Mohamed Salah leads four Liverpool players: Premier League team of the season so far

Reds sit top of the table as the season enters its second half

GK Alisson Becker (Liverpool)

PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON SO FAR (4-2-2-2): The best goalkeeper in the Premier League is playing like the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. The Brazil No 1 has been typically reliable for Liverpool and has produced his share of fine saves when called upon. GettyShow less

RB Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Is he a full-back? A midfielder? Some weird fullback-midfielder-winger hybrid thing? It doesn’t really matter when Alexander-Arnold is having the sort of impact he’s had so far. With five goal involvements – two scored, three assisted – and playing a key role in Liverpool’s fine form, the England international has been a standout player this season. EPAShow less

CB William Saliba (Arsenal)

After a superb debut season in which he immediately cemented his place in the Arsenal team, Saliba has maintained those sky-high standards this term. The Frenchman has been integral to Arsenal’s joint-highest seven clean sheets and his availability throughout the season could make the difference to another title challenge. GettyShow less

CB Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

A half-season that re-established Van Dijk as the best centre-back in the Premier League. The Dutchman has been colossal at the base of the Liverpool spine and has been key to their surge to the top of the table. GettyShow less

LB Destiny Udogie (Tottenham)

One of the big successes of ‘Ange-ball’ so far, Udogie has been a revelation at left-back for Spurs. The Italian teenager may suffer from the occasional lapse in discipline and concentration, but Tottenham are a much better side defensively and offensively with him in the team. AFPShow less

CM John McGinn (Aston Villa)

Villa have been collectively brilliant this season. Ollie Watkins has been a steady supplier of goals, Moussa Diaby is one of the signings of the year, and Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey have lifted their games to new levels. But it’s McGinn who’s been Villa’s understated star man. The captain is the heartbeat of the Villa midfield, excelling in both defensive and attacking positions. PAShow less

CM Declan Rice (Arsenal)

When it’s universally agreed that your services are considered a bargain at £100m, then you must be doing something right. Rice has been consistently excellent for Arsenal this season, elevating their midfield with his quality in defence and transition, while chipping in with a few vital goals. The Gunners are firmly in the title race and Rice has played a huge part in that. GettyShow less

RW Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Salah has gradually grown into the season and is now operating close to his terrifying best, culminating in the Egyptian’s spellbinding display against Newcastle. His joint-leading 14 goals and joint-leading eight assists have led Liverpool to the top of the table. The Reds will hope they can keep the momentum going during his Afcon absence. EPAShow less

LW Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Back to his best after last season’s dip, Son has taken on the Spurs captaincy with conviction, leading his side with 12 league goals and an additional five assists. Tottenham are showing encouraging progress under Postecoglou and Son has been vital. The Korean forward will be a big miss during the Asian Cup. GettyShow less

ST Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)

Bowen’s move to centre-forward has been a masterstroke from West Ham manager David Moyes. The Englishman, traditionally a right winger, has led the Hammers front line superbly this season, scoring 11 goals to fire his team into European contention. ReutersShow less

ST Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

He may not have hit the extraordinary heights of his debut season (yet) but Haaland still sits joint-top of the Golden Boot standings with 14 goals, despite playing five less games than Salah. Soon to recover from his foot injury, the Norwegian goal machine should kick on another level for the second half of the season. GettyShow less

SUBSTITUTES

Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Jarrad Branthwaite, Bernardo Silva, Moussa Diaby, Pascal Gross, Cole Palmer (pictured), Dominic Solanke, Hwang-hee Chan. Reuters

The Premier League season takes a short respite this week for the FA Cup third round, and after a hectic stretch over the festive period, it's a good chance to take stock and reflect on the campaign so far.

With the season now beyond the halfway stage, it appears as though it could be all to play for. At the top end, a genuinely wide-open title race looks to be under way, with Liverpool holding a three-point lead over surprise challengers Aston Villa. However, champions Manchester City – aiming to become the first club to win four successive Premier League titles – can close the gap to two points by winning their game in hand.

Arsenal, in fourth, remain contenders despite ending this recent run of fixtures with back-to-back defeats. Rivals Tottenham are a point and a place back, so the battle for the top four looks set to be closely contested.

The rest of the top half of the table sees West Ham in sixth place, David Moyes so far successfully balancing Europa League commitments (the Hammers are through to the last 16) and staying competitive domestically.

Brighton & Hove Albion, in seventh, continue to thrill even if consistency has been an issue, while the three teams in eighth, ninth, and 10th will be disappointed with their campaigns so far.

Eighth-placed Manchester United perennially creep from one crisis to another, ninth-placed Newcastle have found their squad too stretched on their return to the Champions League, and Chelsea, in 10th, continue to struggle for cohesion, despite the brilliance of new signing Cole Palmer.

Wolves and Bournemouth – in 11th and 12th respectively – have impressed to defy preseason expectations that both clubs would be in a relegation scrap, while 13th-placed Fulham have picked up enough good results to stay clear of the bottom three.

Crystal Palace, in 14th, looked to be sliding down the table but the return of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze should be enough to keep them safe, while 15th-placed Nottingham Forest have started brightly under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo with back-to-back wins.

Brentford, in 16th, endured a miserable festive period and five successive defeats sees them lurking just five points above the drop zone. Everton, meanwhile, bounced back from their 10-point deduction to surge clear of the bottom three but three straight losses have halted their progress.

As for the relegation zone, those places are occupied by the three promoted clubs. Luton Town, whom many expected to get buried this season, are making the best fist of it and are just one point behind Everton with a game in hand. Burnley and bottom club Sheffield United are five and seven points adrift of safety and will need to produce monumental turnarounds to preserve their top-flight statuses.

As the campaign heads into its second half, we have picked our Premier League team of the season so far in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.