Jamie Carragher issues response after Aston Villa backlash

In response to criticism for his choice for the team of the season, Jamie Carragher has responded to supporters of Aston Villa.

Following Liverpool’s victory over Newcastle, Carragher and fellow commentator Gary Neville announced their teams of the season thus far on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. With the victory, Liverpool’s team now leads Villa by three points in the Premier League standings.

Despite their second-place position, Villa fans were angered by the non-inclusion of any of their players in either pundits’ teams. The XIs were dominated by players of the traditional ‘big six’ sides, with Jarrod Bowen the only inclusion of a player not from Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, or Chelsea.

Following the backlash, Carragher took to social media to send a message to Villa fans. “The team of the season is a bit of fun so relax,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Not necessarily the players we believe to be the best, but rather those who have succeeded thus far under various conditions. I can appreciate the irritation of Villa fans, but which player did you think was the biggest omission?

Responding to a reply stating that Douglas Luiz should have been included, Carragher wrote: “I was only picking one from Luiz, Rodri or (Declan) Rice.

“I went for Rice because of a couple of late winners which were vital. And joining a new club for a massive fee & playing like he had been there a long time.”

On suggestions that Luiz should have been in ahead of Cole Palmer, due to the Chelsea man playing on the wing, he added: “Palmer has played central quite a lot this season!”

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