The Premier League best XI of 2021-22, according to WhoScored

WhoScored, the renowned football analytics website, compiled their XI from the best player in each position as determined by the highest average matching ratings which are determined by an algorithm of their statistical performance data.

And here’s the full line-up, which would surely guarantee Champions League glory in real life, arranged in a Pep Guardiola-baiting 4-4-2 formation.

While there were no goalscoring heroics this season, Alisson put in another season of assured performances between the sticks as Liverpool came within an ace of stealing the title from Manchester City.

Joint winner of the Premier League’s Golden Glove award alongside Ederson, the Brazil international expressed his frustration at Liverpool’s second-place finish.

“With 92 points you’d be champions in pretty much all the leagues in the world, he said. “But here you aren’t. Sometimes you have to do more.”

Some people still say Alexander-Arnold cannot defend. That’s just wrong.

While he’s not as defensively sound as previous incarnations of leading right-backs, his attacking qualities more than compensate for that. Alexander-Arnold created a league-high of 90 chances for his team-mates and he operates on a different level to most of his counterparts.

Matip’s reputation has undergone a renaissance this season.

The Cameroon international has gone from liability in the Liverpool backline to one of the players Jurgen Klopp can rely on; he made the most interceptions (44) and the joint-most blocks (14) of any Liverpool player this season.

After injuries stalled his progress at Anfield, Matip finally looks comfortable and produced his best set of performances over the 2021-22 campaign.

Does Van Dijk’s presence here surprise anybody?

After a horrific