G. Neville picks 9 stars from Manchester clubs in his MNF PL team of the season

Published on: 11 May 2021

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have selected their Premier League teams of the season, with Manchester City and Manchester United stars predictably dominating the line-ups.

Speaking on Monday Night Football after Fulham's defeat to Burnley, relegating them from their Premier League, Carragher and Neville put forward their best XI of the season, with perhaps a few surprising omissions.

The Sky Sports duo each opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with the pair both selecting Ruben Dias, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden and Harry Kane.

However, Liverpool legend Carragher opted for a couple of top performers outside of the 'Big Six', with Aston Villa's Emi Martinez between the sticks, while West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal slotted in at right back.

Dias' defensive partner at City, John Stones, was picked to play with the Portuguese international, with the Englishman enjoying his best season to date under Pep Guardiola.

Alongside De Bruyne and Fernandes in midfield, Carragher selected N'Golo Kante, who has 'been as good as any player in the league' under Chelsea's new boss Thomas Tuchel, having been sidelined with an injury earlier on in the season.

And the former defender opted for Son Heung-min to join Foden and Spurs team-mate Kane up front.

Neville's team, meanwhile, was dominated by stars from both Manchester clubs, with nine of the eleven players selected representing either side.

The Manchester United icon went for Chelsea's Edouard Mendy in goal, with the new arrival providing an assured presence in goal following a tumultuous season with £72m Kepa.

Neville selected Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire to play alongside Dias and Shaw, with the pundit hailing the United captain as 'the other outstanding centre back in the league.'

'He has been reliant, consistent, he is starting to show authority. If they had him and Dias together I think they would be unstoppable,' he said.

In midfield, Neville chose Ilkay Gundogan, who was the driving force behind City's incredible run of form over winter in which Guardiola's side opened up a healthy points advantage to their competition.

Up front, Marcus Rashford was selected to accompany Kane and Foden, with Neville hailing the United star's tremendous season 'on and off the pitch'.

Carragher took issue with Neville's team, in particular his midfield, with the lack of a defensive minded player highlighted by the Liverpudlian.

'Gary's team could not cope without someone sitting in midfield,' Carragher said, to which Neville replied: 'My team beats his team 100 per cent. That is a fact.'

There was unanimity in the pundits' selection of player of the season, with the pair singling out Dias for the gong.

Carragher, who likened the Portuguese to Carles Puyol and John Terry, said: 'His leadership qualities, to go into a team with that many big players and look a leader, I think that is pretty special.'

The pair also agreed on manager of the season - Manchester City's Guardiola. Although Neville said he would change his pick to Chelsea's Tuchel if the German wins the FA Cup, Champions League and finishes in the top four.

For young player of the year, Neville and Carragher agreed on Foden. 'He's played at Man City to get in that team with that manager you have to be unbelievably special,' Neville said of the youngster. 'He could be something if he gets it right on the pitch and off the pitch.'

Meanwhile, for signing of the season Carragher went for West Ham's Tomas Soucek, who has been a titan in midfield for David Moyes' side. Neville selected Man United's veteran striker Edinson Cavani, whom he described as 'sensational' earlier on the programme.

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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