Former England international Lianne Sanderson appeared to call out Wayne Rooney live on Sky Sports after the Manchester United man offered a rather debatable opinion.
Rooney stood in for Jill Scott on Thursday’s (November 20) episode of The Overlap alongside Ian Wright, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.
As ever, several topics were up for debate, such as Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel’s relationship as well as the rest of the fallout from the November international break - including Scotland’s dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark, which secured Steve Clarke’s side’s spot at next summer’s World Cup in North America.
Neville also dug out some of his old United contracts, plus even touched on the announcement of the controversial fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul.
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Meanwhile, the quartet of former Premier League stars also discussed the current crop of talent in the league and previewed the upcoming North London derby between Spurs and Arsenal.
Rooney was relatively tame on the episode but had already raised a few eyebrows during a clip for Prime Video earlier this week, in which he left Erling Haaland out of his top three players this season.
“Top three, probably [Antoine] Semenyo, I think he’s been brilliant for Bournemouth, carrying on his form from last season,” Rooney said when asked who the best three players during the 2025/26 campaign have been.
“I’d also put Bryan Mbeumo in there. I think he’s been really good for Manchester United, even after a difficult start to the season for the club. I think he’s been really good.
“The third one, I’d probably go with [Viktor] Gyokeres. Arsenal have been crying out for a new number nine for a few years now, and he’s come in.
“His work-rate and his determination to hold up play, and he’s obviously scoring a few goals as well, so I’d say that’s my top three.”
Of course, some fans were surprised by Haaland’s omission, given the fact that he’s scored 19 goals in 15 appearances for Manchester City this season, with former Lioness Sanderson branding Rooney’s opinion as “quite strange”.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Sanderson claimed that because Haaland is so good that people underappreciate him due to the Norway international scoring goals “effortlessly”.
“I’m surprised that Wayne has come out and said that because you don’t leave Erling Haaland, do you?” she said.
“You don’t. Haaland would be in there over all of these players.”
In terms of stats, Haaland is by far superior to the other three players, having scored more goals (19) than Semenyo, Mbeumo and Gyokeres combined, with the trio netting 16 between them.
All four of the players will have the opportunity to improve their stats further this weekend, with Mbeumo’s United set to take on Everton.
Haaland’s City take on Newcastle on Saturday, while Semenyo’s Bournemouth host West Ham United on the same day.
Gyokeres’ Arsenal face Spurs at the Emirates on Sunday.
Topics: Wayne Rooney, Sky Sports, Erling Haaland, Football, Premier League
Luke Davies