Liverpool not even close to being youngest team in the Premier League

Will Ford
Mainoo, Bradley, Saka and Palmer among Premier League youngsters
Mainoo, Bradley, Saka and Palmer among Premier League youngsters

For all the talk of the Liverpool kids, nine teams have been younger in the Premier League this season, including Arsenal and Manchester United.

 

20) Fulham (28.7)
That number is very slowly coming down thanks to Calvin Bassey and Rodrigo, while Tim Ream (36) and Willian (35) are no longer guaranteed starters.

 

19) West Ham (28.1)
He’s not one for youth is David Moyes. And with Declan Rice gone, they are just getting older. But at least he has belatedly had the good sense to bench Michail Antonio.

 

18) Newcastle (27.3)
A couple of teenagers have been given their chance this season as injuries and fatigue have bitten, which should eventually bring down a number inflated by that back five.

 

17) Crystal Palace (27)
That number is very, very slowly coming down, with teenager Adam Wharton signed in January.

 

16) Everton (26.9)
They were firmly mid-table on this list last season, but they have since signed the 38-year-old Ashley Young. There’s no shortage of youth in Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner, Amadou Onana and Dwight McNeil, mind.

 

15) Aston Villa (26.9)
Younger than last season with Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres added to the mix, while Ashley Young has been jettisoned.

READ: Top 10 unlikely Premier League title tilts features Leicester fairytale and inevitable collapses from Spurs and Arsenal

 

14) Brentford (26.7)
That number was inflated by the use of both Zanka and Ben Mee but the latter is injured so Brentford’s back four looks rather more youthful again.

 

13) Wolves (26.4)
Older players left last summer – chiefly Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez – to bring down that average age.

 

12) Luton Town (26.6)
Andros Townsend is the oldest outfield player by no small margin. They might be lacking quality but there is no shortage of energy here.

 

11) Manchester City (26.4)
Without Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, the number has inevitably come down this season, with Josko Gvardiol bringing it down further.

 

10) Liverpool (26.3)
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister are 22 and 24 respectively, so this is a massive step in the right direction for a Liverpool midfield that had looked more than a little tired. Of the XI that beat Nottingham Forest, only Virgil van Dijk was the more mature side of 30.

 

9) Brighton (26.3)
It’s not all James Milner; seven of their first-team squad are over the age of 30, which feels counter-intuitive for a club so good at spotting and developing young talent.

 

8) Manchester United (26.2)
Well over a year has been knocked off this average age since last season, with the exit of David De Gea and the benching of Christian Eriksen having an impact. Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund are 18, 19 and 20 respectively.

 

7) Sheffield United (25.7)
A good mix but a good mix of not quite enough, unfortunately.

 

6) Nottingham Forest (25.6)
A good mix of the wily over-30s and youth was making this season seem relatively smooth until it all started to go a bit wrong.

 

5) Bournemouth (25.6)
Seven permanent signings last summer and all seven were 24 or younger.

 

4) Tottenham (25)
When Timo Werner (28) is your second oldest starter then things have got pretty young pretty quickly, mate.

 

3) Arsenal (24.7)
A young side came up short last season so the Gunners have become even younger, with Jorginho standing alone as their only first-team 30-plus player.

 

2) Chelsea (24.3)
The youngest Premier League XI of this season was the Blues’ side that beat Crystal Palace in December. Christopher Nkunku was the old man at 26.

 

1) Burnley (24.2)
Ten players joined for money last summer and Sander Berge was the old man of the crew at 25. It is going really very badly. Five of the youngest starting XIs this season in the Premier League have been Burnley sides.