Liverpool and West Ham represented in Europa League group stage best XI
Slavia Prague dominate the Europa League group stage best XI with three players, while Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool have two representatives. Elsewhere, players from West Ham, Freiburg, Olympiacos and Atalanta also make the cut.
Matej Kovar (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.31
Bayer Leverkusen were imperious in the group stages of the Europa League as they won all six matches and conceded just three goals. As such, it's no surprise to see Matej Kovar feature between the sticks in the best XI. The 23-year-old kept three clean sheets in his five appearances, and conceded just twice in that period. With 19 saves to his name, Kovar is good value for his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 7.31.
Liverpool topped their Europa League group as they progressed to the knockout stages with relative ease, with Joe Gomez the first of two Reds representatives in the XI. Gomez chipped in with solid averages of 3.6 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per 90 to secure his place in the side.
Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague) - 7.56
The first of three Slavia Prague players to make the cut, Igoh Ogbu stars as the Czech side topped their group, winning five of six matches on their way to the knockout stages. The 23-year-old netted twice in his six outings and won more aerial duels per game (4.7) than any other player in the group stages.
Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague) - 7.30
Rounding off the defence is the second Slavia Prague representative. Tomas Holes shone alongside Ogbu at the back for the Red and Whites as he made the fifth most interceptions (13) in the group stages of Europe's second competition. The 30-year-old was also instrumental in setting Slavia Prague on the frontfoot having made the fourth most accurate long balls per game (7.2) to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.30.
Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiacos) - 7.51
Occupying the spot on the right wing is Olympiacos wideman Konstantinos Fortounis. The Greek forward registered more assists (5) than any other player in the group stages of the Europa League, and ranked second for key passes (19). While Olympiacos were unable to book their spot in the next round of the competition, the 31-year-old can take solace from a solid group stage campaign.
James Ward-Prowse (West Ham) - 7.50
Pipping Fortounis to top spot for key passes was West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse. The Hammers star created 21 goalscoring chances across his six outings, that translating to four assists for the east London side. Ward-Prowse also returned the 11th best pass success rate (91.8%) to help secure his spot in the side.
Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) - 7.47
It's an all-Premier League midfield pairing as Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch partners Ward-Prowse in the middle of the park in this XI. The Dutchman made the 15th most key passes (11) in the group stages of the Europa League and was directly involved in three of the Reds' 17 goals, scoring twice, to help earn a WhoScored rating of 7.47.
Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg) - 7.56
Completing the midfield is Freiburg winger Vincenzo Grifo, who earned a WhoScored rating of 7.56 in the group stages. No player was directly involved in more goals than Grifo (6 - 4 goals, 2 assists) while a return of 18 key passes ranked third to help the Italian secure his place in this XI.
Mojmir Chytil (Slavia Prague) - 7.64
Kicking off the frontline is the best rated player in the group stage best XI. Mojmir Chytil returned a WhoScored rating of 7.64 as Slavia Prague topped their group, with the 24-year-old key. Indeed, Chytil scored four times from just 12 shots, an impressive feat, to help feature here.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.47
Leading the charge is the second Bayer Leverkusen player in the XI. Victor Boniface netted four times in the group stages for the Bundesliga outfit, as he managed the second most shots (18), while an additional assist helped the Nigerian forward to a WhoScored rating of 7.47.
Joining Chytil and Boniface in attack is Atalanta's Luis Muriel, who like the former pair also scored four times in the group stages of the Europa League. Muriel was unfortunate not to register an assist having made 14 key passes, that ranking fourth, to round off the XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.53.
