He's to the players who never reach the limelight or attend the awards ceremonies hailed as greats, instead they work tirelessly behind the scenes but never get recognition. This is the most underrated starting eleven comprised of players who have been brilliant this season but you might not have known.
GK: Lukasz Fabianski - West Ham United
The 38 year old journeyman, has been a stalwart for Swansea City and West Ham United since 2014. He was an understudy under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, behind international teammate Woijech Szczesny, but left for Swansea City in 2014 where he has became a star player for the Swans and one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the league. This season, his long absence through injury has been a key facet in West Ham's defensive blunders and subsequent plummet down the table yet he is always overlooked as a top class number one.
RB: Kyle Walker - Peters - Southampton
The 26 year old was side-lined at Tottenham Hotspur, where it looked he would become another academy prospect who would be sucked into the loan cycle. Instead he moved to the South Coast where he has demonstrated his ability as a top performer. He is a well-balanced full-back, athletic and sharp on the ball but resolute and reactive when defending. He has been Southampton's star player in a miserable relegation threatened campaign and he deserves a top move if the Saints don't avoid the drop. He's been knocking on the door of Gareth Southgate's squad since last season, especially with Reece James' fitness concerns and Kyle Walker's gradual decline at Manchester City.
CB: Dan Burns - Newcastle United
The 6ft 8 marauding centre-back has been a revelation since joining his boyhood club from Brighton for £15m. The move has epitomised Newcastle's intelligent and subtle transfer business since the Saudi led takeover, where the 30 year old has been influential in Newcastle's top four push. The signing was questioned as underwhelming when he joined Tyneside and he still doesn't get the affirmation he deserves, given the transformation of Newcastle who have conceded the least amount of goals in the league.
CB: Ben Mee - Brentford
The 32 year old was part of Sean Dyche's Burnley team who overachieved spending six years in the top flight. He represents a traditional unflamboyant, hard-working centre-back who puts himself on the line and gives everything for his team. When he moved to Brentford, many believed he would struggle to influence an already strong team but his leadership and experience has been decisive in propelling Thomas Frank's side up the league.
LB: Alex Moreno - Aston Villa
The £13.3m steal from Real Betis in January, has been transformative for Aston Villa under Unai Emery. He was cherry-picked by Emery as a replacement for injury ridden Lucas Digne in a bid to solidify the defence. He has been brilliant as Aston Villa have soared up the table into Champions League contention. He has provided three assists since joining Villa Park and is a reliable workhorse down the left flank who enables other advanced players to thrive.
CDM: Joao Palhinha - Fulham
Fulham captured the in demand Portuguese midfielder for £18m from Sporting Lisbon in the summer, and it has been one of the signings of the season. He gives Marco Silva's side a solid core to his team and is the anchor that enables Fulham to play such expansive attacking football. He has achieved a 57.4% tackle success rate with 2.3 tackles per 90 and it has shown when he has been absent from the line-up because nobody can replicate his work rate and tenacity in the Fulham squad. What the Cottagers have discovered is a Champions League quality gem who will surely be hot property in the summer.
CDM: Christian Norgaard - Brentford
The 29 year old has not been as effective as last season, due to injury problems but he is detrimental to Brentford. His importance goes under the radar, and it is overlooked how well he does the basics, where his role is to intercept play and initiate a quick counter-attack. It can be argued without him, this Brentford side would struggle to execute their tactic which has been so effective in the top flight. The Dane, is not a player who excites but he is such a combative and aggressive warrior who gives everything on the pitch.
CAM: Leandro Trossard - Arsenal
The forward was Brighton's star player, but since his £20m switch to Arsenal in January his influence and contribution appears to have gone unnoticed. He deputised at centre forward for the injured Eddie Nkeitah and on more than one occasion he has been substituted on and changed the tempo and intensity of the game. He's looked sharp and hungry in an Arsenal shirt where he has made 17 goal contributions this season. Arsenal will desperately need his technical ability in the last games of the season as they need gamechangers if they are to go on and win the Premier League title.
LW: Harvey Barnes - Leicester City
In a turbulent campaign for Leicester City, the 25 year old has risen to record his highest scoring season in a Foxes shirt with 10 goals. He has always been overshadowed by James Maddison and Jamie Vardy since joining Leicester City in 2019. What he showcases is desire and a direct approach on the ball which unnerves the opposition and he is a very difficult player to nullify because he is relentless with his speed and dribbling. If the Foxes do get relegated, he should get a big money move because his development is continual each season and he is a quality attacker.
RW: Solly March - Brighton & Hove Albion
The entire Brighton squad could have featured in this list from Lewis Dunk to Moises Caicedo and Alexis MacAllister, but one player who never gets noticed is March. His movement and pressing is so important in Roberto De Zerbi's system and in games he is always on the move, desperate to find a goal or make something happen. His seven goals and seven assists this season, show how he is improving in the Premier League where he is becoming more clinical with his end product. One of the biggest surprises was his omission from the last international squad, given the plague of injuries to wingers such as Sterling and Mount.
ST: Roberto Firmino - Liverpool
The 31 year old has recently announced that he will be bidding farewell to Liverpool in the summer, after eight years. In recent seasons, he has become more of a utility player due to his persistent injuries but Jurgen Klopp has always been reliant on the Brazilian from the bench. This season he has scored a goal every 126 minutes scoring nine goals including against Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. As a result, of his long-term absence many have forgotten how important he has been in Liverpool's recent success and his departure will leave a huge whole in attack next season.
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