PREMIER LEAGUE
Premier League team of the season so far 2022/23
Here is the top rated XI for the Premier League over the first half of the 22/23 campaign
The top division of English football has now reached its halfway point, so we at AS USA decided to ask the good folks at Sofascore for their team of the half-season, which they duly provided to us. The season so far has seen surprise package Arsenal build up a hefty lead at the top of the league and Manchester City have continued to stand on their own feet in pursuit of The Gunners.
As for the rest of the Champions League spots, it is Newcastle who are third (how have they possibly managed that?) and Manchester United are creeping behind them and look to finally be working as a team again. I wonder why.
There will be no prizes for guessing who is up front; the man-machine Erling Haaland hasn’t scored for, erm, one game, which must class as some sort of goal drought for him. But 25 goals in 19 games means the boy is on track to break just about every goal record the Premier League could think of.
Newcastle’s defence is shining
Starting at the back, it’s Newcastle’s Nick Pope in goal. The ex-Burnley man has conceded just 11 goals all season and saved 51 shots in total, with 32 of them coming from inside the box. His Newcastle side have 12 clean sheets, which is the highest in the division by a long way (Ramsdale and Arsenal are next with 9).
Moving on to the defence, it is not surprising to see more Geordie representation here, in the shape of Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier. The ex-Atlético right-back is Newcastle’s highest rated player according to the stats and a quick look at his numbers reveals why. He has started every game this season and wins an average of over 2 tackles per match, as well as almost 5 duels per 90 (4.7).
His creative output is also excellent, and he has 4 assists to his name as of the start of February. Schar’s stats are equally as impressive. He clears the ball over 4 times a game and has an average of a shot per 90, which means he is an aerial threat from set-pieces. Like Trippier, he also wins 4.7 duels per game.
Erik ten Hag’s methods are bearing fruit
As for red representation, Luke Shaw is in at left-back while Bruno Fernandes props up the midfield. The Englishman has performed brilliantly over the past weeks and months, and had a strong World Cup with England. Shaw has been a solid defensive outlet for Manchester United, as well as grabbing a goal and an assist. In recent times he has linked up well with Marcus Rashford, who could well be on this list by the end of the season.
As for Fernandes, the Portuguese midfielder continues to create at an alarming rate. He is Manchester United’s top rated player and it comes as no surprise considering he has 4 goals and 4 assists so far, as well as 14 big chances created.
I hope nobody has forgotten about Manchester City
You did, didn’t you? Well, Pep Guardiola’s side, even if they have to strain their eyes to see Arsenal out in front, they are still not having a terrible season. The candidates for the team of the half-season, it must be said, are quite the obvious choices. Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Rodri all feature, with the latter grabbing 4 assists and having a 91% pass success rate.
The Belgian in the middle continues to be the magician of the league, despite what the table says. He has 11 assists so far and 3 goals, as well as over 2 shots per game, almost 4 key passes and 20 big chances created, blowing everyone else out of the water in terms of wizardry.
Same old Arsenal, always being left out
Don’t worry, Ødegaard, you may be the only Arsenal player in the XI, but you are still top of the league. The Norwegian has 8 goals and 5 assists this season, easily putting him into Sofascore’s team. He has been a superstar this season, and easily Arsenal’s most creative player. Without him, the forwards would not have the courage to make the daring runs they do knowing that somehow Ødegaard will find them with a pass nobody else could see.
Best of the rest
Chelsea have a representative in the list, with centre-back Thiago Silva. Despite their woes, Silva has performed impressively this season and despite not scoring, he has two assists to his name. The Brazilian is impressive in build up moments and that is highlighted by his astonishing 90% pass success rate. He makes close to 2 tackles per game but this low number is counter balanced by his interceptions (1.4) and the innate ability to be in the right place at the right time.
And who is that over there? It’s James Maddison! Yes, the Leicester midfielder has perhaps been the only spark in what has been and underwhelming Leicester side this year. The Englishman has 7 goals and 4 assists (!) this season so far and is one of the reasons why The Foxes aren’t teetering over the edge of relegation. His fitness will be key for Leicester to maintain their status in the top division and manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to see more of the creative midfielder in the coming months.
Further stats:
Top four:
1. Arsenal - 50 pts
2. Manchester City - 45 pts
3. Newcastle - 39 pts
4. Manchester United - 39 pts
Relegation:
17. Wolves - 17 pts
18. Bournemouth - 17 pts
19. Everton - 15 pts
20. Southampton - 15 pts
Most goals:
Erling Haaland - 25
Harry Kane - 16
Ivan Toney - 13
Most assists:
Kevin De Bruyne - 11
Christian Eriksen - 7
Bukayo Saka - 7
Do you agree with the team? And will the league places will stay the way they are?
Tell us what you think on Twitter @English_AS.