Ian Darke Announces Premier League Best XI and Most Disappointing XI for 2024-25

The 2024-25 Premier League concluded with Arsenal winning the title, Tottenham avoiding relegation, West Ham relegated, and Sunderland qualifying for the Europa League. Pep Guardiola left Manchester City and Mohamed Salah departed Liverpool. Broadcaster Ian Darke then released a Best XI and a Most Disappointing XI, each reflecting individual impact.

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The Best XI featured David Raya (Arsenal) with a third Golden Glove, Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) scoring free-kick goals, William Saliba and Gabriel (Arsenal) in defence, and Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City) who scored the Carabao Cup final goals. Midfielders Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) and Declan Rice (Arsenal) were praised, while Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) led possession and passing stats. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) set a record with 21 assists, Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) added 17 league goals, and Erling Haaland (Manchester City) won the Golden Boot with 27 goals and eight assists.

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Lucas Perri (Leeds) lost his starting spot after a poor performance; Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham) was criticised for prioritising the DR Congo national team during a relegation fight; Cristian Romero (Tottenham) was sent off twice, and Max Kilman (West Ham) fell out early. Milos Kerkez (Liverpool) was blamed for positional errors in a season where Liverpool conceded a record 53 goals. Other selections were Christian Nørgaard (Arsenal) with one appearance, Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) appearing jaded, Cole Palmer (Chelsea) hampered by injury, Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) scoring only seven league goals and accusing manager Arne Slot of being “thrown under the bus,” Phil Foden (Manchester City) displaced by Rayan Cherki, and Yoane Wissa (Newcastle) managing one league goal after a £55 million transfer.

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• David Raya: three Golden Gloves (most clean sheets).

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• Bruno Fernandes: 21 assists (Premier League record).

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• Erling Haaland: 27 goals, eight assists (Golden Boot).

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• Liverpool: 53 goals conceded (league record for a 38-game season).

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• Mohamed Salah: 7 league goals (down from 29 the previous season).

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Commentators cited Salah’s decline and Kerkez’s defensive lapses as driving Liverpool’s goals against. Wan-Bissaka’s national-team focus was seen as sending the wrong message during West Ham’s relegation fight, and Romero’s disciplinary record was noted as influencing Tottenham’s late-season form.

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• “thrown under the bus” — Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

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• “heavy metal football” — Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

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• “He might eventually come good as a long-term replacement for fan favorite Andy Robertson, but he has a long way to go.” — Ian Darke, ESPN

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Arsenal will defend the title, Sunderland prepares for the Europa League, and Liverpool is expected to revamp its defence before 2025-26. Manchester City and Manchester United will aim to build on Haaland’s and Fernandes’s contributions for further domestic success.

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