Haaland among 2 City players selected in stats highest-rated EPL team of 2023

Erling Haaland, Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah are among the big names who have been selected in Sofascore's highest-rated team of 2023 as the New Year approaches.

The calendar year saw a handful of the Premier League's top stars shine as Haaland enjoyed a glut of goals to lead Man City to the treble and finishes with a score of 7.25.

Meanwhile, Salah continued to be Liverpool's talisman with a score of 7.48 after notching 19 goals and 12 assists in the league last season. Son had a tough start to last season for Spurs but has shone brightly in 2023 as he was given a 7.30.

The trio spearhead the Sofascore attack, and behind them is midfielder Bruno Fernandes (7.66) - who is surprisingly the highest-rated player in the team despite the Portuguese playmaker coming under criticism for his displays last season.

He still managed eight goals and eight assists in the league last term, while he has three goals and three assists in this campaign.

James Maddison (7.46) - who has impressed for both Leicester and Tottenham - slotted in alongside Fernandes after three goals and five assists already in this campaign - adding to the ten goals and nine assists he grabbed for Leicester last season.

Anchoring the midfield is Man City's midfield sensation Rodri, who was integral in the club's run to the treble as he earned a score of 7.47, but it was the defence that raised the most eyebrows.

In goal was Fulham's former Arsenal shot-stopper Bernd Leno, who had the lowest score of 7.20, with Newcastle's Kieran Trippier at right back on 7.46 after helping a rejuvenated Magpies team claim a top four spot.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (7.32) in the left centre-back spot is no surprise, but some fans may be shocked to see Brentford's Ethan Pinnock (7.24) partnering him after his solid displays for the Bees last season under Thomas Frank.

And left back also threw up some surprises with Pascal Gross of Brighton (7.42) occupying that slot as he helped Roberto De Zerbi finish six and claim a place in the Europa League.

The one talking point among supporters might well be how Haaland ended up with the third-lowest score despite his incredible year that saw him 52 goals in 53 games in all competitions last season, plus 19 goals in this campaign.

Arsenal fans, meanwhile, might be puzzled as to how Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka didn't make the team, with Ederson snubbed in goal.