The 2024/25 Premier League season is in the books – and not without a few surprises along the way.
Rewind to August last year and another Manchester City-Arsenal title battle was expected. Instead, it was Liverpool under new head coach Arne Slot who separated themselves from the pack.
City bombed before recovering to finish third, with Arsenal runners-up, albeit by a distance, for a third season in a row.
On an individual level, Mohamed Salah scored for fun against a backdrop of noise regarding his contract situation. Quite naturally, he walks into our best XI of the season alongside some established stars and some emerging talent. See below for the pick of the top Premier League performers from the past 10 months.
GK: David Raya, Arsenal
Remember the controversy when Mikel Arteta chose to ditch Aaron Ramsdale and replace him with Raya? That seems a long time ago now with the Spaniard established as one of the Premier League's elite goalkeepers. Blessed with an ability with the ball at his feet, Raya has also shown a knack of coming up with big saves in big moments and played a key role in helping the Gunners post the division's stingiest defensive record.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool
His season might have ended under a cloud given the controversy surrounding his impending free transfer to Real Madrid – but the right-back was at the top of his game earlier in the campaign.
It was in those early months of the season that Liverpool built the foundations of their title triumph and Alexander-Arnold's creativity was a key part of that.
CB: Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
Liverpool's defensive rock returned to peak form in 2024/25, dominating in the air and on the ground and helping his side bank 14 clean sheets and the second-best defensive record in the division behind Arsenal.
By the time his new two-year contract was confirmed in April, it had been well-earned. With the towering defender turning 34 in July it's a level of performance his club will need him to sustain if they are to keep hold of their title next term.
CB: Nikola Milenkovic, Nottingham Forest
The Serbian centre-back was an unheralded signing when he made the move from Fiorentina to the City Ground for £10 million last summer.
However, the 27-year-old is a defensive animal and has proven to be perfectly suited to Premier League football. Alongside centre-back partner Murillo, he has helped transform one of the division's leakiest defences into one of its meanest.
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal
The 18-year-old Arsenal academy product has been one of the finds of the season, establishing himself as the club's first-choice left-back and also making his England debut.
With a background as a central midfielder, Lewis-Skelly is perfectly suited to the demands of playing as an inverted full-back, tucking in and helping bolster the Gunners' engine room.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool
Liverpool's campaign suffered a setback before a ball had been kicked when Real Sociedad's Spanish international midfielder Martin Zubimendi snubbed a move to Anfield.
The Reds were perceived to have a weakness at the back of their midfield, but the solution to the problem was right under their nose. Signed by former boss Jurgen Klopp but underused last term, Gravenberch has flourished under the guidance of his compatriot Slot. Elegant, tactically savvy and an accomplished passer of the ball, the Dutch international is starting to fulfil the rich promise he showed when breaking into the Ajax side as a 16-year-old.
CM: Sandro Tonali, Newcastle
The Italian international has been the maestro of Newcastle's midfield three, having slotted into a number six role alongside Brazilian duo Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
Having missed most of last season after being suspended for breaking gambling rules while at previous club AC Milan, Tonali has played nearly 50 games across competitions as manager Eddie Howe tweaked his position to become the team's fulcrum and midfield engine with impressive results.
CM: Declan Rice, Arsenal
The highlight of Rice's season – a brace of spectacular free-kicks – might have come against Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League, but he has been a model of consistency in the league as well.
The England midfielder has chipped in with four goals and seven assists in his 35 league games and captained the side for the first time in the final day win at Southampton.
RW: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
The undoubted MVP of the Premier League season, Salah led the division for goals (29) and assists (18), becoming the first man to claim the player of the season, Golden Boot and playmaker award in the same campaign.
Having secured a new two-year contract, Salah's form dipped in the closing weeks of the season before finishing on a high with an equalising goal in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.
CF: Alexander Isak, Newcastle
Isak has broken the 25-goal barrier for two campaigns running now, with only Liverpool's Salah scoring more than the Swedish striker in this season's Premier League.
The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe – a great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals who will relish being back in the Champions League with Newcastle next season.
LW: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
The 26-year-old is a terrific player to watch in full flow, taking the ball on the half turn and wreaking havoc with his elite dribbling and eye for a killer pass.
Cole Palmer would have been a lock for this slot but hasn't scored from open play since January 14. By contrast, Eze has come on strong, helping his side win the FA Cup and contributing eight goals and eight assists in the league.
SUBS: M Sels (N Forest), D Munoz (C Palace), M Caicedo (Chelsea), M Gibbs-White (N Forest), C Wood (N Forest)
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.
Man of the match Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Three stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
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What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
