The intriguing Premier League team of the season so far - including Man City, Spurs and Wolves stars

The Premier League - remember that ol’ thing? After a fortnight away due to the international break, the English top flight is back this weekend, with a full round of fixtures that may or may not have serious repercussions for the respective aspirations of its 20 participants.

But with each club having played four matches already - Luton Town and Burnley aside, of course - who has been shining for their team in the early knockings? We’ve turned to renowned number-crunchers Whoscored to see which players are currently averaging the highest match ratings per 90 minutes.

Check out the starting XI below...

Jose Sa - Wolves - 7.4

Wolves may have taken just three points from their first four matches, but Sa has been largely superb between the sticks. His performance in the 1-0 win over Everton last month was nothing short of exceptional - although he’ll no doubt want to forget the 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brighton sooner rather than later.

Pedro Porro - Tottenham - 7.4

The first of several Tottenham players in this team, Porro is absolutely thriving under Ange Postecoglou. The Spurs boss puts an awful lot of faith in the creative capabilities of his full-backs, and the 24-year-old Spaniard is seemingly loving his new inverted role.

Joachim Andersen - Crystal Palace - 7.7

The highest-rated defender in the Premier League so far this season, Andersen continues to prove his worth to Roy Hodgson’s Palace side. If he keeps this kind of form up, it is only a matter of time before one of the top six come looking for him.

Cristian Romero - Tottenham - 7.6

Like Porro, Romero is enjoying a new lease of life under Postecoglou. Already, it would appear that the Argentine has formed a solid partnership with summer signing Micky van de Ven, and for the first time in a long time Spurs look genuinely sound at the back. Two goals in four matches certainly haven’t hurt his rating either.

Nathan Ake - Manchester City - 7.4

Ake is the first Man City player in this side, but by no means is he the last. Fresh off the back of winning a treble last season, the Dutchman has picked up right where he left off, and continues to be one of the unsung heroes of Pep Guardiola’s silverware-chasing juggernaut.

Solly March - Brighton - 7.8

What more does March have to do to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad. The Brighton winger has been remarkable of late, and with three goals in his first four Premier League outings this term, he is proving to be one of the most lethal attacking presences in the division. If he can sustain his current purple patch, it is surely only a matter of time before the Three Lions come knocking.

James Maddison - Tottenham - 8.1

At this early stage of the campaign, there is an argument to be made for Maddison standing out as the signing of the summer window. The playmaker has been absolutely sublime for Tottenham, and has shouldered much of the creative responsibility left in the wake of Harry Kane’s high-profile departure. Two goals and two assists in four matches so far, but surely plenty more to come from the 26-year-old.

Rodri - Manchester City - 7.9

Rodri should really be studied in some kind of controlled scientific environment. How the Spanish midfielder is able to steadily and consistently improve year after year, season after season, with no apparent ceiling to his talents absolutely boggles the mind. Once again, he has been a standout performer for City so far this term, and in many ways, he is the fulcrum on which so much of their positive work hinges.

Son Heung-min - Tottenham - 7.7

Some questioned how Son would manage in the absence of his long-time creative collaborator Harry Kane, but the early evidence would suggest that he is going to get by just fine. Entrusted with the captain’s armband by his new manager, the South Korean icon has seemingly rediscovered his best form in recent weeks. A hat-trick in his last outing against Burnley is hopefully a sign of more good things to come.

Julian Alvarez - Manchester City - 7.5

Alvarez is 23 years old and he has done it all. World Cups, Champions Leagues, domestic titles - you name it, he’s won it. But despite all of that, it has often felt as if he has had to settle for a secondary role with Man City. This season is proving to be somewhat different, however, and the Argentine is wrestling a fair share of the limelight away from his teammates.

Erling Haaland - Manchester City - 8.1

No surprises here whatsoever. Haaland is arguably the best striker in world football right now, and with six goals in four Premier League outings already this season, the only real question is whether or not he can shatter last term’s tally of 36 strikes in 35 matches.