Premier League Team of the Season so far - Haaland, Saliba, Almiron

However, it has certainly been a half-season to remember for Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle United, who will occupy the podium spots in the table at Christmas, with the Gunners five points clear of the champions at the top as the Magpies sit third.

Tottenham Hotspur are clinging on to the fourth and final Champions League spot, while Manchester United, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion make up the rest of the top seven.

Chelsea are currently hovering outside of the European places, while fellow capital sides Fulham and Brentford complete the top half as Crystal Palace continue to knock on the door in 11th place.

Further down the table in 12th is Aston Villa, while Leicester City and Bournemouth sit 13th and 14th respectively in a major survival boost, and Leeds United currently occupy 15th place.

West Ham United and Everton are certainly in mid-season danger, lying 16th and 17th respectively, while the relegation zone currently comprises Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Here, Sports Mole takes on the unenviable task of picking a Premier League Team of the Season so far.

DEFENCE

It is little surprise to see Arsenal and Newcastle dominate the defensive selections, with the two sides only conceding 11 goals each in the division this term, and both Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale have seven clean sheets apiece.

Danny Ward has also turned his Leicester fortunes around, while Alisson Becker has saved Liverpool's bacon time and time again, but we have just given the edge to the ever-present Newcastle man, who has made 43 saves compared to Ramsdale's 28.

A second Magpies representative in Kieran Trippier joins Pope in the backline, with the England right-back putting in stellar performances week in week out. Trippier has already scored once and set up three more in 15 games from the right-back role while also putting in more crosses (130) than anyone else.

There were questions surrounding William Saliba's ability to cut the mustard in the Premier League after three stellar years in France, but the Arsenal man has arguably been the best defender in the division this term. Despite being just 21, Saliba cuts a calm and composed figure well beyond his years and also has two goals to go alongside his seven clean sheets for the Gunners.

Finally, Ben White continues to demonstrate his ever-useful versatility at right-back for Arsenal and has dropped consistent showing after consistent showing for the league leaders. The 25-year-old's brilliant ball-playing abilities have helped him set up two goals, as well as earning him a deserved spot in the England squad for the World Cup.

MIDFIELD

Newcastle's Miguel Almiron affirmed that Jack Grealish's dig at his ability has not been a contributing factor in his astonishing form, and the 28-year-old is certainly enjoying a finer season than his English counterpart, scoring eight goals in 15 games, setting up Joe Willock's winner against Chelsea and winning October's Player of the Month award.

The Arsenal and Newcastle representatives stop there to allow Kevin De Bruyne to take his customary place in the team, with the Belgian playmaker recording a league-high nine assists already this season - three more than closest contender Bukayo Saka - and scoring three goals to boot for the champions.

For us and for England manager Gareth Southgate, there was also no ignoring Leicester's James Maddison, who has been a shining light in an otherwise difficult campaign for the Foxes. With seven goals and four assists from 13 outings in the top flight, Maddison is the only player in the top 10 for both categories, and there would have been uproar if the 25-year-old was left at home during the World Cup.

The final midfield spot was certainly a tricky pick, with Moises Caicedo, Bruno Guimaraes and Granit Xhaka all honourable mentions. However, Fulham would be nowhere near the top half were it not for smart signing Joao Palhinha, who has made 65 tackles in the Premier League this term - the most in the competition by far - and nine of those came in the weekend's clash with Manchester United, where his efforts were ultimately unrewarded.

Brighton can also thank one effervescent midfielder for their place in the top seven, with Leandro Trossard providing a constant threat for the Seagulls and recording seven goals and three assists in 14 matches so far, seeing him lead the way at the top of the goalscoring charts for Roberto De Zerbi's men.

ATTACK

Due to the exploits of a certain Norwegian striker who will be named shortly, the form of Tottenham talisman Harry Kane has gone slightly under the radar, but 12 goals from 15 games is nothing to be sniffed at for the England captain. Kane has scored 38% of Spurs' top-flight goals this term, but he will seemingly turn 30 without a major trophy to his name lest Antonio Conte's side spark a much-desired turnaround in the second half of the season.

Kane's efforts are there to be admired, but his and all other strikers' numbers are dwarfed by the towering Erling Braut Haaland. While the 22-year-old may hardly ever touch the ball, he will find the back of the net nine times out of 10 when presented with an opportunity to do so - 18 goals in just 13 league appearances is evidence of that - and he is on course to end the season with 52 top-flight goals if he carries on in the same vein.

SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON SO FAR

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Season so far (3-5-2): Pope; Trippier, White, Saliba; Almiron, De Bruyne, Palhinha, Maddison, Trossard; Haaland, Kane