The Premier League team of the season at the halfway point

Now at the halfway point in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign, we run through the WhoScored.com team of the season so far.

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) - 7.08

It’s been a season of two tournaments for Lloris so far, whose Champions League performances have been dismal at times but when it has come to the league the Frenchman has been at his very best for much of the campaign. The Spurs star has kept seven clean sheets in 15 appearances, while only Liverpool stopper Alisson has a higher save success rate in England’s top-flight (74.2 per cent). While the Brazilian has impressed, he has made errors on occasion where Lloris - in the league at least - has not, and one save fewer than the Tottenham number one (46) despite making four more appearances.

Right-back: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace) - 7.26

The Eagles academy graduate has been a revelation this season, ranking among the league’s top five players for both tackles and interceptions, while placing eighth when it comes to successful dribbles to boot. The youngster has been full of running and work rate with and without the ball and has kept a number of the league’s top wingers quiet this season as he aims to break into the England fold within a year of earning a first team role at Selhurst Park.

Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.47

The highest rated defender in the division by a distance, Van Dijk’s influence at Liverpool cannot be overstated. The Dutchman has had a huge role to play in transforming a poor defensive record into a record-breaking one, with the Reds having conceded fewer goals at this stage of a Premier League season than any other side in history (seven). The 27-year-old has been the key to that success, winning 81 of 108 aerial duels (75 per cent) and passing his way out from the back with an 89.9 per cent accuracy.

Centre-back: Harry Maguire (Leicester) - 7.27

While he may have missed a handful of matches this season, Leicester have unsurprisingly looked a much more capable side with Maguire at the heart of their defence, winning seven of the 14 matches he has started. That’s compared to just one of five when he has been absent through injury, and he, like Van Dijk, has been a dominant aerial presence, winning 49 of 66 duels (74.2 per cent). That’s been the case in the opposition box too, scoring twice, whilst also leading the way for the Foxes in clearances (5.6 per game).

Left-back: Lucas Digne (Everton) - 7.35

The left-back spot had been an area of strength for Everton in Leighton Baines’ heyday but with the former England man in the twilight of his career, and off the back of a long-term injury, last season it was a problem position. Digne’s signing has ensured that the future is once again bright for that position at Goodison, starring for the club since arriving from Barcelona, with three goals - all from distance - two assists and the most key passes from crosses (28) in the league.

Central midfield: Fernandinho (Manchester City) - 7.47

One only need look at City’s recent regression to see just how pivotal Fernandinho, at the age of 33, still is to Pep Guardiola’s side. The Brazilian is incredibly consistent in the middle of the park and without his defensive knowhow in front of the back four the champions look fallible to say the least. The veteran is excellent in possession too, registering three assists this season and an 88.3 per cent pass accuracy, while a total of 36 tackles is unsurprisingly a team high.

Central midfield: David Silva (Manchester City) - 7.39

Another old head in the City midfield that still proves to be one of the team’s best performers, Silva’s campaign has been disrupted by niggling injuries but he has pulled the strings when fit.  The Spaniard has five goals to his name in the league, while his 89.1 per cent pass accuracy is as impressive as ever given the tight spaces he tends to operate in. Meanwhile, an average of 2.9 key passes per 90 minutes is enough to rank third of all players to make ten or more Premier League appearances this season.

Right wing: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 7.67

With a direct hand in more goals than any other City teammate this season, Sterling has certainly picked up where he left off last time around. The winger leads the way for the club for goals in the league this season, with nine, registering a further six assists in his 16 appearances to date. Moreover, the England international ranks third in the league for dribbles per game (2.4), while only one player has created more chances from open play (34).

Left wing: Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - 7.96

Having become only the fourth player in the league to reach double figures for goals this season, Hazard has had a direct hand in more goals than any other player (19). The Belgian leads the league in assists (nine), key passes (50) and successful dribbles (53), claiming the WhoScored.com man of the match award on at least three more occasions than any other player (eight) and the highest rating of the season in the process.

Forward: Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 7.47

He may not quite be at the top of the scoring charts this season but Kane, on 12, is just one back on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s lead and gaining momentum once more. The Spurs striker has had a direct hand in at least one goal in each of his last six league starts and his all round hold up and team play has been at its very best at times this season. The England hitman has already registered more league assists in this campaign than the last, while completing an impressive 1.5 dribbles per 90 minutes.

Forward: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 7.70

Many wrote off the start of Salah’s second season at Liverpool as a failure compared to the heights he reached in his debut campaign at the club but the Egyptian has continued to be the club’s main source of goals on route to top spot. He’s just one shy of the lead in the scoring charts, with 12, while a further six assists is twice that of any teammate and means that only one player has had a direct hand in more goals this season (18). Moreover, the 26-year-old is the only player to have scored in 10 Premier League matches to now.