Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both revealed which players made their respective 2021-22 Premier League XIs for this season so far.
Manchester City are top of the Premier League table and hold a six-point lead over second-place Liverpool, though the Reds have a match in hand.
Only four clubs have managed to play 19 of their 38 league fixtures this season, with multiple matches already postponed due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Despite the aforementioned fact, both Neville and Carragher still went ahead and named their best Premier League XIs so far on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
Following Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at St James’ Park on Monday, Neville revealed that he opted for a 3-4-3 formation for his team.
“I just thought [Ruben] Dias, [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Antonio] Rudiger have been absolutely outstanding at their clubs,” he said.
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“I wanted to get two midfield players in. I think Rodri has been absolutely incredible this year at City, he’s been absolutely amazing. Underrated, underappreciated, someone who does the job week in, week out. The improvement in him is massive. [Declan] Rice alongside him.
“It’s unlucky on [Andy] Robertson at Liverpool. I just thought [Joao] Cancelo and Trent Alexander-Arnold have lit up this league from full-back this year.”
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Another noticeable absence from Neville’s team is City star Bernardo Silva, who has been in sparkling form for the defending champions of England.
And the 27-year-old Portuguese player’s omission from Neville’s XI prompted a baffled Carragher to question Neville over his decision.
Carragher asked Neville: “How the hell have you not put Bernardo Silva in your team?”
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Neville replied: “I just haven’t put him in…”
Carragher then asked again: “Why?”
Neville, who didn’t expand on his point any further, simply added: “I just haven’t.”
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Carragher, unlike Neville, opted for a 4-3-3 formation and agreed with eight of the 11 players his fellow Sky Sports colleague picked.
However, the Liverpool legend selected Aaron Ramsdale ahead of Alisson as his No 1 and left out Ruben Dias and Rodri in favour of Conor Gallagher and Silva.
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Neville was stunned that Carragher would leave the “unbelievable” Rodri out of his team of the season so far.
“How have you not put Rodri in? He’s been unbelievable,” he said.
Carragher simply responded: “I’ve put Rice in that position.”
Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports/TwitterTopics: Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Premier League, England, Football
