Premier League TOTS prediction: Who should be in the EA FC starting XI for Team of the Season?

Team of the Season (TOTS) is a promo that runs for weeks on end, putting a different team of super-juiced players into packs each week. These players, as the name would suggest, form the “team of the season” for each league.

The top five European leagues, MLS, Saudi Pro League and more all receive a full team of players who performed best over the course of the season. There are, of course, a few gameweeks left to play, but these teams are already pretty much set in stone.

EA has put this year’s Premier League TOTS to a public vote, allowing players to decide their own teams. The most voted for players will be placed into packs for players to add into their Ultimate Team starting XI.

Here are my choices for this year’s TOTS, based on who I think deserves the nod.

GK - Alisson (Liverpool)

This was a genuine toss-up between Alisson and Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matt Sels. While Forest’s defensive record has been stellar this season, Liverpool’s number one has been called into action far more frequently, and always risen to the occasion.

For some reason, EA presented Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as an option - even though Everton’s defence is as leaky as a broken collinder.

RB - Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)

Unlike how Liverpool fans are voting, this is not simply a case of snubbing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Ola Aina has been nothing short of superb for Nottingham Forest. Defensively, he’s been an absolute rock for them, pocketing wingers like Heung-Min Son, Luis Diaz and Leandro Trossard all season long.

But he’s also an asset to Forest in the attack too - overlapping the midfield to offer an extra option for a cross. With a tireless workrate, giving him anything less than 99 stamina would be an insult.

CB - Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

In the past five years, Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been one of the best defenders in not just the league, but in world football. A commanding presence who rarely makes a mistake, it’s inevitable that he ends up with a TOTS card.

Having just signed a new contract at Anfield, van Dijk will be terrorising Premier League attackers for at least another two seasons - much to the chagrin of most other clubs.

CB - William Saliba (Arsenal)

Arsenal have been plagued by defensive injuries all season long. The likes of Ben White, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyaso and Jurrien Timber have all been sidelined at one time or another.

While the rest of the back line chopped and changed throughout the year, Saliba has been a stalwart in Arsenal’s defence, and deserves far more credit for his efforts this season that he has perhaps received.

LB - Milos Kerkez (Bouremouth)

I know, I know... my Bournemouth bias strikes again. But I challenge you to find a left-back who has been better in the Premier League this season.

From explosive runs down the wing that create goalscoring chances to putting in last-ditch tackles in his own box, the 21-year-old Hungarian has been a stand-out player in an overperforming Bournemouth side. He’s being linked with a move to somewhere like Liverpool this summer - and has certainly earned his shot at the big time.

CM - Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

What a fascinating season it has been for Aston Villa. They have had so many heroic moments this season, such as beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and so many different players have stepped up throughout the season, such as Ollie Watkins, the recently-departed Jhon Duran and now Man United reject Marcus Rashford.

At the heart of it all, Morgan Rogers has been pulling the strings all year long. Not only has he scored 14 goals, he’s assisted his teammates a dozen times too. Rogers has been the focal point of Villa’s attacks, and Unai Emery’s faith in the 22-year-old has been handsomely rewarded.

CM - Declan Rice (Arsenal)

It’s been a long time since Arsenal had a player who could dominate the middle of the pitch. Someone like Patrick Viera, who could muscle an opponent off the ball before making a decisive pass through to the strikers.

He might not be quite as physical as the Frenchman, but Rice’s efforts have made him a cult hero at the Emirates. He has been so dependable for the Gunners, seldom at fault when things go wrong but always involving himself in the game as much as he possibly can.

CM - Matheus Cunha (Wolves)

EA putting Cunha in the midfield does seem a bit cheap; the Brazilian has been playing upfront for Wolves all season, but we’ll take what we can get. Other options here included Cole Palmer, who’s form has been hot and cold this season; Morgan Gibbs-White, who was a genuine contender; and Bruno Fernandes... hahahahaha.

For dragging a team that would have been relegated in any other season by the scruff of the neck, hauling them out of the relegation zone practically single-handedly, Cunha gets the nod for me. He deserves a move to a bigger club this summer, and Wolves will dearly miss him if he goes.

RW - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

I mean, obviously. Salah has been the best player in the Premier League by a country mile in 2024/25, and now the Egyptian magician will be sticking around until 2027, having signed a new contract at Anfield last week.

The only question that remains is this - will EA give him a 99 rated card?

ST - Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)

I don’t think anyone had this on their bingo cards at the start of the season.

We all expected players like Erling Haaland to dominate the Premier League once again in 2024/25. What we didn’t account for was a 33-year-old New Zealander, who has been bang average his whole career, to suddenly transform into prime Thierry Henry.

But that’s exactly what happened. 18 goals in 30 league games this season, helping Forest almost certainly secure Champions League football for the first time in decades. Stay humble, eh?

LW/ST - Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)

Again, I’m somewhat cheating because there aren’t many left-wingers who could have completed our starting XI. So I’m putting a second striker in their place, and it simply has to be Isak.

What a season the Swede is having. He has scored 21 goals in the Premier League this season (at the time of publication), is second in the golden boot race and statistically more clinical than Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. If Newcastle do secure Champions League football, he may well need a statue outside St James’ Park.