Alan Shearer picks Premier League team of the season so far including four Liverpool stars
Arne Slot's Liverpool have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer has reflected this in his team of the season
by Tom Victor · The MirrorLiverpool's fast start under Arne Slot has been acknowledged by Alan Shearer, with the former England striker putting four Reds stars in his team of the season so far.
Slot's Liverpool team have opened up a five-point lead after just 11 matches. Nine of those were wins, with a draw against Arsenal and home defeat against Nottingham Forest the only exceptions.
The Merseyside club have impressed all over the pitch, and this has been reflected by the pundit. They're not the only club with multiple representatives, though Shearer hasn't found room for a single player from Manchester City or Arsenal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are the four Reds in the mix, with Shearer naming Slot as his manager of the season-to-date. Nottingham Forest have three of the other representatives, with two for Chelsea and one each for Fulham and Brentford
Forest are the surprise package of the season, with Nuno Espirito Santo's team sat fifth in the table. A solid defensive record has been the key, and Shearer has put Matz Sels in goal and partnered Van Dijk with Forest new boy Nikola Milenkovic in central defence.
Alexander-Arnold is his right-back, with Fulham's Antonee Robinson on the left. Marco Silva's Cottagers are just a point below Forest, with United States international Robinson contributing three assists.
Dutch midfielder Gravenberch has thrived for Liverpool in a deeper role, and he's joined in Shearer's midfield by Chelsea pair Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer. Salah and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo occupy the wide roles in the front three, with Forest striker Wood through the middle after a season in which he has rolled back the years.
Do you agree with Alan Shearer's picks? Have your say in the comments section
Liverpool's position in the table has surprised plenty of people - including some of their players. Alexis Mac Allister admitted he didn't expect to be in a title race before the season started, but pinpointed the changes under Slot which have allowed them to soar.
“In terms of the change, perhaps with Jurgen [Klopp] I played as a lone five [holding midfielder]," Mac Allister saod. "So, the position was very different. I was much more defensive than anything else.
“Nowadays, given we play with two fives, I can be a little freer and if we start with two sitting midfielders and one a little further forward, that changes things. For instance, when the ball goes out to the left full-back, I’m the one who can move further forward, and Ryan [Gravenberch] becomes the number five.
“So, the system has changed a little, but the main ideas are the same. I think perhaps the big change is in having that patience to have longer periods of possession and dominate games more and obviously that creates more chances.”
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