Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have selected their teams of the Premier League season so far, as we're past the halfway point of the campaign and heading into the new year.
In light of his impressive season so far, Neville unsurprisingly did not include any Man United players in his XI, while three Liverpool stars featured and one Man City player made the cut.
Meanwhile, Carragher also picked three Liverpool players, but there was no place for any of Pep Guardiola's players in his team.
Both experts agreed on seven selections: Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Moisés, Caicedo, Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer, Matheus Cunha and Chris Wood.
The only point of contention between the two was the choice between the sticks and their defensive line.
Neville gave City's Josko Gvardiol a place in his team, much to Carragher's displeasure.
Gary Neville selected City's Josko Gvardiol in his Premier League team of the season so far
Jamie Carragher contested the selection, but agreed with seven of the other selections in Neville's XI.
Both experts agreed on the same midfield and attacking players, but they discussed defense.
'What games have you seen? Are you serious? Are you serious?!' exclaimed the Liverpool legend.
'Yes, I'm serious. To be honest, I was struggling a lot with the left back. It was the position I struggled with the most,” Neville said.
'Obviously!' Carragher added.
Neville completed his defense with Trent Alexander-Arnold, William Saliba and Van Dijk.
On Alexander-Arnold, the former right-back said: 'His defense has improved. There is more intensity in their defense, I'm not saying it's perfect, I don't think it is.
“He has a much better defensive attitude right now than I've seen before.” These last 12 months it has 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.
Nuno Espirito Santo's team is second in the standings, a big difference from the 2023-24 campaign, where they finished 17th and avoided relegation by just six points.
Neville praised Trent Alexander-Arnold's defensive improvements under Arne Slot this season
Carragher preferred Ola Aina at right back, who has started all 19 of Nottingham Forest's games.
“Every time I see him, he does a job on both sides,” Carragher said.
“Every time I see him, I look at him and think he could play for a team that expects to be in the Champions League every season.”
Each expert chose a different option to accompany Van Dijk in the center half. Neville argued that Saliba is the second best in the position, since the Frenchman is the anchor of Arsenal's defense, which has conceded the fewest goals this season (16).
He just got over it. “Arsenal have a good defensive record,” he said.
“Saliba, it hasn't been the best start to the season for Arsenal, but defensively they are still strong and he is still outstanding. He is the second best centre-back in the league.
Meanwhile, Carragher further praised Forest's defense, who have conceded the third fewest goals in the league this season (19), and chose Nikola Milenkovic.
“He's like the Van Dijk of Nottingham Forest,” Carragher said.
“I was very close to putting Gabriel for the defensive record, but also because he is almost the most talked about defender in the league for what he does on set pieces.
Neville argued that Saliba is second only to Van Dijk among Premier League centre-backs.
“I feel like what Nottingham Forest do defensively, I know Gary went for the goalkeeper, the real protection from what those defenders do in front of him.
In goal, Carragher chose Arsenal's David Raya, while Neville preferred Forest's Matz Sels, who has recorded the most clean sheets this season (eight).