Newcastle United dominate intriguing Premier League Team of the Season so far

Newcastle United have enjoyed a relatively positive start to the new Premier League campaign.

The Magpies are currently 11th in the table, but have lost just one of their opening six matches in the top flight, and can perhaps feel aggrieved that they have not taken more than their current tally of seven points.

Were it not for a 98th minute strike in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last week and a controversial VAR intervention in a 0-0 stalemate against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, for instance, Eddie Howe’s men would find themselves significantly higher in the league standings.

And while Newcastle’s team effort has been admirable, there have been a number of standout performers over the course of the early stages of the new season.

According to stats gurus Whoscored.com, four of Howe’s squad are currently deserving of a spot in the best XI of 2022/23 so far - more than any other Premier League club can boast at the present moment.

In goal, Nick Pope is currently the highest-rated keeper in the division, with an average match rating of 7.3, just pipping the likes of Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Fulham’s Bernd Leno.

At the back, both Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar feature, with ratings of 7.4 and 7.5 respectively.

The latter’s average makes him the highest-rated centre-back in the top flight.

Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen and Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo round out the defensive line.

Newcastle’s final representative in the XI is Allan Saint-Maximin.

The French winger has started the season in eye-catching form, registering a goal and two assists in his first four outings this season.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Saint-Maximin has also completed more successful dribbles per 90 minutes than any other player in the Premier League so far this term.

As such, his average match rating of 7.7 earns him a spot on the left-wing of Whoscored’s side, as well as making him the highest-rated player in Newcastle’s squad overall.

Completing the midfield are Liverpool’s Mo Salah, City’s Kevin De Bruyne, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Up front, the forward line is comprised of Fulham’s former Toon striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and City’s Erling Haaland.