Chelsea and Liverpool snubbed as Arsenal dominate Jamie Carragher’s team of the season so far
Arsenal players have dominated Jamie Carragher’s team of the season so far.
The Gunners sit top of the Premier League table heading into Christmas Day, despite some unconvincing performances of late.
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Arsenal are hot favorites to win the title – which would be their first for 22 years – partly due to the miserable form of Carragher’s former team Liverpool who are not present.
Chelsea are also absent, while only Erling Haaland represents Manchester City, who are just two points behind Arsenal in the table.
Seven teams in total are represented, with Crystal Palace signing two defenders, with Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs and midfielder Granit Xhaka getting the nod. Declan Rice completes the midfield two.
Carragher’s team of the season so far
GK: Robin Roefs
RB: Daniel Munoz
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CB: Marc Guéhi
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes
CEO: Riccardo Calafiori
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Declan Rice
AD: Antoine Semenyo
AM: Bruno Fernandes
AG: Morgan Roger
FC: Erling Haaland
“I would say the right-back position was the most difficult,” Carragher said.
“I was really close to joining Jurrien Timber, who I’m a big fan of. I also think Reece James has been exceptional, but he’s played a lot of his football in central midfield.”
“The other one to put was (Moises) Caicedo and it was really difficult,” he said. “I didn’t want to put the three because I think they’re almost non-defensive, but I wanted to put an attacking midfielder in there, I’ve obviously got Bruno Fernandes.
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“I said I think Declan Rice just has the edge over Caicedo. I just felt Xhaka’s impact this season, he’s had the biggest impact of a signing or an effect on a team, he’s so important to Sunderland, he had to be in the team.
“So I apologize to the Chelsea fans, which I often do, but I couldn’t find a place for Caicedo.”
The attack is completed by Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, sitting behind Haaland.
Asked about the player of the year so far, Carragher said: “Haaland, Declan Rice, those would definitely be the two that would stand out straight away. Morgan Rogers, I think, is kind of right on their trail.
“If you talk about player of the year at the halfway mark so far, it would be a toss-up between Declan and Erling Haaland.”