Premier League Team Of The Season
Who makes the cut?
By Patric Ridge
The 2024-25 Premier League season is done and dusted.
And as is a bit of a tradition here on More Than A Game, here’s our team of the season.
FORMATION: 4-3-3
GK: JORDAN PICKFORD (EVERTON)
Matz Sels and David Raya shared the Golden Glove, and both were excellent this season. But Pickford’s consistency and reliability again shone through for Everton, even if it has gone under the radar somewhat.
Pickford finished the season with 4.8 goals prevented, which ranks second (behind Ederson), while he also played a key role in 12 shutouts, just one fewer than Raya and Sels. It is staggering that Pickford’s position as England’s number one continues to be scrutinised. He had another excellent campaign.
RB: OLA AINA (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
Nobody expected Forest to be pushing for Europe, never mind Champions League qualification.
And though they ultimately fell short of securing a seat at Europe’s top table for next term, the Tricky Trees had some standout performers, and Aina was certainly one of those. Capable of playing on either flank, he was robust defensively but also offers real pace going forward.
CB: WILLIAM SALIBA (ARSENAL)
A towering presence at the back for Arsenal, Saliba once again proved his credentials as one of Europe’s best defenders.
Among Arsenal players, only Thomas Partey (89) attempted more tackles than Saliba (62), whose 75% tackle success rate ranked second in the squad, behind Miles Lewis-Skelly. The Frenchman led the Gunners for clearances (119).
CB: VIRGIL VAN DIJK (LIVERPOOL)
Partnering Saliba in a formidable central defence is Liverpool’s leader at the back, Van Dijk.
While no longer at the peak of his powers, Van Dijk was the best defender in the Premier League this season, and the Reds would not have been able to win the title without him.
LB: ANTONEE ROBINSON (FULHAM)
A player who may well be joining Van Dijk at Liverpool next season is Milos Kerkez, and the Bournemouth full-back is well worthy of a big move. But Kerkez has missed out on this team to Fulham flyer Robinson.
Robinson, like Kerkez, seems set to be in line for a big move this summer. He turns 28 at the start of August, so the United States international is certainly in his prime. He rounded out the season with 10 assists in the league, even though Fulham missed out on Europe.
CM: YOURI TIELEMANS (ASTON VILLA)
Aston Villa will have a sour taste in their mouth, given the controversial manner in which they missed out on the Champions League. But, they had some brilliant moments throughout the campaign, and Tielemans was instrumental.
A bit-part player in his first season at Villa, the Belgian established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet this term under Unai Emery, and offered a timely reminder of just how good he is when fully fit, firing and motivated.
CM: DECLAN RICE (ARSENAL)
Rice’s definining moments this season came in the Champions League, but that is not to take away from how good he was across the top-flight campaign.
Freed up to play a box-to-box role under Mikel Arteta, Rice has thrived going forward, both in terms of his passing and his attacking output (four goals, seven assists in league play). He had to be in this midfield.
CM: MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali were both worthy picks here, while Bruno Fernandes arguably kept Manchester United clear of getting dragged into a relegation tussle.
But Gibbs-White gets the nod here. The Forest playmaker scored seven goals and set up a further eight. He looks set to be the subject of interest from Manchester City over the summer, as Pep Guardiola’s team search for a Kevin De Bruyne replacement. And while not of De Bruyne’s calibre, Gibbs-White has demonstrated how much quality he has across the campaign.
RW: MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL)
Salah’s late strike against Crystal Palace on Sunday took the Egyptian to 47 goal contributions for the season, equalling the all-time Premier League single-season record, which was previously shared by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole.
At one stage, Salah looked sure to surpass that tally, and then some. But a slight tail-off in terms of goals and assists towards the end of the season should not blight what was a sensational campaign.
ST: ALEXANDER ISAK (NEWCASTLE UNITED)
The best centre-forward in the division this term was Isak. Erling Haaland could not get going in that floundering Manchester City side, while Isak plundered 23 goals to propel Newcastle into the top five.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with the Swede, but with Champions League football secured, Newcastle have no reason to sell their star man.
LW: BRYAN MBEUMO (BRENTFORD)
Topping off this team is a player who, you would think, will be on the move this summer.
Mbeumo has had a superb season, scoring 20 goals and providing seven assists in the league. Brentford missed out on Europe, and their model is to buy low and sell high. At 25, Mbeumo has plenty of top-level experience under his belt, and his output can’t be questioned. Expect a club to go big for him.
