Jamie Carragher, a football analyst and former Liverpool defender, presented his Premier League team of the season at the campaign’s halfway point. His selections, made on Monday Night Football, were based on a combination of statistical performance and individual impact, and have generated discussion among both fans and analysts.

Carragher’s team was revealed alongside alternative lineups derived from advanced statistics and fan input, offering a multi-faceted evaluation of player performance in the league to date.

In goal, Carragher selected Sunderland’s Robin Roefs. Roefs currently ranks second in expected goals (xG) prevention and has contributed to Sunderland achieving one of the league’s best defensive records. Roefs joined Sunderland as part of a significant summer recruitment drive involving 14 new players.

For the right-back position, Carragher chose Daniel Muñoz over other candidates such as Jurriën Timber and Reece James. Muñoz has recorded three goals and multiple assists, and was part of a strong defensive unit for most of the season.

The central defense positions were filled by Mark Guehi and Gabriel. Guehi was selected over Maxence Lacroix, in part due to his goal contributions and Crystal Palace’s defensive performance. Gabriel was included for his leadership and defensive reliability, as well as his key goal against Newcastle. Carragher noted Gabriel’s absence as a significant loss for his team.

Riccardo Calafiori was chosen as left-back, with Carragher citing his positional versatility and offensive contributions as key factors.

In midfield, Carragher opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Granit Xhaka and Declan Rice were selected as the holding midfielders. Carragher identified Xhaka as having the most significant impact of any signing this season, particularly for Sunderland, while Rice was preferred over Moises Caicedo due to his consistency and overall performance.

Bruno Fernandes was selected as the central attacking midfielder, based on his high chance creation rate and assist numbers, even when deployed in deeper positions.

In attack, Erling Haaland was an automatic selection at striker, with 19 goals in 17 games, making him the league’s top scorer by a significant margin. Morgan Rogers was chosen for the left wing, based on his form and consistent attacking threat. Carragher also acknowledged the performances of Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden in this position. Antoine Semenyo was selected to complete the forward line, based on his early-season form and key goals, despite a recent decline in output.

When asked to identify the three standout players of the season, Carragher named Haaland and Rice as clear leaders, with Rogers also in contention. He indicated that the player of the season at the halfway point would likely be either Rice or Haaland.

Carragher’s selections were informed by a combination of statistical data, tactical considerations, and observable impact on team performance. As the season progresses, ongoing analysis and debate regarding the league’s top performers are expected.