There are few contentious selections here.
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville can only agree on six players for their Team of the Year, and there are some questionable choices in both sides.
Kieran Trippier, Ruben Dias, Martin Odegaard, Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri, and Erling Haaland, made both of the pundit’s teams.
Carragher however went with two Liverpool players, despite Jurgen Klopp’s men suffering a poor season, Alisson and Mo Salah still had outstanding seasons.
Neville didn’t manage to squeeze a Man United player into his team, but he did select Casemiro as his signing of the season, something that has raised eyebrows when you consider the fact that Haaland was signed last summer as well.
🍿👀@Carra23 and @GNev2 debate whether Mo Salah should be in the Team of the Season 👇 pic.twitter.com/BZdM3wyXqN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 22, 2023
“I could not think of a player who has had a bigger impact on their team”, said Neville.
“I look at United’s season, they are in the top four, they won the Carabao Cup and they are in the FA Cup final. I genuinely don’t think they would be anywhere near top four or doing what they are doing in those competitions without Casemiro.
“He makes them 30 per cent better.”
One surprise omission was Lisandro Martinez who had a brilliant season, despite being dubbed as ‘too small’ by Carragher whenever he first came to the Premier League.
My @premierleague team of the season! #MNF pic.twitter.com/j6OadRyg2l
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) May 22, 2023
The Anfield hero did admit that he was wrong however, and cited Martinez as his surprise of the season.
“Any centre-half coming to the Premier League who is under six foot, you are thinking they are going to have a problem but he hasn’t.
“Every player has weaknesses, but the best players hide their weaknesses. How can you overcome that? I wasn’t the biggest centre-half and I was worried I was going to get bullied. I thought he was smaller than me.
“But when you are talking about the role of Casemiro, I think there is a massive drop off when Lisandro Martinez is not in the Manchester United team.
🗣 'I think Saka and Martinelli have absolutely lit up this league. They've been spectacular, they've been electric… absolutely magical.'@GNev2 heaps praise on the Arsenal wingers 🙌 pic.twitter.com/pudAF1Gitd
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 22, 2023
“Defensively but also his ability on the ball in terms of playing out from the back. He is a warrior, he is a leader, and when you think of that spine, he and Casemiro have made a big difference.
“So I apologise to Lisandro Martinez. Manchester United fans please stop tweeting me!”
Carragher’s team of the season
Carra’s XI: Alisson, Trippier, Dias, Botman, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rodri, De Bruyne, Salah, Kane, Haaland.
“Haaland is a freak but Harry Kane, what he has done this season, playing in one of the worst teams he has played in, to get that number of goals, I think is out of this world.”
Neville’s team of the season
Nev’s XI: Pope, Trippier, Saliba, Dias, Estupinan, Odegaard, Rodri, De Bruyne, Saka, Haaland, Martinelli.
“I think this season, Saka and Martinelli have absolutely lit up this league, I think they have been spectacular, I think they have been electric. Some of the best play I have seen all season has been from them two.”
Related links:
- Evan Ferguson shuts down talk that he will switch allegiance from Ireland to England
- Paul Tierney comments to Jurgen Klopp revealed as Liverpool boss gets banned
- Gary Neville compares Jurgen Klopp and FSG to Alex Ferguson and Glazers
