Kieran Trippier & Julian Alvarez star in Dream Team’s best XI of the season so far

LET’S be honest.

This international break is dragging.

But at least this momentary pause allows Dream Team managers to reflect upon the season so far.

And what better way to do that than constructing the best possible XI of the campaign based on total points scored?

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GOALKEEPER: Nick Pope (£4.3m)

As is often the case, the keeper with the most clean sheets leads the way in the rankings.

Newcastle’s custodian registered five in a row between Gameweeks 5 and 7 which resulted in an influx of 42 points, over three quarters of his season total of 55.

Pope is eight points clear of Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez (£2.9m) to take the gloves in our imaginary XI.

DEFENDERS: Kieran Trippier (£5.6m), Ben White (£4.5m), Joachim Andersen (£3.1m)

Newcastle’s clean sheets have also benefited their reliable right-back.

Although the key to Trippier’s success, as it was last season, is his ability to contribute at the both ends of the pitch.

The 33-year-old has notched six assists already while only one other defender, Vladimir Coufal (£2.7m), has registered more than three.

He’s created seven big chances and earned 15 bonus points – both season-best tallies among defenders in 2023/24.

Trippier has 75 points to his name at this stage, nine more than White.

Arsenal’s No4 has chipped in with a goal and an assist but his impressive total relies on his unmatched tally of six clean sheets in all competitions.

Crystal Palace’s centre-back completes our back three having scored two goals and contributed to four clean sheets.

The Eagles have been a surprise package in the world of Dream Team at the start of this season and Andersen has punched above his weight since the get-go.

The Denmark international’s 15-point at Old Trafford was a masterpiece – he’s on 60 points overall.

MIDFIELDERS: Bukayo Saka (£6.4m), James Maddison (£4.3m), Martin Odegaard (£5.1m), James Ward-Prowse (£4.3m)

There’s a good reason Saka’s prolonged injury saga has caused such severe headaches for Dream Team bosses.

If any other midfielder limped off in three consecutive games before missing a massive fixture against Manchester City, it would be easy enough to switch to an alternative but Arsenal’s No7 is such a prolific point-scorer when he’s on the pitch the prevailing instinct is to stick by him.

The England winger has raced to five goals and five assists despite playing at half capacity for much of the campaign.

His season total of 85 points owes plenty to his tackle count and a healthy supply of bonus points too.

Tottenham’s No10 is now the second-most popular player in the game with an ownership of 41.9% and it’s easy to see why.

No midfielder has registered more shots on target or created more big chances and only Eberechi Eze (£3.6m) has earned more bonus points.

Add in seven goal involvements and it’s no wonder Maddison has racked up 76 points in quick time.

North London is the home of top-tier midfielders this season with Odegaard completing the podium, just a point behind the England playmaker.

The Gunners’ skipper is level with Maddison on 13 shots on target among midfielders and has seven goal involvements to show for his efforts.

West Ham’s new signing is a Swiss-army knife midfielder – he does it all!

Big chances created, shots on target, tackles, bonus points, goals, assists… Ward-Prowse is like two players in one.

The set-piece specialist has achieved 72 points in eight Gameweeks – no wonder he was such a popular recruit among gaffers before the international break.

STRIKERS: Julian Alvarez (£4.7m), Erling Haaland (£7.7m), Mohamed Salah (£6.5m)

Manchester City’s striker partnership have combined for 173 points with the Argentine World Cup winner having contributed 87, one more than the Norwegian cyborg.

Pep Guardiola’s side may have stumbled against Newcastle, Wolves and Arsenal prior to the break but it’s worth remembering that Haaland and Alvarez have scored 14 goals between them already this season with the latter also the joint-second best creator with six assists.

Who else but Liverpool’s No11 to finish off our hypothetical XI?

Salah is the very definition of a modern Dream Team legend, a player who delivers the goods year after year.

The Egypt international has created ten big chances – no other player has notched more than seven – and has the same number of goal involvements.

With 80 points to his name, he’s the third-best forward and the fourth-best asset overall – a class act for the ages!

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk