Just one Liverpool player makes Ian Wright’s Prem Team of Season so far

Andy Robertson TEAMtalk

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has revealed his team of the season so far, with Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin among a few surprise choices.

It is that time of the year when pundits name their top XI from the first period of the campaign. There is often quite a lot of consensus, with the usual suspects making it onto the sheet.

Wright has bucked that trend to a certain extent, with none of Liverpool’s fabled front three making the cut.

Calvert-Lewin has enjoyed a breakout season, with 14 goals from 16 appearances in all competitions. Contrast that with 2019-2020, in which he bagged 15 from 41 outings during the truncated campaign.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin TEAMtalk

And it is that aspect of the 23-year-old’s game that has earned him a place on Wright’s roll of honour. He joins Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Heung-min Son in a front three.

The former Gunner had nothing but praise for Calvert-Lewin, who, he feels, has taken his game to another level.

“If we’re going to talk about these three, then the emergence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has to be up there, has to be lauded,” he 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.”

Wrighty sticks to his guns

Champions Liverpool sit at the top of the standings heading into Christmas. They have not been as dominant as last season but are still four points clear.

West Ham and Southampton have been the surprise teams of 2020-2021 to date. They sit 10th and seventh respectively and are pushing for a European place.

Wright gave special mention to the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals, Danny Ings, James Ward-Prowse and Jannik Vestergaard.

And, after declaring himself “happy” with his selections, mentioned a few notable omissions.

“You’ve got Sadio Mane and [Mohamed] Salah and Georgino Wijnaldum who have been playing brilliantly, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, even [Bukayo] Saka,” he added.

“But for me that team, those guys have really made an impression on their teams this season.”

Wright’s Team of the Season so far: 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

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