Revealed: Rashford makes best Premier League XI excluding Liverpool and City

Despite the fact Leicester are only three points behind Manchester City in the Premier League table, there has been a general feeling all along the title would end up at one of two places: Anfield or the Etihad. City and Liverpool finished last season one point apart, with third place 25 points further back. Liverpool have continued at an unrelenting pace this season, winning 24 of 25 matches and drawing at Manchester United. City have failed to keep pace but are still considered the second best team in the league by a canter.

It's a concering trend for the league's other teams, as it doesn't seem like the gap will shorten anytime soon. City and Liverpool's dominance in the league is illustrated further by the fact they combine to make up five of our current team of the season. With that in mind, what would a Premier League all-star XI look like this season without Liverpool and City players considered. And would it be good enough to challenge for the title?

Goalkeeper: Martin Dubravka (Newcastle) - 6.86 rating

Football Index share price - £0.33

The results Newcastle have achieved this season have surprised many, particularly as it was thought they would be relegated after losing Rafa Benitez in the summer. The football hasn't been eye-catching under Steve Bruce but it has certainly been effective. They are level on points with Arsenal, afterall. A contributing factor to their current haul of 31 points from 25 games has been Martin Dubravka in goal. Only one team concede more shots per game than Newcastle in the Premier League this season (15.9) and Dubravka is the only goalkeeper to have reach three figures for saves (102).

Right-back: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester) - 7.54 rating

Football Index share price - £1.69

Trent Alexander-Arnold is widely regarded as the best right-back in the world due to the hugely impressive number of assists but there is a case to make that Leicester's Ricardo Pereira is the most complete right-back in the Premier League. The 26-year-old has scored three goals and provided two assists in the league this season, while ranking top for tackles and interceptions combined of all all players (148).

Centre-back: Caglar Soyuncu (Leicester) - 7.10 rating

Football Index share price - £1.13

Caglar Soyuncu has really been a revelation for Leicester this season. He could barely get a game for the Foxes last season and is now being touted with a move to Manchester City. He has stepped in brilliantly to fill the void left by Harry Maguire in the summer and now means they don't have to spend all of the £80m received for the England international on a new centre-back. Soyuncu's positioning has been particularly impressive this season, illustrated by the fact he has been dribbled past just 0.6 times per game in the league and made 4.9 clearances per game. A pass success rate of 89.2% also demonstrates composure on the ball.

Centre-back: James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 7.06 rating

Football Index share price - £0.48

It has become unfashionable to rate a defender like James Tarkowski because he plays for Burnley and what people generally think about the way Sean Dyche's side play. However, you cannot contest Tarkowski is thoroughly effective at what he does. Positioning is key to Tarkowski and he is almost faultless in that respect. Tarkowski ranks top for headed clearances in the Premier League this season (72) and second for most shots blocked (29) and total clearances made (130).

Left-back: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) - 7.13 rating

Football Index share price - £0.46

With the impetus on youth at Chelsea under Frank Lampard, Cesar Azpilicueta has been forced to adapt to playing at left-back this season in order to blood Reece James into the first-team at Stamford Bridge. The Spanish veteran is no longer at the peak of his powers but he remains a consummate professional and a valuable member of the Chelsea squad. The 30-year-old has played a direct hand in five league goals this season and has been dribbled past just 0.9 times per game.

Central midfield: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 7.42 rating

Football Index share price - £4.82

Jack Grealish found the going difficult at the start of the season but he has really stepped up and carried Aston Vill at times this season, particularly with John McGinn sidelined since Christmas. Grealish, who is now being linked with summer moves to Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, has scored seven goals and registered five assists in the league this season, equalling his goal contribution from the 2018/19 campaign in the Championship. Grealish is particularly effective at winning free-kicks, illustrated by the fact he is the most fouled person in Europe's top 5 leagues (111).

Central midfield: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester) - 7.43 rating

Football Index share price - £1.13

It's surprising that no big teams have really been linked with Wilfred Ndidi since emerging as a real star of this Leicester side in the last few years. Ndidi is arguably one of, if not, the best defensive midfielders in the division. In fact, only team-mate Ricardo Pereira (148) has made more tackles and interceptions combined than the Nigeria international (142) in the Premier League this season. Ndidi has also scored twice, registered one assist and claimed the WhoScored Man of the Match award three times.

Central midfield: James Maddison (Leicester) - 7.41 rating

Football Index share price - £4.51

Like Jack Grealish, this season has been very encouraging for James Maddison, even if there has been a slight drop off of form of late. The England international is currently pencilled in as a starter for England at Euro 2020, albeit Grealish is pushing for that role. Maddison has scored six times and provided three assists in the league this season and he has created more goalscoring chances from set-pieces than any other player in the division (32).

Right wing: Adama Traore (Wolves) - 7.75 rating

Football Index share price - £3.19

Adama Traore has been the biggest surprise package in the Premier League this season and is currently the second highest rated player in the division. Traore combines pace and power unlike anything we have ever seen before and Wolves stand to make a huge profit on the 24-year-old in the summer. Finally adding end product to his devastating dribbling ability, Traore has played a direct hand in 11 goals in the Premier League this term (four goals, seven assists). Moreover, he has completed the most dribbles in Europe's top 5 leagues this term (133).

Striker: Jamie Vardy (Leicester) - 7.32 rating

Football Index share price - £1.40

Jamie Vardy is the top goalscorer in the Premier League this season despite failing to net in each of his last five games in the competition (17). Vardy embarked on a remarkable eight-game scoring run from October to early December to help move clear of the chasing pack in the race for the Golden Boot. Vardy has retired from England duty but may reconsider his stance if Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford fail to recover from injury in time for Euro 2020.

Left wing: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - 7.34 rating

Football Index share price - £4.84

Marcus Rashford was enjoying his best ever campaign in front of goal before a double stress fracture suffered in January left him sidelined for three months and in a race to prove his fitness in time for Euro 2020. The 22-year-old's absence is a massive blow for Manchester United's chances of securing a top-four finish. Rashford has scored 14 league goals this season, four more than his previous best tally in a single league campaign. He has also picked up the WhoScored Man of the Match award six times this season.