Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had to make some difficult choices when naming his team of the Premier League season so far, with Chelsea supporters left disappointed
Moises Caicedo during Newcastle vs Chelsea
Moises Caicedo narrowly missed out on a spot in Jamie Carragher's team of the season so far
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Jamie Carragher didn't name a single Chelsea player in the team of the season so far. He felt the Blues deserved an apology, though, specifically for the omission of Moises Caicedo.
Enzo Maresca's team sit fourth after 17 matches, above reigning champions Liverpool on goal difference. Ecuador midfielder Caicedo has been a big factor, with the Blues taking just four points from their three matches without their record signing during his recent suspension.
That wasn't enough for a spot in Carragher's selection, though. Declan Rice forms half of the former Liverpool star's midfield pivot after starring for league leaders Arsenal and he's joined by Granit Xhaka after the ex-Gunner's fine form with newly promoted Sunderland.
"The other one to put in there was Caicedo, and that was a really tough one," Carragher said on Monday Night Football. "I didn't want to put all three because I think they're almost... not defensive, but I wanted to put an attacking midfield player in there and I've obviously got Bruno Fernandes.
"I've said I think Declan Rice just has the edge on Caicedo but I just felt the impact of Xhaka this season, for me, is the biggest impact of a signing or effect on a team - it feels like he's just so important to Sunderland so I just felt he had to be in the team. So I apologise to Chelsea fans, as I seem to do a lot, but I couldn't find room for Caicedo because of those reasons."
Xhaka wasn't the only Sunderland player to make Carragher's selection. Robin Roefs got the nod in goal, behind Crystal Palace pair Daniel Munoz and Marc Guehi, and Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori.
The former Liverpool defender opted for a 4-2-3-1 set-up, with Manchester United captain Fernandes in front of Xhaka and Rice, and he didn't include a single player from Arne Slot's Reds. Erling Haaland got the nod up front after leading the league for goals scored, with Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth and Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers either side.
Jamie Carragher's team of the season so far
Jamie Carragher's team of the season so far
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"It was interesting looking at Rogers and Semenyo," Carragher said after describing Haaland as 'almost a guarantee' to make the cut. "They've both had brilliant seasons but I don't think there's an abundance of wide players who are coming to mind.
"I think [Jeremy] Doku's been really good, Phil Foden of late as well, but Rogers - certainly of late - is the most in-form player in the Premier League. And Semenyo has probably gone off the boil in the last few weeks... [but] made a brilliant start to his Premier League season as well."
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