As you may very well, or not, have noticed, the key words here are 'top six'. Yes, that means Arsenal and Tottenham are fair game for this best XI. But no, good lord no, don't expect them to be flooding the teamsheet.

If it were the 'Big Six', then we'd be seeing a Leicester-heavy lineup, so in order to branch it out and make it more interesting, this seems like the best route to take.

While it appears we're edging ever closer to the 2019/20

Premier League season resuming in supporter-less fashion, we've still been starved of English football for more than two months now and had plenty of time to reflect.

But just because there has been time to look back doesn't mean you'll agree. I'm sure there'll be some clamour for Bukayo Saka to get a nod along with a few other outside hopefuls, but this is the way it goes, I'm afraid.

GK - Nick Pope (Burnley)



Nick Pope has the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season. The Burnley goalkeeper has bounced back from sitting out a full Premier League season following his dislocated shoulder to establish himself once more as the No 1 for his club. But the talk now is that Pope should be Gareth Southgate's first choice for England at Euro 2020 too.

Southgate was at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon to witness Pope's latest clean sheet at Newcastle. That is four in five games now. There was nothing too dramatic but maybe that is how it should be for a goalkeeper. Meanwhile, the erratic performances of the man in possession of the shirt, Jordan Pickford, continue to attract headlines of the wrong kind.

The England manager was also at Goodison Park at the weekend to witness Pickford allow Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes' long-range drive to evade his dive. The Everton goalkeeper made some amends with a double save late on but that is typical of his up-and-down form. In contrast, Pope has been a picture of reliability for Burnley.

RB - George Baldock (Sheffield United)



Baldock was very impressive on his Premier League debut for the Blades. With 13/18 successful attacking third passes, there’s every indication that he will be central to Wilder’s plans this season.

CB - Chris Basham (Sheffield United)



Chris Basham story at sheffield United

Resolute and solid at the back, it is in attack that he really brings something unique to Wilder’s tactics. Basham will often surge up the pitch, occasionally even being the furthest forward.

Another string to the defender's bow is his ability to win more fouls than he concedes, winning four more fouls than he's conceded in the Premier League this season. No other Blade has a higher positive differential of fouls won than committed than Basham this season, in fact the only other outfield player to have won more fouls than conceded is Billy Sharp

CB - Gary Cahill (Crystal Palace

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