Ian Wright has named his Premier League Team of the Season so far, including just one player from league leaders Liverpool.
Defending champions Liverpool are top of the table at Christmas after a rocky start to the season in which they lost several key players to injury.
Their two starting centre-backs of last season, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, were both lost to serious knee injuries, while Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho also endured spells on the sidelines.
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But they haven’t let their near-unprecedented injury crisis in defence stop their title charge as they lead the standings after 14 games played.
Four points behind in second place are Leicester City, followed by Manchester United in third, who have a game in hand, with Everton occupying fourth spot and Chelsea in fifth place.
Players from sixth-placed side Tottenham Hotspur feature heavily in Wright’s team with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son all making the cut.
But the Arsenal legend could only find space in his side for one Liverpool player in left-back Andy Robertson, while zero Chelsea players feature.
Emiliano Martinez James Justin, Conor Coady, Michael Keane, Andy Robertson Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bruno Fernandes, Jack Grealish Harry Kane, Heung-min Son, Dominic Calvert-Lewin Manager: Jurgen Klopp
Wright also showered praise on one of the attackers he chose, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top this season.
The 23-year-old was previously undervalued by many but has proved his doubters wrong with 11 goals in 14 Premier League games so far this campaign.
‘If we’re going to talk about these three [attackers], then the emergence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has to be up there, has to be lauded,’ the ex-England striker said on Ringer FC’s Wrighty’s House podcast.
‘Simply because there was a time not too long ago where people were saying he’s just not good enough for this level he’s not going to score the goals. I remember to saying to somebody I watch him and he does all the things a striker does; near post, far post, link the play, unbelievable in the air, he wins his own flick-ons.
‘And when I watched him you think to yourself if he could add goals to his game, then we’re talking about elite.
‘Now he’s scoring, you look at it and you think to yourself he’s the archetypal centre forward now, scores goals, scrappy in the box, he’s in there.’
