GAR BLIMEY
‘Have you even watched them?’ asks Jamie Carragher as he’s stunned by Gary Neville’s team of the year selection
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JAMIE CARRAGHER was left stunned after Gary Neville named a Manchester City defender in his Premier League team of the season so far.
The Sky Sports pundits picked their sides on Monday Night Football and it was the selection of Josko Gvardiol which proved the most contentious.
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Both Carragher and Neville were on the same page for a number of their picks.
Carragher chose three Liverpool players but there was no room for any of Pep Guardiola's strugglers in his team.
Both agreed on seven picks: Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Moises Caicedo, Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer, Matheus Cunha and Chris Wood.
The only point of contention between the former defenders was their choice in between the sticks and their back line.
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Neville's selection of Gvardiol as his left-back prompted laughter from Carragher - with the Liverpool legend asking if he'd "actually watched Man City?"
Carra said: "How have you picked Gvardiol at left-back? He gives a goal away every game.
"Have you actually watched Man City? Obviously not enough. What games have you watched? Are you serious?"
In response, Neville admitted he had struggled to pick a left-back, but stood by his decision.
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The Man Utd legend said: "I am serious, yeah. To be honest with you, left-back I was struggling with badly.
"But Josko Gvardiol has scored four goals, he's always a threat. He's been the one that's consistently played.
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"If I was picking a team right now and I was thinking about building a back four, he'd be the player that I'd put in at left-back.
"He's a goal threat, he does his job reasonably well at left-back. City are giving goals away left, right and centre, I get that at the moment.
"It's not usual for them, it's not usual for him. But who are the other left-backs in the league?"
Carragher, though, hit back: "We're picking on the first half of the season and he's given goals away, so why have you picked him?"
Have you actually watched Man City? Obviously not enough. What games have you watched? Are you serious?
Jamie Carragher
Neville bluntly responded: "Because I think he's the best left-back in the league."
City’s surprisingly poor form has left them sixth at the midway point, though they ended a dismal run of form by beating Leicester 2-0 on Sunday.
Carragher chose Antonee Robinson as his left-back with the American's impressive performances for Fulham earning him links with a move elsewhere.
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Neville completed his defence with Trent Alexander-Arnold, William Saliba and Van Dijk.
On Alexander-Arnold, the former right back said: "His defending has improved. There’s more intensity to his defending, I’m not saying it’s perfect, I don’t think it will be.
"He has a far better attitude to his defending right now than I’ve seen previously. These last 12 months he’s improved enormously."
Carragher instead opted for Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina on the right flank, arguing that he has been a vital piece in their drastic improvement since last season.
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He said: "Every time I watch him, I do look at him and think he could play for a team that expects to be in the Champions League every season."
Meanwhile Carragher selected Nikola Milenkovic to partner Van Dijk and David Raya as the best goalkeeper.
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