What if the England team was picked using stats for the season? | Ben McAleer

With the first games of the year approaching, WhoScored has put together a team and 23-man roster of the top-rated English players this season. They've included some unexpected choices to make things more interesting.

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope has been sidelined since December, but he's still been the top English goalie this season. Unfortunately, his absence has had a devastating impact on his team. Before his injury against Manchester United, Newcastle had one of the best defensive records in the league. But without Pope, they've allowed three or more goals in eight out of 14 games. Pope's performance has earned him a rating of 6.72.

There were a lot of people who were rooting for Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool to play in the midfield during the upcoming friendlies. Unfortunately, he got hurt and that possibility is now on hold until June. Still, he is a part of the team we've picked to be the right-back. He's been doing really well, and his rating of 7.18 is one of the best for a full-back in the Premier League this season. He's tied with Kieran Trippier.

Newcastle's Kieran Trippier has had a fluctuating season as a left-back. However, he is featured as a right-back in this XI. Trippier has successfully made 63 crucial passes throughout the season, which ranks him as number one among defenders in the league, and fifth among all players in the league. Among all players, he has been responsible for setting up the most goals (10), and has shown the experience required of a full-back. His overall rating for the season is 7.18.

James Tarkowski of Everton is the center-back who has played a crucial role in the team's impressive defensive performance, despite their poor position in the Premier League table. In fact, the team has conceded fewer goals than Tottenham and Aston Villa. Tarkowski, who is 31 years old, has been instrumental in this success. He is currently ranked fifth for clearances with 127, third for aerial duels won with 107, and second for interceptions with 50 in the league. His overall rating is 7.07.

Our center-back position is held by Jarrad Branthwaite, who is also teammates with Tarkowski at Everton. Branthwaite has been playing exceptionally well under the guidance of Sean Dyche and has earned a call-up to Gareth Southgate's squad this month. Despite his young age of only 21, Branthwaite's understanding of the game is impressive. He has already made 41 interceptions so far this season, which is impressive and puts him in the top three youngest players in Europe's top leagues. His performance has made him a highly sought after player this summer. Our rating for Branthwaite is 6.88.

One of the standout players this season is James Maddison, who plays in central midfield for Tottenham. He has been a crucial player for the team under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou. Maddison has scored four goals and provided seven assists in the Premier League, making him one of the top performers. He also makes an average of 2.7 key passes per game, which is the seventh highest in the league. Overall, he has been rated 7.38 for his impressive contributions on the field.

In the central midfield position, we have Declan Rice playing for Arsenal. He's been doing really well since moving to this new team during the summer. In fact, he's been involved in 11 goals in the league this season, scoring six and assisting five. Not only that, but he's also helped Arsenal improve their defense, which is important. Thanks to his contributions, Arsenal is currently at the top of the Premier League before the international break. We'd give him a rating of 7.40 for his performance.

In the central midfield position, Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid has been performing impressively well lately. He has adapted quickly to his new environment in Spain and is a strong contender for being England's top player at the upcoming Euros. Bellingham's incredible record of scoring 16 goals in La Liga so far this season has contributed greatly to Carlo Ancelotti's team earning 11 more points. He has consistently shown up in crucial situations, a valuable skill to have when returning to play in Germany during the summer. He currently holds a rating of 7.78.

Conservative: Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's top performer Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's most highly rated player in the current Premier League season, is expected to be one of England's key players in the upcoming summer competitions. He is having his best season to date, scoring 13 goals and providing eight assists. Saka's phenomenal performance has contributed greatly to Arsenal's climb to the top position in the league. He has been given a 7.69 rating for his performance.

England's striker, Harry Kane, has been impressing fans and critics alike with his top-performing skills in Europe's five major leagues this season. He has managed to score an impressive 31 goals in the league, which puts him far ahead of his closest competitor, Kylian Mbappé, who has only scored 24 goals so far. In comparison, the leading scorer in the Premier League, Erling Haaland, has only managed to score 18 goals. Additionally, Kane has also contributed seven assists for his team, Bayern. Despite recently suffering from an ankle injury, he is determined to make a comeback and lead England to victory this summer. Experts have given him a rating of 7.87, which speaks to his incredible talent and skill on the field.

Phil Foden from England adds to an already impressive group of forwards on the left wing. He has played in every one of Manchester City's 28 league matches this season, managing to score 11 goals and provide seven assists. He was highly praised as England's future star player for the Euro 2020 tournament, but his performances in the league indicate he may well fulfill that potential in the upcoming Euro 2024 competition. Overall, his rating is a solid 7.42.

23 Players In The Squad

This blog section is dedicated to discussing three goalkeepers named Nick Pope, James Trafford, and Jordan Pickford.

Defenders: Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Harry Maguire, and Dan Burn are all part of the defending team.

In the midfield section, we have a few players such as Jude Bellingham, James Maddison, Declan Rice, Ross Barkley, James Ward-Prowse, and Conor Gallagher.

Striker: Harry Kane, Winger: Bukayo Saka, Attacking Midfielders: Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer, and Anthony Gordon.