Premier League Team of 2024: Best players across the calendar year | OneFootball

So there it is, 2024 has come to an end.

It’s been a fantastic year in the Premier League and Liverpool end it top of the table in the 2024-25 season. Across the calendar year as a whole, Liverpool would also sit top of the 2024 table, joint with Arsenal on 85 points.

Unsurprisingly, the two sides have had some of the best players in the Premier League for 2024. The question is, who are those players?

We’ve used our Squawka Score to determine the 11 picks, based on the statistical leaders for metrics relevant to their positions across 2024 as a whole. To make sure we’ve got the best of the best, we’ve limited our player search to those with at least 1,995 minutes played, 60% of the total available gametime in 2024.

GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)

He doesn’t get as much credit as he might deserve, but Jordan Pickford has been the best goalkeeper in 2024. The Englishman is certainly aided by the fact that he is busy between the sticks for Everton, preventing 5.26 goals per 90 minutes — the second-most in the Premier League in 2024 behind Arijanet Muric. Everton could have been in the Championship if it weren’t for Pickford. Pickford has saved two penalties across the year, including one against Erling Haaland in December, and is a fine passer, with the most long passes completed per 90 among goalkeepers (10.28). He also leads for passes into the final third completed per 90 in 2024 at 4.31.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)/Ben White (Arsenal)

Now, we’re being a tad cheeky here. But there was no separating Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben White in the Premier League in 2024. Alexander-Arnold remains the best attacking right-back in the Premier League, with an Expected Assists tally of 0.3 per 90 across the year and 7.32 passes into the final third completed. But he’s also upped his game defensively, averaging 1.79 tackles won per 90 and 1.22 interceptions.

White, meanwhile, has averaged 2.28 clearances per 90 across 2024 and 1.06 interceptions. He’s been part of a firm Arsenal defence, averaging 0.45 clean sheets per 90 and just 0.84 goals conceded. White has been very reliable for Arsenal, before ending his year early due to knee surgery.

CB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

There will be no surprise to see Virgil van Dijk as the best-scoring centre-back in the Premier League in 2024. The Dutchman is back to his best and a key part of Liverpool’s defence, which has them in a very strong position to win the 2024-25 Premier League. The Dutchman has been a monster in the air as expected, winning 77.7% of his aerial duels, the most of any Premier League defender above our minimum minutes threshold. He’s averaged 3.11 aerial duels per 90 and lost just 0.19 challenges, as tough to beat on the floor as ever. Van Dijk also leads centre-backs for passes into the opposition half completed, at 10.59 per 90. What a year he had.

CB: Gabriel (Arsenal)

Completing the most obvious centre-back pairing, Gabriel has been excellent for Arsenal in 2024. The Brazilian seems to fly under the radar especially when compared to partner William Saliba, but he has won 62.39% of his ground duels per 90 in the Premier League in 2024. Gabriel has lost just 0.21 challenges per 90, proving tough to beat. The Brazilian has also blocked 1.04 shots per 90, helping Arsenal keep 0.49 clean sheets per 90 while he was on the pitch.

LB: Lewis Hall (Newcastle)

What a year Lewis Hall had for Newcastle United. The Englishman took some time to grow into the role at St James’ Park but now he’s really made it his own. Hall has been effective at both ends of the pitch for Newcastle across the year, with an xA of 0.15 per 90 and 1.53 tackles won per 90. A fine crosser himself, Hall has also been top quality at stopping crosses into the box. His 0.83 effective blocked crosses per 90 is the most in the Premier League this season.

“He has been a real shining light in that aspect by being the same Lewis, home or away. For someone so young that is hard to do,” Eddie Howe said of Hall in December.

CM: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)

Ryan Gravenberch has been wonderful for Liverpool this season, and it has him as the best defensive midfielder in 2024. The Dutchman’s reading of the game has been vital for Liverpool, averaging 1.82 interceptions retaining possession per 90 — the third-most in the Premier League in 2024. He’s also won 1.13 tackles and 2.77 possessions won in the middle third. Gravenberch has been great on the ball too, averaging 2.16 passes into the penalty area per 90, with a retention rate of 86.46%.

CM: James Maddison (Tottenham)

James Maddison has been one of the few shining lights of Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this year. The Englishman has averaged 0.3 goals from open play and 0.22 intentional assists per 90 in 2024, providing a threat from a slightly deeper position. He’s also averaged 2.13 successful passes into the penalty area per 90 and 8.12 penalty area entries.

RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

While he might not have the highest Score in this XI, there’s a big case behind Mohamed Salah being the best player in the Premier League in 2024. The Egyptian King has been directly involved in 39 goals across the year, averaging 0.84 goals per 90 and 0.51 intentional assists. He leads the Premier League in 2024 for both metrics. Salah also comes out on top for shots on target per 90 (2.37) and touches in the opposition box (11.38). He really was tough to stop in 2024.

No.10: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Cole Palmer was Chelsea‘s best player in 2024. The Englishman was a fine goalscorer, averaging 0.75 goals per 90, from 1.67 shots on target. Only Erling Haaland (27) scored more Premier League goals in 2024 than Palmer’s 26. And although he only averaged 0.23 intentional assists per 90, Palmer did average 0.72 big chances created and 0.29 xA. His lack of assists came down to poor finishing from his Chelsea teammates. Palmer continues to grow, proving that leaving Manchester City was the right option.

LW: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

We know he’s a right-winger, but there’s no way we couldn’t have Bukayo Saka in this XI. The Arsenal man was fantastic in 2024, and it was sad that his year came to a premature end due to injury. Saka has averaged 0.42 intentional assists per 90 in the Premier League in 2024, the third-most in the Premier League. Saka’s 9.56 touches in the opposition box per 90 is also the second-most in the Premier League in 2024. But he does lead the Premier League for big chances created, at 0.85 per 90, and xA at 0.36 per 90.

ST: Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

Alexander Isak ended 2024 on a high, scoring in each of his past six Premier League games of the year. In that run, Isak scored eight goals, including a hat-trick against Ipswich Town. The Swede scored 25 goals in 2024, with his 0.84 per 90 the joint-best in the Premier League. Isak was a fine finisher across the year, boasting a shot placement ratio of 1.19, upping his chances of scoring by where he was aiming his shots on goal. That was an increase of 0.62 non-penalty xG per 90 to 0.72 non-penalty xG on Target per 90. And he can only get better.