Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher choose their Premier League teams of the year

Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher could only agree on six players when choosing their Premier League team of the season, as the Liverpool legend apologized to Manchester United supporters for Lisandro Martinez.

At the end of each campaign, both Neville and Carragher – synonymous with their thoroughbred, unqualified opinion – look back on the past year and name their best player, best signing, biggest surprise and standout XI.

This season was no different, although, as usual, the duo’s sides took on a contrasting look. Indeed, both teams boast a string of superstar forwards and stalwarts at the back, despite Neville and Carragher opting for identical midfielders.

And during the segment, the latter revisited his initial misgivings about Martinez, who has proved himself a revelation at Old Trafford since joining from Ajax.

However, the standout part of the Monday Night Football show came when the pair chose the players they believe have shone the most over the past nine months.

There was disagreement over Carragher’s inclusion of Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah, with Neville insisting the striker had fallen below his usual level.

Explaining his decision to pick Dias, Carragher said: ‘I think he’s been fantastic since he came to City. I like him as a defender. I remember sometimes he didn’t play.

“When he comes back, he has an intensity about him. When I think of City’s best central defender, I think of Dias.’

Dias was at the center of a defense that also included Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman and Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Alisson took the spot between the sticks.

Then, further up front, Martin Odegaard, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne also made the cut, with Salah, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland rounding out the superstar squad.

Speaking of Newcastle’s Botman, Carragher added: ‘He came in as a player who was linked to many top clubs.

“He’s gone to Newcastle and they have the best defensive record in the league alongside Manchester City. He’s there week in and week out, so many clean sheets.’

The Anfield great then continued: “I went with Zinchenko, he was dropped late.

But I can’t forget those months when he took on huge responsibility and moved into midfield, especially against Man United, him and [Gabriel] The arrival of Jesus initially raised the level.’

Kane has been incredible. Playing on one of the worst teams he has played in is out of this world. Has he had a good season as Haaland? You could say that Kane has had as good a season as Haaland.’

Of Carragher naming Salah despite a mixed year, Neville said, “I’d like to have Salah in every season, but this season I picked someone else. If I’ve seen him play this season, he’s far from normal.’

Neville then dug into his own side.

Nick Pope was named as goalkeeper, supported by Trippier, William Saliba, Dias and Pervis Estupinan from Brighton. He then selected the same three midfielders as Carragher before selecting Haaland, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

“I think Saka and Martinelli have lit up the competition up to the last few weeks, they were spectacular, they were electric,” said Neville.

“I think the last few weeks have been really bad, but for 30 games they were magical, they were on a different level than [Marcus] Rashford, Salah.

Those two were spectacular and exciting. Rashford has one goal more than Martinelli, I thought the way Martinelli and Saka matched is something I will remember from this season.

“You can’t have Saliba as an excuse for that drop-off, but he’s had a fantastic season. I never chose Salah over Saka this season. I chose him for four, five years.

‘I looked at Botman, [John] stones, [Manuel] Akanji, I couldn’t find anyone who had such an impact on their team as Saliba.

‘I think [Luke] Shaw has been excellent but let’s look at the stats and Estupinan was sensational to be fair to him.’

‘Where I’m confident in my selection, I just pick them. I didn’t look at Dias’ stats.

“I like Ederson and Alisson, but what Newcastle have done with less defensive resources is Pope has the best defensive record along with City.”

A surprising exception may have been United defender Martinez, although despite missing both teams, he was praised by Carragher.

Growing back on his skepticism and revealing him as his biggest surprise of the season, Carragher said: “Any centre-half that comes to the Premier League and is under six feet, you think they’re going to have a problem, but he has not.”

Every player has weaknesses, but the best players hide their weaknesses. How can you overcome that? I wasn’t the greatest center half and I was afraid I’d be bullied. I thought he was shorter than me.

“But when you talk about Casemiro’s role, I think there is a huge setback if Lisandro Martinez is not in the Manchester United team. Defensively but also his skill on the ball in terms of playing from behind.

“He’s a warrior, he’s a leader, and when you think about that backbone, he and Casemiro made a big difference. So my apologies to Lisandro Martinez. Manchester United Fans, Please Stop Tweeting!’

Both Carragher and Neville continued to disagree on the other awards, with the exception of best player. Unsurprisingly, Haaland was the unanimous choice.

For the best young player, Arsenal got a clean sweep. Carragher chose Saka and admitted that he “loves” him, while Neville chose the “excellent” Odegaard.

Eddie Howe snatched Carragher’s best manager nomination after sending Newcastle to the Champions League, while Neville named a victorious Pep Guardiola.

In the best signing category, Wolves’ Morgan Gibbs-White, meanwhile, was Carragher’s choice, while United anchor Casemiro secured Neville’s nomination.