Mock Draft: Building the ultimate Premier League XI

Ahead of the Premier League's return next week, theScore's editors took stock of the English football landscape. Gordon Brunt, Michael Chandler, Anthony Lopopolo, Gianluca Nesci, and Daniel Rouse participated in a fantasy mock draft with just one stipulation: Only Premier League players were eligible for selection.

Other mock drafts: Current stars | Legends | Under-21 | 30-and-over

Round 1

Analysis: To the surprise of absolutely nobody, champions-elect Liverpool and title holders Manchester City dominate the opening round, with players from either squad earning all five selections. De Bruyne and Van Dijk were the obvious top two choices, and Rouse ultimately opts to make Belgian the centerpiece of his side. You can't go wrong with any of these stars.

Round 2

Analysis: Aubameyang and Kante briefly break the Liverpool-Manchester City monotony, but things quickly revert to type as the second round ends with two celebrated stars who ply their trade at the Etihad. The selection of the Arsenal captain begs the question: How many goals could he score if he had a fully functional team around him for a full Premier League season?

Round 3

Analysis: One of the major questions ahead of this exercise concerned the goalkeepers: How long would it take for someone to grab Liverpool shot-stopper Alisson? Not very, it seems. Chandler takes the leap and selects the Brazilian - easily the best in the league at his position - 12th overall. Lopopolo, meanwhile, secures his midfield with Leicester City anchor Ndidi.

Round 4

Analysis: Jurgen Klopp's side goes unrepresented for the first time in this draft. Round 4 features a heavy Manchester United presence in Liverpool's stead, which goes to prove there's a strong core of players at Old Trafford. Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the right person to get the best out of them?

Round 5

Analysis: Were it not for the spectacular full-backs on show at Liverpool, Leicester City pair Chilwell and Pereira would easily be the Premier League's best duo at the position. Brunt is the one to stop Kane's slide down the board; the Tottenham striker would have surely been a top-10 pick before the onset of his injury problems.

Round 6

Analysis: Round 6 is all about preventing goals against and provides the first real surprises of the draft: Young central defenders Sanchez and Gomez are favored over some of their higher-profile positional peers. With the talent pool at right-back starting to thin, Brunt and Nesci move to solidify that spot in their respective squads.

Round 7

Analysis: Lopopolo pulls off the steal of the draft thus far, snagging the Premier League's leading scorer at No. 35 overall. It's tough to beat that kind of value. The seventh round is otherwise dominated by central midfielders, with each selection bringing his own unique skill set to the position: The defensive shield, box-to-box presence, and pass master are all here.

Round 8

Analysis: It took a while, but someone from outside the top half of the table finally gets involved when Chandler nabs Grealish. (If transfer rumors are to be believed, the Aston Villa captain almost certainly won't fall into that category if we conduct another draft in a few months.) Nesci gives himself some tactical flexibility in the form of Fernandinho just before Grealish's selection.

Round 9

Analysis: Our managers are drafting largely for need at this point, methodically resolving the holes in their respective XIs. There's still plenty of high-end talent available - especially in attacking positions - as evidenced in the first three selections. Unsurprisingly, Ederson is the second 'keeper off the board.

Round 10

Analysis: The relative dearth of left-back depth plays a role here, but the selection of Saka - the youngest player taken in this draft - highlights how quickly the teenager has made an impact at the Emirates. Everton get some love in Round 10, with Digne and Richarlison coming off the board. Walker, meanwhile, remains in the conversation at the right-back spot.

Round 11

Analysis: Sheffield United get some recognition for their fantastic season as Rouse drafts their young netminder, while Bournemouth can take solace in Ake's selection after their miserable year. By taking Mendy with the final pick, Lopopolo ensures at least one player from either Manchester City or Liverpool was selected in every round.

Bonus Round: Managers

Analysis: As was the case in the star-studded first round, there was never any question as to which managers would be the most coveted. Arteta is perhaps the most surprising name here, but the Guardiola disciple has shown - albeit in brief flashes - that he's well on his way to turning Arsenal around.

Not Selected

Who was the most egregious snub? Have your say in the comments.

Naturally, some quality footballers missed out here. Leading that queue is Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. Multiple managers had Giovani Lo Celso on their radar, but he ultimately didn't get the call. Further forward in midfield, the polarizing Mesut Ozil was another noteworthy snub.

With most managers opting for just a sole striker, a bevy of capable forwards went undrafted, including Gabriel Jesus, Alexandre Lacazette, and Tammy Abraham. Abraham's Chelsea teammates Christian Pulisic and Willian also found themselves on the outside looking in.

The Teams

Team Rouse

No. 1 overall pick De Bruyne is the central figure here, literally and figuratively. Rouse has surrounded the superlative Belgian with plenty of skill, though, particularly right beside him in the form of the crafty Maddison. Rodri is tasked with locking things down behind them. The potential for Son to tuck inside and offer direct support for Jimenez is also intriguing, while the eager full-backs provide plenty of support for their two wingers.

Team Chandler

Team Chandler does some serious damage down the flanks. Though Rashford has developed into more of a central forward, he's retained the versatility to thrive coming in from the left wing. The right side would be a defender's nightmare with only dribbling machine Traore on the scene; the added presence of Pereira is just unfair. The spine of this squad isn't too shabby, either.

Team Nesci

The backline offers an ideal blend of reliability and attacking impetus - the latter from Robertson - while the double pivot of Kante and Wijnaldum covers every blade of grass in midfield. Richarlison is slightly out of position, but the powerful Everton forward can tuck inside where he's most comfortable with Firmino dropping deep to link up with the midfielders. Good thing tackling savant Wan-Bissaka can hold his own without much support.

Team Brunt

This is the lone XI to feature a pair of strikers, and what a pair it is. Even if injuries have seriously hampered Kane's mobility, playing alongside the more mobile Aubameyang allows the Tottenham man to act mostly as the facilitator. With those two passing wizards in central midfield and tricky one-on-one dribblers out wide, Team Brunt has plenty of ways to beat opponents. The backline, meanwhile, is solid as they come.

Team Lopopolo

Team Lopopolo leverages the power of familiarity better than any other squad; obvious personnel links can be found everywhere on the field. There are Manchester City and Liverpool connections on either flank, a Manchester United duo highlighting the midfield, and two Tottenham stalwarts at the heart of the defense. If Noah's Ark was a football team, it would look like this. To top it off, Vardy, the Premier League's Golden Boot favorite, spearheads the attack.

Have Your Say

Vote for your favorite team below, and sound off in the comments!