It’s the best league in the world with a spectacular array of superstars, the envy of the rest. So to pick a Premier League 11 is some challenge, but that’s what I’m tasked with this morning.
Manchester City and Arsenal battled for the title in a two-horse race before the Sky Blues pulled away on the final stretch, so it’s little surprise that City and the Gunners dominate the SBOTOP selection of the best group of players in the English top-flight.
Some brilliant stars who have excellent seasons are missing out because we’re picking a side one to 11 which could play to a plan on the pitch, and they would be unbeatable.
Goalkeeper: David De Gea – Manchester United
I’ll start with my only controversial selection. After a period of patchy form and mistakes, the Red Devils’ last line of defence has recovered to win the 2023 Golden Glove award with 17 shutouts.
The Spaniard beat off stiff competition with Alisson, Nick Pope, and Aaran Ramsdale all earning 14 clean sheets and he deserves this spot, playing out a campaign in front of an unsettled defence which suffered crucial injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
Left-back: Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal
He was something of an unsung hero at Manchester City, but everyone can see the value the Ukranian star brings to Arsenal.
Zinchenko is a brilliant operator in midfield or at wing-back, and his calm assurance and leadership has given Arsenal’s younger players the confidence to thrive.
Centre-back: Ruben Dias – Manchester City
City’s first choice centre-back is comfortable with both feet and usually operates on the left side, and his ability to dictate play with a superb range of passing make him the perfect defender in Pep Guardiola’s progressive style.
Dias is dominant in the air, strong in the challenge and brilliant in the last ditch tackle.
Centre-back: Lewis Dunk – Brighton
With 3,208 successful passes, Dunk is the perfect partner for Dias, and it’s a real mystery to most neutrals as to why he’s only picked up one England cap, while the likes of Harry Maguire, and Tyrone Mings have plenty.
Maybe it’s because he’s been at Brighton since 2010, but I’d have Dunk in my team every time because he’s a born leader.
Right-back: Kieran Tripper – Newcastle United
The Magpies have been sensational this season and former Burnley and Atletico Madrid wing-back Trippier has been in superb form.
He has made an astonishing 393 crosses with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold the closest with 252, and Trippier is equally strong in defence where his positional sense gives him an edge over most attackers.
Defencive midfield: Joao Palhinha – Fulham
No player has made more that Palhinha’s 147 tackles with Moises Caicedo second in 100, and he has been a mainstay in the Cottagers’ successful return to the top-flight.
He’s powerful in the air and has a good passing range, which makes him the near perfect defencive midfielder. Manchester City’s Rodri could easily take this place, but I’m happy to gamble on Palhinha.
Right midfield: Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
He just seems to get better and better and the magical Belgian is once again the best assist provider in the league with 16, and he has built up a special relationship with Erling Haaland.
De Bruyne is a Rolls Royce of a player and, while the Premier League boasts many excellent creative midfielders, he is head and shoulders ahead of the rest.
Left midfield: Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal
Arsenal’s electrifying young winger Martinelli has provided some scintillating Premier League 2023 highlights as well as producing 15 goals and five assists.
For a wing-back, the Brazilian is the most terrifying sight as he switches direction in the blink of an eye, has a superb delivery, and the fastest feet.
Attacking midfield: Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s masterstroke to hand the captaincy to Odegaard almost paid off as the Gunners came so close to winning a first league title since 2004.
With 15 goals and seven assists, he has led by example and, at 24 years of age, the former Real Madrid man has his best years ahead of him, which is great news for the Gunners.
Striker: Callum Wilson – Newcastle United
With huge respect to Harry Kane, who scored 30 goals in a struggling Spurs side, I’m going for Wilson for my supporting striker, mainly because I believe he’d play well alongside my main man.
His pace, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing have brought him 18 goals and five assists, and he is now an obvious choice for England. Wilson deserves his place after a prolonged period of injury he is now back to his best.
Striker: Erling Haaland – Manchester City
The spearhead of my attack is the easiest selection to make. His 52 goals in all competitions and 36 in the Premier League are incredible hauls and Haaland has just been awarded the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year Awards by the league.
He’s a beast of a player and one of the main reasons I believe this team is unbeatable.
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Even when Arsenal had a healthy lead at the top of the table the Premier League 2023 betting odds backed Manchester City and the reason? Pep Guardiola, who is without any doubt, the best manager in the world at the moment.
It seems he is giving the Sky Blues another two years, so the trophy count at the Etihad will continue to climb.
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