpool lead the way at the top of the table, and they are among six sides represented in GOAL's combined XI from the campaign thus far…
As we step into Christmas, this season's Premier League is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining in years and years. Fights for the title, European places and survival are all incredibly tight heading into the second half of 2024-25. Up and down the land, there have been stories of success and sorrow.
Who would have thought Arne Slot would so seamlessly step in for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool? That Enzo Maresca's Chelsea wouldn't be a complete disaster? That Manchester City would enter crisis mode even with the promise of Pep Guardiola staying?
GOAL has run through the 20 top-flight teams and assembled the best combined XI from the season so far…
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Article continues belowAll across the division,
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPGK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Yeah, didn't expect to see this guy here, did you? At this stage of the season, there's usually a standout goalkeeper with their head above the precipice. That was supposed to be Andre Onana this year, but he's somehow managed to play his way out of contention for this spot with a string of strange performances for Manchester United.
Coming into the XI comes Everton's Jordan Pickford then, who is essentially the last 'keeper standing without a clanger to their name in the last two or three months. He has stood between the Toffees and the brink of oblivion, further etching his name into the club's modern folklore.
After 17 rounds of fixtures (in which Everton have only played 16 times due to the postponed Merseyside derby), Pickford has kept a league-high seven clean sheets including recent shutouts against title challengers Arsenal and Chelsea, while his side have the best goals against record in the bottom half, shipping just 21 so far.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportRB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
If this season has taught us anything, it's that we should stop saying Kyle Walker is better defensively than Trent Alexander-Arnold. They may have been true once upon a time, but definitely no longer.
The future of Liverpool's No.66 remains up in the air, yet he has not let that rumbling uncertainty negatively impact his displays. In fact, they've managed to improve, particularly when out of possession. Alexander-Arnold has tallied four assists and has played a hand in seven clean sheets in the league alone.
It would be a travesty for both Liverpool and the Premier League as a whole if Alexander-Arnold walks away and heads to Real Madrid next summer. His boyhood club cannot let that happen.
Getty Images SportCB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
The second of Liverpool's three out-of-contract superstars to get our nod is club captain Virgil van Dijk. Now 33, it'd be easy to assume he would be on the decline, but instead he is enjoying a mini-renaissance.
Whereas before he was tasked as the sweeper in Jurgen Klopp's high line, Arne Slot's arrival has allowed the Reds to play in a calmer fashion defensively, and Van Dijk has benefitted from this far less frantic approach.
He netted a crucial header in a 2-2 draw with title rivals Arsenal back in October, while has also led by example and played down his own contract saga with the media, often refusing to give the press any crumbs to feed off of.
AFPCB: Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
This was a tough toss-up between William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, who have both been excellent throughout the entirety of 2024 and extending back into last season. However, we've plumped for the latter due to his rather ridiculous goal record, scoring three times this term from Arsenal's wicked set-pieces.
How do you stop Gabriel from getting a run on you? How do you plan to nullify his blatantly obvious presence? What more can be done beside Monaco's trick of leaving a few attackers forward on corners?
The Gunners have brought a Football Manager glitch to life and they have leant heavily on that while the rest of the world tries to play catch up. Gabriel has been the main beneficiary.
