Premier League 2024/25 Best XI: Liverpool and Arsenal dominate the lineup

Liverpool and Arsenal are the main forces in the Premier League 2024/25 Best XI, chosen by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has just announced the Premier League 2024/25 Best XI at an awards ceremony in Manchester, where the season's brightest stars were celebrated. This year's selection is dominated by Liverpool and Arsenal, while Nottingham Forest surprised everyone with two players included.

In goal, Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest) was named after a series of outstanding performances that helped his team avoid relegation and delivered several crucial saves. This is the Belgian goalkeeper’s first appearance in the PFA Best XI, a well-deserved reward for his consistency throughout the season.

The defense features four familiar names. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) marks his fifth inclusion in the Best XI, continuing to demonstrate his influence at age 34. Alongside him are William Saliba and Gabriel MagalhAes (Arsenal), key players who have helped the “Gunners” maintain the league’s strongest defense. The final spot goes to Milo Kerkez (Bournemouth),an exciting discovery this season who played a major role in Bournemouth’s impressive survival campaign.

The midfield is made up of three outstanding performers. Declan Rice (Arsenal) continues to prove his leadership, contributing both defensively and in building play. The duo of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) exemplify the strength of “The Kop’s” midfield, playing a huge part in their Premier League title run. It’s also the first time both appear in the PFA XI.

Up front, it’s no surprise to see Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) included. The Egyptian star had a brilliant season, scoring 29 goals and providing 19 assists, and became the first player to win the PFA Player of the Year award three times.

Joining Salah is Alexander Isak (Newcastle United), who maintained his form despite ongoing speculation about his future and disputes with club management.

The final name is Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest), a surprising but deserved choice after he led Forest’s attack and helped them stay in the Premier League.

Notably, Manchester City is completely absent from the Best XI for the first time since the 2016/17 season. Despite having top stars like Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, inconsistent performances and Rodri’s long-term injury left them without a representative. Similarly, expected picks like Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea) were not chosen, even though they were nominated for Player of the Year.

The PFA Best XI for 2024/25 not only honors the season’s top individuals but also clearly reflects a shift in Premier League power: Liverpool and Arsenal maintain their dominance, Nottingham Forest made a surprising impact, while Manchester City endured a forgettable campaign.