Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland, two of the most prolific goal-scorers in the Premier League, have been surprisingly omitted from the WhoScored Premier League Team of 2024. Salah, arguably the standout player of the season so far, and Haaland, renowned for his goal-scoring prowess, were unexpectedly overlooked in favor of other players based on their statistical performance throughout the year. This omission has raised eyebrows among football pundits and fans alike, given the significant contributions both players have made to their respective teams. Liverpool, the league leaders, have only two representatives in the team, while reigning champions Manchester City also have a limited presence with Rodri and Josko Gvardiol, notably excluding Haaland.
The team selection, based on data compiled by the football statistics website WhoScored, highlights several unexpected inclusions. Brentford’s goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, secures his spot with an impressive average rating of 6.97 in 2024, surpassing established names like Alisson, David Raya, and Emi Martinez. Flekken’s performance underscores his significant contribution to Brentford’s success. In central defense, James Tarkowski earns a place alongside Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes, despite many advocating for his Everton teammate Jarrad Branthwaite. Gabriel also edges out his Arsenal teammate William Saliba, despite the Frenchman’s commendable performance throughout the year.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze is the only representative from a club outside the traditional “Big Six” to feature in the team. This inclusion acknowledges Eze’s impressive form and contribution to Crystal Palace’s campaign. On the right wing, Bukayo Saka, boasting the highest average rating in 2024, claims the spot ahead of Mohamed Salah. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz completes the attacking line-up as the center-forward.
Liverpool’s representation in the team comes in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz. Diaz’s inclusion is justified by his strong finish to the year, contributing three goals and an assist in the final four games. The team boasts four English players, with Cole Palmer earning a spot due to his exceptional form throughout the year. This selection underscores the growing talent pool of English players in the Premier League.
The absence of Salah and Haaland highlights the limitations of relying solely on statistical analysis for team selection. While statistics provide valuable insights into player performance, they often fail to capture the intangible qualities that contribute to a player’s overall impact on the game. Salah’s creativity, dribbling skills, and ability to create chances, while statistically significant, might not fully reflect his influence on Liverpool’s attacking play. Similarly, Haaland’s positioning, movement off the ball, and ability to draw defenders, contributing to his team’s overall attacking strategy, may not be adequately captured by statistical metrics.
The WhoScored Premier League Team of 2024 sparks debate about the balance between statistical analysis and subjective assessment in evaluating player performance. While statistics provide a valuable framework for comparison, they should be considered alongside other factors, such as a player’s overall contribution to the team’s success, tactical awareness, and leadership qualities. The omissions of Salah and Haaland serve as a reminder that statistical analysis, while informative, cannot fully encapsulate the multifaceted nature of footballing talent. Ultimately, the selection process should strive to incorporate both quantitative data and qualitative observations to create a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the best performers in the league.
