Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have unveiled their respective Premier League teams of the year, with players from Arsenal and Man City dominating both sides, but there was no room for Erling Haaland in the Liverpool icon’s squad.
The Premier League will end another season in dramatic fashion on Sunday, with City and Arsenal taking the title race to the final day of the season, with the final relegation spot still unsecured.
The iconic Sky Sports duo previously gave their top picks for the upcoming season last summer and have now revealed their individual teams for their best Premier League XI of the season.
Former Man United star Neville and Liverpool legend Carragher have put together two squads in different formations that bring together their views on the best players throughout the year, with neither featuring a Man United star.
However, both opted for seven players to form both teams, with a selection of Arsenal and City stars alongside one Chelsea player making the cut.
Gary Neville (right) and Jamie Carragher (left) have unveiled their respective Premier League teams of the year
Seven players from Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea were included in their teams by each
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was a prominent player in both dream teams
Man City midfielder Rodri was one of seven players included in both teams
Arsenal defender William Saliba and Gabriel are at the heart of both Carragher and Neville’s defense after starring in conceding the fewest goals in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard partners with teammate Declan Rice and Man City’s midfielder Rodri in midfield.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer – who enjoyed a breakthrough debut at Stamford Bridge – and City’s Phil Foden were the only strikers to feature in either side.
Neville was the first to unveil his full XI, fielding his dream team in a 4-3-3 formation.
NEVILLE’S TOTY: GK: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa), RB: Ben White (Arsenal), CB: WIlliam Saliba (Arsenal), CB: Gabriel Arsenal), LB: Destiny Udogie (Spurs), CM: Martin Odegaard Arsenal), CM: Rodri (Man City), CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal), RM: Cole Palmer (Chelsea), LM: Phil Foden (Man City), ST: Erling Haaland (Man City).
Meanwhile, Carragher preferred a 3-2-4-1 formation and opted to stick Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford between the sticks, despite Arsenal’s David Raya winning the Premier’s ‘golden glove’ award League won.
The 46-year-old also criticized Erling Haaland’s contribution to Man City’s campaign as ‘disappointing’, despite the Norwegian leading the Premier League’s golden boot race with 25 goals in 29 games and instead ahead of Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa chose.
CARRAGHER’S TOTY: GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton), CB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), CB: WIlliam Saliba (Arsenal), CB: Gabriel (Arsenal), CM: Rodri (Man City), CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal) RM: Cole Palmer (Chelsea), CAM: Kevin de Bruyne (Man City), LM: Phil Foden (Man City), ST: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Carragher branded some of Haaland’s for Man City this season as ‘disappointing’ as he explained his negligence
Carragher explained that Haaland had struggled this season in games against top teams such as Arsenal
The Liverpool legend instead chose Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins (pictured) to lead his attack
Carragher explained his decision not to include Haaland, claiming the Norwegian has been ‘disappointing’ in the biggest games in the Premier League and Champions League.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he explained: ‘The reason I would go for Ollie Watkins is that I don’t think there is much difference in the numbers when you add up the goals and assists. He plays for Aston Villa. He plays for Manchester City.
Haaland is currently leading the golden boot race at the top level with 25 goals in 29 Premier League games this season
‘And actually, when I think about Erling Haaland this season, listen, we know he’s the best striker, you know, we get that. But this season, I think, I’ve been a little disappointed with Haaland in the biggest games.
‘Maybe even a kind of Champions League against Real Madrid, the games against Arsenal, and also Liverpool, when he comes up against the really elite defenders. I think the elite defenders have the upper hand,” Carragher said.
Neville tried to fight Haaland’s corner after picking the superstar in his team, saying: ‘You know something you don’t realize until you have these players, this is a special player. One of the best in the world is scoring goals.
“His numbers, in my opinion, will continue to dominate world football for the next 567 years. And he just has to be there. You can think about giving someone else a chance, and that would be the emotional, compassionate way to look at it.
“But every striker, every club in the league, if you could name a striker, and they could take one, would name him,” he said.
Arsenal defenders Gabriel (left) and William Saliba (right) were named the best centre-back pair in the Premier League by both Carragher and Neville
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard was picked by both experts after another stellar campaign
Neville further rebuked Carragher’s choices, adding: ‘He doesn’t believe what he says. He doesn’t even believe it himself.
“This year, honestly, this year he doesn’t even believe his own team. “He created a system that doesn’t exist,” he said.
Neville and Carragher’s individual awards
After naming their best teams of the year, Neville and Carragher continued to pass judgment on a host of individual awards, including Premier League Best Player of the Year, Best Newcomer and Best Coach.
The debate over the best player of the season has largely focused on a battle between Foden, Palmer and Odegaard, with two of the three picked by the experts.
Carragher praised Palmer as a ‘sensational’ player for Chelsea before choosing Foden ahead of him, while Neville opted for Arsenal captain Odegaard.
Man City’s Phil Foden was chosen by both experts as the best Premier League player of the season
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was picked by the pair as the best young player of the season after starring in his debut year at the club
Palmer was named Premier League Young Player of the Year by both.
There was further agreement on the best signing of the season as Arsenal midfielder Rice was credited with his excellent performances in helping Mikel Arteta’s side take the title race to the final day.
The England international moved to the Emirates in a £107million summer transfer from London rivals West Ham and has become an influential part of Arteta’s team.
Manchester United were named as the biggest underachievers of the season by both Neville and Carragher
They also all named the team they thought had achieved more than any other in the English top flight.
Carragher opted for Aston Villa after the club moved within reach of the Champions League following Monday’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
Neville chose Bournemouth, who were previously tipped by the United legend to be relegated at the start of the season and are now in with a chance of a place in the top half.
Meanwhile, Manchester Untied were named by both as the biggest underachievers after a disastrous second year at the club for under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.