De Gea a SHOCK inclusion alongside Salah and Gyokeres: European Team of the Season so far

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 7 Jan 2025 11:59 GMT
• 7 min read

The 2024-25 season has been another thrilling one all over Europe.

Liverpool are the runaway leaders in England as champions Manchester City fall from grace. In Spain, there is a fierce race between Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona at the top, while there is a similar tussle in Italy between Inter Milan, Napoli and Atalanta.

PSG continue to dominate in Ligue 1, while Bayern Munich are back on top on Germany but still being challenged by Bayer Leverkusen.

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At the halfway stage of the European league seasons, we choose our best XI from the continent’s best leagues this season.

David de Gea (Fiorentina)

In arguably the comeback story of the year, discarded former Man Utd star David de Gea has shown that he is far from finished.

Despite spending a year without a club, De Gea has been a colossus since joining Fiorentina as a free agent in August.

He has statistically been the best goalkeeper in Serie A, boasting the league’s highest save percentage and, up until Christmas, he had conceded the fewest goals in Serie A.

If Fiorentina are challenging for a shock Champions League place, a lot of it is thanks to De Gea.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

There are not too many top-class right backs in the world today, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is the outstanding candidate for this team.

The Liverpool man has provided five assists so far this campaign, including two off the bench during a 3-3 draw with Newcastle United, and while he has missed a few matches due to injury, he remains an outstanding creative force at Liverpool. He also has scored one goal.

His relationship with Mohamed Salah is also second-to-none and his passing range continues to cause havoc for opposition defences.

He will be sorely missed by Liverpool if he leaves for Real Madrid in 2025.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Liverpool have conceded the second-fewest goals (19) of any Premier League club so far this season, and a key reason behind their record is the imperious Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman has been considered as one of Europe’s best defenders for years and although errors have crept into his game on occasions, he remains an integral member of Liverpool’s first-team squad.

The Reds club captain has helped Arne Slot’s side look impenetrable at times this season and his partnership with Ibrahima Konate is one of the best in world football.

He scored a crucial header during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal back in October and has been key to Liverpool running away at the top of the Premier League.

Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)

Atletico Madrid will be top of the table in La Liga at the halfway point of the season if they win their game in hand - and deservedly so for the dogged way they approach defending.

It is an approach exemplified by the usually injury-ravaged Jose Gimenez.

Gimenez has stayed fit for the whole season, however, and has proven to be an integral part of Atleti's defensive stability. A stability that has allowed their attackers to share the goals around and not have to worry about getting three or four a game. One or two should do it.

Atletico have conceded just 12 goals in 18 games, by far the best record in La Liga.

Nuno Tavares (Lazio)

This past summer, Nuno Tavares joined Lazio from Arsenal on loan with an obligation to buy for just €6m if certain conditions are met.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation and undoubtedly the best left back in the league in the first half of the season.

He has the most assists in Serie A this term with eight - and for a while was even the best creator in all of Europe.

He has been a constant force of nature down the left flank, bombarding at speed past the full-back and whipping in dangerous crosses. His performances have helped a Lazio side who endured something of a revolution this summer into fourth place and with a realistic chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Pedri (Barcelona)

It’s hard to describe just how good Pedri has been under Hansi Flick without being too hyperbolic.

But it's been Iniesta-esque at times the way Pedri has danced around and away from markers and set his attacking players away with scything through balls to break lines into itty bitty pieces (he has the second most shot-creating actions from open play in La Liga this season).

He has run the best attack in the league all season and he's been helping out defensively too. There's been no one on his level. He has simply been the best midfielder in La Liga.

Joao Neves (PSG)

A new addition to Luis Enrique’s side who has fitted in seamlessly at PSG.

His €60m move from Benfica in the summer was one that might have weighed the young Portuguese down.

Instead, he has flourished. Not only is he providing fluidity in the midfield, he is also creating and scoring goals – an unexpected bonus.

He has more assists than any other player in Ligue 1 this season and has been a key reason why PSG look set to coast to another league title.

Jamal Musiala (Bayern)

Jamal Musiala has reached another level under Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany, who has built his side around the 21-year-old.

Musiala is the heartbeat of the Belgian's side and he is relishing this role.

The youngster has scored nine goals in 13 appearances while also contributing three assists. He is keeping teammate Michael Olise out of our side, although he too has been very good.

In all competitions, Musiala has a brilliant 14 goals and six assists for Bayern.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Somehow, Mohamed Salah is set to become a free agent next summer. Liverpool are yet to lodge an acceptable contract proposal to the Egyptian’s camp and they risk losing the 32-year-old on a Bosman deal as a result.

However, this season he has arguably been the best player in world football.

Salah is the European Golden Shoe leader and the top goalscorer in the Premier League with 18 goals. He has 21 goals in all competitions.

He also has the most assists in Europe’s top five leagues with 13 assists.

Liverpool are the runaway leaders in the Premier League and top of the Champions League - and that is largely down to the incredibly consistent form of their star right winger.

Omar Marmoush (Frankfurt)

The Bundesliga Player of the Season so far has been Omar Marmoush and it is not even debatable. The Egyptian already impressed last season, but he has been simply unplayable this term.

Marmoush has become the full package, capable of hurting opponents from every conceivable situation or position, regardless of whether he is leading a counter, combining with teammates or hitting set pieces.

The 25-year-old has scored an absurd 13 goals in 15 appearances while providing an equally absurd eight assists

In all competitions, Marmoush has netted 18 goals - including direct free-kicks in three consecutive games - and set up his teammates 12 times.

Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon)

Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as the most wanted striker in world football over the last 18 months.

And he has continued to enjoy another goal-filled 2024-25 season, with a barely believable total of 30 goals in 28 games in all competitions.

With 21 goals in the Portuguese league, he has even outscored Salah, while the Swede has also managed to assist a respectable six goals in all competitions.

It is inevitable that he will join one of Europe’s biggest clubs this summer for a massive fee.