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Jamie Carragher “I’m going with Sunderland’s keeper, Robin Roefs. He’s been seriously impressive. His xG Prevention stats are second-best in the league, and he’s had a cracking start to his Premier League career at Sunderland. Sunderland has one of the best defensive records in the league, and he’s a massive part of that. It also symbolizes what Sunderland tried to do in the summer window. It was a cold, bold approach, signing a whopping 14 players. They recognized that Leeds and Burnley were clearly stronger as Championship sides and decided they ‘had to raise the overall level of the squad.’ Roefs is the player who represents that change.”

“Right-back was probably the hardest pick. I’m a huge fan of Timber personally and debated putting him in until the very end. Reece James was great too, but he played a lot of games in central midfield. But every time I watched Daniel Muñoz, he was fantastic. I should add that he was a rock-solid defensive unit up until the last couple of games. He’s got 3 goals and a few assists as well. That’s why I think he’s been fantastic.”

“Marc Guéhi. Honestly, I went back and forth between him and Lacroix. Crystal Palace as a whole have been really impressive. But I went with Guéhi, and he’s chipped in with a few goals too. Saliba missed some games, though he was close to this spot. Gabriel Magalhães missed some too. Even so, looking back at this season, I keep thinking about his goal against Newcastle, his leadership, and how dominant he was defensively. Him being out is a massive loss for the team, and they need him back ASAP.”

“For left-back, I’ve gone with Riccardo Calafiori. When Myles Lewis-Skelly broke through late last season, it looked like Calafiori’s spot was under threat, but he’s been brilliant. That’s why I put him in my Team of the Year last season too. He’s reclaimed his starting spot this season and even scored his first goal at Old Trafford. He’s not just a left-back; he’s a player who gets involved all over the pitch. That’s why he’s in.”

“The formation is a basic 4-2-3-1. For the double pivot, I’ve put Granit Xhaka and Declan Rice. I really debated putting in Moisés Caicedo. But I didn't want to include all three. Rather than having mostly defensive-minded players, I wanted an attacking mid in there. Naturally, I went with Bruno Fernandes. I’ve said before that I think Rice is just slightly ahead of Caicedo.”

“But I feel Xhaka’s influence this season is the biggest effect any single signing or player has had on a team. He seems like a truly vital presence for Sunderland. So I felt I had to put him in the Team of the Year. I’ll probably have to apologize to Chelsea fans again. For these reasons, I couldn't make room for Caicedo. And I just had to include Bruno Fernandes. He doesn't miss many games, but he’s currently out injured. The team will miss him. If you look at his stats, he’s still created the most chances and assists, or is at least right up there. Even playing from a deeper position, he’s the best playmaker in the PL.”

“Erling Haaland is basically a lock. He’s more dominant than anyone. 19 goals in 17 games. You just can’t compare him to any other striker. Didn't he hit or come close to 40 goals in his first season? This season, it looks like he could definitely get close to or even break that record. On the left, I’ve put Morgan Rogers. Comparing Rogers and Antoine Semenyo was interesting. Both are having great seasons. But there weren't that many wingers who immediately jumped to mind.”

“Jeremy Doku was good, and Phil Foden too. But I think Rogers is the most in-form player in the Premier League right now. Semenyo has slowed down a bit in recent weeks, but he’s scored a few since those transfer rumors started. He had a really brilliant start to the season.”

Who are the top three players of the season so far? “Haaland and Rice are the two that immediately come to mind. And I think Rogers is right on their heels. If we were picking a Mid-Season Player of the Year, it would be either Rice or Haaland.”