ALAN SHEARER has named his Premier League team of the season so far.
And despite the Newcastle legend putting FOUR forwards in his team there’s still no room for Erling Haaland.
Nobody has scored more in the Prem than Haaland this season despite the Man City bagsman being injured for the past month.
But his 14 goals in 15 appearances isn’t enough to earn him a spot in Shearer’s four-man attack.
Instead, Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen who lead the line alongside Mohamed Salah and Heung-Min Son.
Watkins has been electric for Unai Emery’s high-flying Aston Villa this term and has scored nine goals and registered eight assists in his 20 appearances.
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Meanwhile West Ham star Bowen has netted 11 times in his 19 games – just one shy of Tottenham captain Son who features alongside him.
Liverpool ace Salah completes the attack as the only man to match Haaland’s tally this season with his 14 Premier League goals.
But it’s his eight assists on top of that which surely earn him his spot – as well as Kop’s place at the top of the league.
Four forwards means there’s only room for two midfielders in Shearer’s team.
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Arsenal’s Declan Rice has consistently performed despite the pressure of his £105m price tag and earns his place as one of the two midfielders.
Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz takes the other spot with the Brazilian’s commanding performances helping his side sit second in the Prem.
Two Liverpool players make Shearer’s back four with Virgil van Dijk’s return to form earning him a spot next to team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The other half of the defence is taken up by north London as Arsenal rock William Saliba earns his spot next to Spurs full-back Destiny Udogie.
Saliba’s calmness has helped the Gunners to the second best defensive record in the league.
Udogie, meanwhile has embodied Ange Postecoglou’s non-stop approach at Tottenham.
Finally it’s another Spurs man who gets the nod between the sticks with new arrival Guglielmo Vicario impressing with five clean sheets.
A few more of those players snubbed could have a keen eye on forcing their way in to the real team of the season come May.
Dominic Solanke has a stunning 12 goals for Bournemouth this term and was nowhere to be seen while Hwang Hee-Chan at Wolves and Cole Palmer at Chelsea have had impressive first halves to the season too.
Shearer didn’t just stop at naming which XI players he thought were having the best campaign either.
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The former England icon also named Villa boss Emery as his manager of the season so far.
Emery has helped Villa to within just three points of the top of the table and guided his side to wins over both Arsenal and Man City.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
