The Premier League XI of the season so far

Seven games in and the best four teams in the land occupy the top four spots in the Premier League as we head into the international break. But there’s space for five players from relative minnows in our XI of the season so far…

Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
He’s kept an absurd 29 clean sheets in 53 games for Chelsea, including three in his six Premier League games this season. He has got a very decent defence in front of him but has also made more saves (19) than any goalkeeper in the current top seven, with the highest save percentage (95%) of anyone in the top flight.

Of the three goals he’s conceded this season, one was Gabriel Jesus’ devilishly deflected strike and the other two were penalties, for which Kepa Arrizabalaga – the penalty whisperer – was inexplicably left on the bench.

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Witnessing James Milner attempt to contain Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva was very enjoyable on Sunday, but it’s impossible for a game not to be improved by Trent Alexander-Arnold being on the pitch. And it’s perfectly plausible that the born-and-bred Liverpudlian may have stemmed the City onslaught on that side thanks to sheer fear of his attacking prowess.

Only Bruno Fernandes and Matt Ritchie (that’s right) have created more chances than Alexander-Arnold’s 20 this season, and the right-back’s played two fewer games.

Centre-back: Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)
The image of the Chelsea academy graduate striding onto the ball, driving it into the corner and falling to his knees with head in hands won’t be forgotten in a hurry; it was a delightful moment. Having joined the Blues as an eight-year-old, there was the reaction of a man given a chance few have been granted at Stamford Bridge and taking it, literally and metaphorically. Jules Kounde? No, ta.

Centre-back: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
We don’t think it’s unfair to say that Duffy returned to Brighton through necessity rather than any great desire from him or the club. The 29-year-old was sent off to Celtic last season and warmed the bench towards the end of the campaign in Scotland. But Ben White’s move to Arsenal left the door ajar and the centre-back has smashed his way back through it. Only Ivan Toney (5.9) has won more aerial duels per 90 minutes than Duffy (5.0), and the Brighton man ranks third in the Premier League for clearances (49).

Left-back: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
He leads the way for Premier League interceptions (23). Only Bruno Fernandes (21) has completed more passes into the box (20); Youri Tielemans (56) is the only player to have completed more progressive passes (53). No defender has completed more dribbles (14) or made more progressive carries (67). To sum up: he’s forward-thinking, excellent on the ball and the very best around when it comes to reading the game.

Right midfielder: Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle)
As far as we can work out, Saint-Maximin is the reason Newcastle fans continue to turn up at St James’ Park. A club that prides itself on worth-the-entrance-fee-alone types has got arguably the greatest player in those terms of any Premier League club. Football at its best forces the paying punter to forget a sh*t day at work or the mundanity of it all for a couple of hours on a Saturday, and Saint-Maximin has the ability to do that all on his own. If you don’t like Saint-Maximin, you don’t like football.

Central midfielder: Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton)
Rumour has it Doucoure was told by Carlo Ancelotti to be James Rodriguez’s minder. The Frenchman was good last season, but constrained due to the kid gloves attitude towards Rodriguez, who was allowed to do whatever the f*** he wanted as long as Doucoure was there to pick up the pieces.

We’re now seeing the very best version of the former Watford man, with the drive from midfield of his Vicarage Road days, grounded but not inhibited by Rafa Benitez’s typically defensive framework.

Central midfielder: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
He’s not been all that good in United’s last three, which illustrates just how extraordinary he was at the start of the season to make this XI. In fact, had he done nothing after the first game we would still have been tempted.

His performance against Leeds was overshadowed somewhat by Raphael Varane parading the pitch ahead of kick-off, the imminent arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes’ hat-trick, but you will struggle to find a better display from a midfielder at any point, anywhere – all four assists were perfect.

Left midfielder: Andros Townsend (Everton)
After just two goals and five assists in his last two seasons for Crystal Palace, a move to Everton seemed like a better one for him than the club that signed him, but Rafa appears to have nailed it, as he has done with a number of other summer signings. A scorer of great goals and a great goalscorer – who’d have thunk it? Cristiano Ronaldo should really be learning the Andros Townsend celebration.

Striker: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Let’s be honest, Salah dragged Liverpool to a point at Anfield on Sunday; he would be a lonely red figure in a combined XI. His goal will be among the gong contenders come the end of the season and so too would his assist, should such a category exist – they were both wonderful. But he doesn’t have to be the best or maligned, guys, a middle ground does exist.

Striker: Michail Antonio (West Ham)
Five goals from six starts and some absolute corkers among them. The joy at seeing Antonio score goals and terrorise defences is matched by the anticipation and inevitable delight at the media duty such stunning performances bring about. He’s the foremost ambassador of the unhackneyed modern footballers – a new breed who hold honest, funny and engaging post-match interviews. Long may he reign.