Half of the Premier League season has passed and now it’s time for us to look back at the 11 best names to date.
It’s fair to say that the Premier League now stands alone as the best top-flight division in European football, but it hasn’t been the most competitive in recent seasons. Manchester City have won the title in five of the last six seasons under Pep Guardiola, who also delivered an escaped Champions League trophy to the Etihad Stadium in 2022-23.
City has quite simply been an unstoppable winning machine, with world-class players occupying every position, a flawless tactical blueprint and a warrior mentality running through the dressing room. But some six months on from their treble-clinching victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, there are finally some clear signs that an era of unprecedented dominance could soon come to an end.
Arsenal led the table for a 248 days last term before a late collapse handed City the initiative, but that experience only seems to have strengthened their resolve, with Mikel Arteta’s men rising back to the summit in impressive fashion. Liverpool are also in the mix again after some shrewd summer business from Jurgen Klopp, with City currently languishing five points off the pace in fourth.
There is even a chance that a new name could be etched onto the trophy with former Arsenal boss Unai Emery masterminding a remarkable run for Aston Villa, silencing his critics in the process. Ange Postecoglou has made a similar impact at Tottenham, and the race for Champions League qualification also looks more open than ever before.
Plenty of household names have been firing on all cylinders, but new stars have also emerged amid a thrilling, unpredictable season that has the potential to go down as one of the best in the modern era. And so, without further ado, GOAL is on hand to bring you the Team of the Season so far, starting with a certain Italian shot-stopper…
How to top a record-breaking debut season that ended with three gold medals and being named Professional Footballers’ Association Footballer of the Year? That was the question Haaland faced in August, and Man City’s Norwegian striker did his best to give a clear answer.
Haaland may not have surpassed the impressive tally of 36 goals he scored after moving from Borussia Dortmund for £50 million ($63 million), but he is still setting the Premier League standard with 14 goals. in this season. At 23, he also became the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the top flight after scoring in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, and it’s no surprise if the records continue to flash around Older brother.
Critics have often highlighted Haaland’s lack of involvement in the overall game after a rather dry period in early October, but inevitably, that did not last. Most of the time, Premier League defenders still haven’t found a way to stop Haaland from scoring.
His movement is as sharp as ever and his instincts in the goal area remain second to none, which is why it would be foolish to underestimate City in the title race after their recent poor run. stupid. Haaland is the ultimate weapon, an invincible force with an unquenchable hunger, and his presence alone means the champion must still be considered a top contender. hold the throne.