Premier League’s Stat Kings of the 2020s: My XI Since 2020

Four straight titles for Manchester City set the tone for the decade, but Arne Slot’s Liverpool gate-crashed the party in 2023/24 to remind everyone the Premier League never sticks to a single script. Arsenal have been the plucky nearly men, United remain a riddle wrapped in an enigma, and yet the numbers don’t lie: some players have separated themselves from the pack since 2020. Using WhoScored ratings and key markers from Transfermarkt, here’s my XI of the 2020s so far—equal parts ruthless and revealing.

The context: dominance, droughts and nearly-men

Between 2020/21 and 2023/24, Pep Guardiola’s City became the first side in the 136-year history of England’s top flight to win four titles on the spin. That said, Liverpool’s 2023/24 triumph under Slot offered the decade’s great counterpunch. Arsenal have pushed hard without landing the knockout blow, while Manchester United’s post-Ferguson hangover has endured—though one Red Devil still makes this XI on sheer output.

Goalkeeper and defence

GK – Emiliano Martínez (6.81): The World Cup final save made him a global meme, but the numbers back up the substance. From his late bloom at Arsenal to becoming Aston Villa’s vocal heartbeat, Martínez’s shot-stopping and penalty presence nudge him ahead of the pack on rating.

RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.13): Now plying his trade at Real Madrid after a 2025 move, Trent left the Premier League with a defender’s record haul of 64 assists. He’s a quarterback in boots—unpaired creativity from deep, and yes, a defensive debate that never ends.

CB – Virgil van Dijk (7.08): Liverpool’s metronome of calm. Strikers rarely bully him, and the rating echoes the eye test—he’s been the pillar around which multiple title tilts were built.

CB – James Tarkowski (7.06): The unsung organiser. Across Burnley and Everton he’s been a magnet for blocks and clearances, a manager’s dream when backs are to the wall. Not glamorous, very effective.

LB – Kieran Trippier (7.09): Yes, a right-back by trade. But the rating and delivery justify shoehorning him on the left. Since joining Newcastle from Atlético Madrid in 2022, Trippier’s set-piece craft and leadership have been transformational on Tyneside.

Honourable mentions: The right-back depth in this era is outrageous—Reece James and Jurriën Timber could start many a side on quality alone.

Midfield maestros

RM – Mohamed Salah (7.29): A goals-and-assists machine. Since landing from Roma, he’s churned out 280 Premier League goal involvements (190 goals, 90 assists) and propelled Liverpool to two titles in his time. Even when the form dips, the threat never does.

CM – Rodri (7.53): The brain and the brakes of City’s dynasty. 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, and rightly so—watch City without him and you see how vital he is to the whole operation. Tempo, timing, tidiness… and big-game moments.

CM – Kevin De Bruyne (7.27): Now in Serie A with Napoli, but his Premier League body of work this decade borders on orchestral. Vision, weight of pass, shots from nowhere—KDB has been the Swiss Army knife of Guardiola’s machine.

LM – Bruno Fernandes (7.33): United’s chaos conductor. Shoe-horn him on the left in this XI and he’ll still create chances by the handful. Availability, audacity and output have kept United ticking through the turbulence.

Relentless No.9s

ST – Harry Kane (7.55): Tottenham’s talisman-in-chief for much of the decade, now a goal glutton in Bavaria. Beyond the finishing there’s the craft—dropping in, turning, threading runners. His telepathy with Son will live long in Spurs folklore.

ST – Erling Haaland (7.48): The league bent to his will from day one in 2022/23—36 league goals, a single-season record. He then blasted to 100 Premier League goals in just 110 matches, the fastest ever. A cheat code in size-12 boots.

The manager’s note

There’s balance here, even with the square pegs: Trippier inverts, Trent becomes an extra playmaker, Rodri guards the transitions, and the front three (Salah tucking in with the strikers) would drown teams in volume and variety.

Value watch for the savvy fan

If you’re weighing form, fitness and fixtures like a scout, it pays to shop around—whether for tickets, fantasy picks or a flutter. For a one-stop comparison of offers, odds and promos, check the best betting sites—and remember, discipline and research beat gut feel over the long haul.

The XI, by rating sources

All player ratings cited are from WhoScored; appearance, transfer and totals data from Transfermarkt. Correct as of 16/01/2026.

XI (4-4-2): Martínez; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Tarkowski, Trippier; Salah, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes; Kane, Haaland.