How England Should Line Up Based On This Season's Stats
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Normally at this point of the year we'd all be discussing who Gareth Southgate should be taking to the Euros this summer, but with a year extra to plan the England manager has loads of time to consider this XI based on stats.
The outbreak of Covid-19 across the continent has meant that this summer's tournament, that was due to take place in several locations, will now not go ahead until summer 2021.
However if Southgate was wondering what his best current team is based on stats then WhoScored have come up with the answer, and it means Raheem Sterling misses out.
In goal some people might be surprised to see Bournemouth's Aaron Ramsdale. The 21-year-old has impressed this season but some would be expecting Dean Henderson or Nick Pope.
The latter two are likely to be in England's next squad, whenever that match is, along with Jordan Henderson, who remains Southgate's number one choice.
With such a strong trio it's unlikely that Ramsdale will get a chance in the side just yet but his form in his first season in the Premier League suggests that, as long as the Cherries stay up, he will get his chance at some point.
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In defence James Tarkowski is the surprise addition to the backline, with Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Chilwell all expected to be in any upcoming Three Lions side.
Most would have expected Joe Gomez to be alongside Maguire in the team, which is likely to happen when the manager gets to pick, but according to the stats the Burnley man gets ahead of the Liverpool centre back.
Jordan Henderson is definitely going to be in all of Southgate's upcoming squads and is one of the favourites to be the PFA Player of the Season.
Alongside him there's long been a question if the manager will pick both James Maddison and Jack Grealish in the squad buy the stats say both should start.
The front three could be the 1966 World Cup winners' main strength with Harry Kane flanked by Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, and that's because Raheem Sterling's recent run without a goal has seen him drop out of the XI.
With the Euros now a year away a lot might have changed by the time they kick off but it'll certainly make interesting reading for the manager.
