Premier League All-Stars Who would be se
Todd Boehlys suggestion for the creation of a Premier League All-Star game attracted plenty of ridicule, but he certainly cant be accused of a lack of vision or creativity.The new Chelsea co-owner and chairman and interim sporting director was speaking at a conference on Tuesday when he proposed the Premier League Americanised (or should that be Americanized?) itself a bit.A relegation play-off tournament between the bottom four teams was one idea; but the other, which attracted most of the headlines, was for a North v South All-Star game, pointing out Major League Baseball (MLB) in his native United States made $200million from such an event this year.A potential Premier League All-Stars game was the talk of football media on Tuesday, so at Stats Perform we decided to have a look at who might line up for the North and South.It was decided the north-south cut-off
Nick Bosa Jersey point would see Nottingham Forest qualify for the North, ensuring each All-Stars team had 10 clubs to select from.First up, we have unrestricted squads, so e sentially the very best teams po sible; then, we have squads that are limited to three players from each club and every single Premier League must have at least a single player selected. So, without any further ado, lets see who made the cutNORTH ALL-STARS (unrestricted)4-3-3: Ederson (Manchester City); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool); Rodri (Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City); Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Luis Diaz (Liverpool).SUBS: Ali son (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Raphael Varane (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Fabinho (Liverpool), Casemiro (Manchester United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United).You knew the starting XI was going to look like that even before reading, didnt you? Manchester City and Liverpool obviously dominated the first team here, but it feels difficult to argue with almost any selection here.The goalkeeper choice was probably the toughest, but only because Ederson and Ali son are both so strong and simultaneously significantly better than
Roger Craig Jersey any other eligible shot stoppers in terms of their all-round game Ederson ultimately got the nod owing to 13 more clean sheets over the past three-and-a-bit years, but either couldve got the gig.Similarly in defence, many of the Norths options pick themselves. The centre-backs, Van Dijk and Dias, have each won the Premier League Player of the Season award in the past four years, while Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have at least 12 most a sists than any other defender since the start of the 2019-20 season.While the defence had a distinctively Liverpool look to it, City dominate the midfield because well, they tend to dominate the midfield. Rodri provides
Jimmie Ward Jersey the control and defensive protection, while Foden and De Bruyne can wreak havoc going forward and towards the flanks.Salah and Haaland were obvious picks in attack. The Egyptian has been involved in 96 goals (66 scored, 30 a sisted) since the start of the 2019-20 season, more than anyone else, while Haaland is arguably the most in-form striker in world football, having already netted 12 times in seven games for City.Luis Diaz was perhaps the most uncertain one, but hes quickly become a key figure at Liverpool. His ability to cut inside or head for the byline makes him an unpredictable a set, and hes something of a double threat in terms of goals and creativity.Cristiano Ronaldos appearance on the bench owes much to his solid goal-scoring form last season.SOUTHERN ALL-STARS (unrestricted)4-2-3-1: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham); Reece James (Chelsea), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal); Declan Rice (West Ham), NGolo Kante (Chelsea); Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Son Heung-min (Tottenham); Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal).SUBS: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Jorginho (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), Ivan Toney (Brentford).This team has it all. A World Cup-winning goalkeeper, a defence with an ideal blend of youth and experience, a
Steve Young Jersey combative midfield and four world-cla s attackers.Lloris gets the nod in net. Hes been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the league since his arrival from Lyon 10 years ago, and based on Optas expected goals on target (xGOT) conceded metric, Lloris has prevented 3.8 goals since the start of the 2020-21 season, significantly better than his South All-Stars back-up, Chelseas Edouard Mendy (-3.8).Chelsea star James is the right-back, with his 16 goal contributions (six goals, 10 a sists) since the start of last season topping the charts for a defender. Koulibaly and Romero are a formidable centre-back pairing, while Zinchenko has four Premier League titles to his name from his time at Manchester City.James and Zinchenko are brilliant attacking full-backs, but the defence will need screening, and that is where Kante and Rice come into their own. Both super ball-winners, Kantes relentle s energy will be complemented by Rices ability on the ball, as he has demonstrated at West Ham.That midfield protection will be needed, with a four-pronged attack ready to lay waste to the Norths defence.Sterling might not have made a flying start at Chelsea but is the best pick on the right wing, with Son who shared the leagues golden boot
Tom Rathman Jersey award last season on the opposite wing. Kane will play a slightly deeper role, behind Jesus, who has had more touches in the opposition box (66), attempted more dribbles (34), more dribbles in the box (8) and won more fouls (21) than any other player in the Premier League this season.NORTHERN ALL-STARS (restricted)4-2-3-1: Jordan Pickford (Jordan Pickford); Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Vigil van Dijk (Liverpool), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool); Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City); Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Pedro Neto (Wolves); Erling Haaland (Manchester City).SUBS: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Diego Carlos (Aston Villa), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest), James Maddison (Leicester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Jack Harrison (Leeds United), Antony Gordon (Everton), Cristiano Ronaldo(Manchester United).Our self-imposed restrictions of no more than three players from a given team gives the North All-Stars a distinctly different feel