Dub's April Premier League Team Of The Month - 2025/26

The April Premier League alternative team of the month is here. In a short month due to the international break and the FA Cup, every team played just three matches. This month’s team takes on a 3-5-2 formation. For any new readers; the players are in the positions they occupy in the Premier League’s official ‘Fantasy Premier League’.

Goalkeeper

Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest)

Sels made 11 saves in three April matches and kept one clean sheet as Forest took 7 points from the 9 available. His best performance was against Aston Villa where he made good saves from Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Ross Barkley in a 1-1 draw. Despite losing his place earlier in the season and picking up an injury he is still 11th in saves made with 78 in 27 appearances. He has come good at just the right time as Vitor Pereira’s men are looking likely to avoid relegation now.

Defenders

Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham)

Since February began the Hammers have surprisingly had the most clean sheets in the league and they got two of them in April. Mavropanos’ aerial prowess was on display in both penalty areas. He scored twice in the 4-0 demolition of Wolves. He almost won the game against Crystal Palace but for a good save by Dean Henderson. He then produced a solid defensive display as they rounded off the month with a 2-1 triumph over Everton. Mavropanos is ninth in the league in interceptions with 41 overall this campaign.

Konstantinos Mavropanos heads in his first goal against Wolves. Image from 'John Walton/PA' via 'theguardian.com/football'.

Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton)

Pervis Estupinan did well at Brighton but since he departed, he has not been missed as much as expected due to Kadioglu’s performances. The Turkish international has been tireless in his work on the left-hand side and helped Fabian Hurzeler’s men to 7 points from 9 in April. Kadioglu was good defensively in the 2-0 win at Burnley, where he made 4 clearances, won 4 ground duels and made 3 tackles. In the Seagulls’ best performance in the month a 3-0 home victory over Chelsea, Kadioglu opened the scoring with a deflected shot from a corner.

Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)

O’Reilly has become critical to how Pep Guardiola sets up. When he inverts from his left back role into midfield he causes many issues for the opposition. In the Cityzens’ first two matches of the month, O’Reilly scored the opening goal in the big 3-0 win at Chelsea before coming off injured just after the hour mark. Then in the biggest match of the season; his deflected ball eventually helped Erling Haaland score the winner against fellow title-challengers Arsenal. He then moved back into his natural position in midfield as City won 1-0 at Burnley, keeping their second clean sheet of the month.

Midfielders

Pascal Gross (Brighton)

Gross returned to Brighton from Borussia Dortmund in January and it has been like he never left. He always works hard for the team, is a good passer and has great set-piece delivery. Away at Burnley, his pass was swept in by Mats Wieffer to give the Seagulls the lead at Burnley in a 2-0 victory. The Seagulls then drew 2-2 away at Tottenham and Gross assisted again as his cross was expertly volleyed in by Kaoru Mitoma. In the 3-0 triumph over Chelsea, Gross’ corner was deflected to Ferdi Kadioglu for the first goal.

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Forest’s captain had the month of his dreams in April. After a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, Gibbs-White burst into life as it looks like they will now be able to beat the drop. Burnley took the lead at the City Ground but the England international scored a second half hat-trick as it ended 4-1. All the goals were well taken but his second was the standout as he volleyed in a ball from Omari Hutchinson. They then romped to a 5-0 away win at Sunderland. Gibbs-White assisted the second for Chris Wood and then scored a low drive for the third. He now has an impressive 13 goals this season.

Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White celebrates after a hat-trick in 15 minutes to see off Burnley. Image from 'Mike Egerton/PA' via 'theguardian.com/football'  

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton)

Dewsbury-Hall just about got in as he keeping out Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as he and Bruno Fernandes were the only players in the league to get a goal contribution in each game in April. The Toffees did not pick up three points in April, however without Dewsbury-Hall they would have lost all three games. His low drive in the 91st minute salvaged a point away at Brentford as it ended 2-2. David Moyes’ men then lost the Merseyside Derby 2-1 to Liverpool, but Dewsbury-Hall assisted the equaliser for Beto. He thought he had rescued them again after his emphatic finish at West Ham made it 1-1 only for a late Callum Wilson goal to win it for the Hammers.

Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)

Some doubted if Cherki could adapt to Premier League life and he has well truly silenced any doubters. The French international is second in the league in assists this campaign with 10 now and he has reduced Phil Foden to a couple of minutes here and there off the bench. City were struggling to break down Chelsea when Cherki’s well flighted ball was headed in by Nico O’Reilly. Cherki then produced a superb piece of dribbling and followed it with a lovely pass which was controlled and slotted in by Marc Guehi. In the battle of the top-two, Cherki’s twinkletoes saw him leave Gabriel Magalhaes on his knees before he gave City the lead in the massive 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

Noah Okafor (Leeds)

Leeds are now looking certain to avoid relegation and Okafor’s April performances were vital to that. The Swiss international bagged a brace in a huge 2-1 win at Old Trafford. Okafor seized on a cross that was not cleared to score the opener from close range. His second was a deflected volley from outside the box. Okafor assisted James Justin to start things off in a 3-0 triumph over Wolves. Brendan Aaronson’s nice pass then setup Okafor for the second goal as he was the month’s highest scoring player.

Forwards

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)

West Ham’s captain fended off Bournemouth’s teenage sensation Eli Kroupi Jr. to squeeze into the April team. The Hammers began the month with a 4-0 thrashing of Wolves and Bowen got 2 assists. His inviting cross allowed Konstantinos Mavropanos to open the scoring. In the second half, on the break Bowen found Taty Castellanos for his second goal to make it 3-0. His corner then was not cleared properly and Mavropanos got a second. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men got a big win at home to Everton and Bowen assisted both goals for Tomas Soucek and Callum Wilson. Along with his work rate his value is beyond measure.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

In terms of all round play Haaland has had many better months, however, the importance of his goals are why we still have a title race this late in the campaign. He seized on a deflected ball from Nico O’Reilly to get a gargantuan winning goal against Arsenal which put City within three points of the north London club. Next up, he scored the only goal as he took a ball from Jeremy Doku in his stride and raced through before producing a deft finish past Martin Dubravka to edge past Burnley 1-0. This put Pep Guardiola’s men top before Arsenal beat Newcastle.  

Erling Haaland scores the winner as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1. Image from 'espn.com/soccer'.

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