Alternative XI: Grealish stars from 'Best of the Rest' outside Premier League top six

If the expected PFA Team of the Year touted a month ago was anything to go by, even Kevin De Bruyne will be lucky to break the Liverpool monopoly over the side.

Given their dominance in the Premier League this year, some feel that the lineup should be an all red affair, though it's fair to say our ratings - which primarily take individual exploits into account rather than collective - don't align with that opinion.

Only three players from Jurgen Klopp's champions elect squad make our Premier League team of the season so far but, as one would expect, it's an XI dominated (9/11) by teams in the top six.

With that in mind we wanted to see what an alternative team of the season would look like excluding those teams occupying the European places, with three players from teams currently mired in the relegation spots making the cut...

Goalkeeper - Bernd Leno (Arsenal) - 6.88

Our Premier League goalkeeper of the season so far, Leno recently leapfrogged Alisson to that title following two poor showings from the Reds stopper. The German ranks fifth in terms of save success rate this season with an impressive 72.7 per cent and has been forced into significantly more saves than those ahead of him. Indeed, 104 saves is fewer only than Newcastle's Martin Dubravka thus far, with four clean sheets crucial in a run of 8 league games unbeaten since the turn of the year.

Right-back: Serge Aurier (Tottenham) - 7.18

A contentious selection perhaps, but while Aurier can be erratic at the best of times he certainly can't be accused of lacking effort or indeed output at both ends. The Ivorian has made at least 33 more tackles than any teammate this season (74), at a strong success rate too, while only Heung-Min Son  has registered more assists (4) for Spurs.

Centre-back: Chris Basham (Sheffield United) - 7.00

A team that is undoubtedly greater than the sum of its parts, every player has their part to play in Chris Wilder's squad, let alone team, and know their role to the letter. None more so than 31-year-old Basham, who has been a key player for the Blades since arriving in 2014 and made the step up from both League One and then the Championship in seamless fashion. Part of a back three boasting the second best defensive record in the Premier League (25 conceded), Basham is one of only five defenders to averaged at least two tackles and interceptions per game combined and has earned four man of the match awards for his efforts.

Centre-back: James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 7.11

The only centre-back to win more WhoScored man of the match awards across Europe's top five leagues than Basham, Tarkowski has five to his name, which is something only five Premier League players can better. The England international was certainly staking a very legitimate case for a return to the Three Lions squad ahead of the now postponed Euro 2020 having won the most aerial duels and blocked the second most shots of any defender. All that in a Burnley side that has kept an excellent 11 clean sheets.

Left-back: Lucas Digne (Everton) - 7.12

While perhaps not hitting the heights of his debut season at Goodison, Digne has been among the Toffees' most reliable performers once more. The Frenchman leads the team in assists (five) and key passes (58), with the latter tally enough to rank seventh in the Premier League and second of all full-backs to Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool star is also one of only two players to have created more chances from cross situations (37).

Right wing: Emiliano Buendia (Norwich) - 7.24

While Buendia may not have been able to open his Premier League account the Argentine has shown more than enough to suggest that, regardless of Norwich's fate, he is a more than capable top-flight player. He has seven league assists to his name after all (joint fourth in the league) and places among the top three for successful dribbles (92), chances created from open play and accurate through balls (10), all for a side that has spent the majority of the season at the very foot of the table.

Centre midfield: John McGinn (Aston Villa) - 7.24

While Villa have had numerous injury problems derail their attempt to survive the drop back down to the Championship, the very first of string to first team players suffered by John McGinn has perhaps been most detrimental. While his form had dipped the Scot was not only Villa's star man in the opening couple of months but one of the top performers in the league. He's missed the last 10 matches but still ranks among the top ten players in the league for man of the match awards (4), with his all action displays highlighted having averaged 2.2 shots, 2.5 dribbles and 2.6 tackles per 90.

Centre midfield: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 7.33

The highest rated player outside the top six this season, Grealish's performances have given Villa some hope of beating the drop even if said likelihood was dropping with each passing week. The 24-year-old leads the way for his boyhood club in both goals (7) and assists (6), while only Kevin De Bruyne has created more chances from open play (57) in Europe's top five leagues. As well as getting his customary kicking - fouled more times than any player on the continent - he's completed 2.2 dribbles per 90.

Left wing: Heung-Min Son (Tottenham) - 7.28

Like the injury to that of McGinn, Son's recent absence dealt a hammer blow to Spurs' top four aspirations and has been key to Jose Mourinho's slide down the table, as the Portuguese repeatedly attests. With a direct hand in 16 goals in just 20 league starts, the 27-year-old had just hit form at a key point in time given Harry Kane's own injury, taking his tally to nine league goals with four in his last three appearances.

Forward: Richarlison (Everton) - 7.32

In superb form in 2020, Richarlison was a big beneficiary of the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, with goals in four league outings since the turn of the year taking his tally to ten for the season. Setting an example from the front line for the Toffees, the Brazilian has made the second most tackles for Everton this season to earn a spot in our Top Tackling XI across Europe. Meanwhile only teammate Yerry Mina has had more attempts from set pieces in the Premier League, with the 22-year-old continuing to display his excellent aerial ability alongside his impressive pace and work rate.

Forward: Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 7.30

While it certainly wasn't shaping up to be one of Kane's strongest seasons prior to suffering injury on New Years' Day, the England captain looked set to be denied his usual end of season goal rush. As it stood the striker had 11 to his name from 20 starts but his volume of shots had dropped substantially, consequently leading to the second best conversion rate of his career (19.6 per cent). Whilst not at the top of his game by any stretch, Tottenham's plight in his absence has still been telling.