Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has issued a public apology to Chelsea supporters after omitting their star midfielder Moises Caicedo from his Premier League team of the season so far.
The Controversial Midfield Selection
Carragher revealed his selections on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football on December 23, 2025, sparking debate with his midfield choices. Despite Chelsea's strong league position, sitting fourth after 17 matches and above reigning champions Liverpool on goal difference, no Blues player made the cut.
The ex-Liverpool star opted for a midfield pivot of Arsenal's Declan Rice and Sunderland's Granit Xhaka, with Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes in an advanced role. This left no space for Caicedo, whose importance to Enzo Maresca's side has been underscored by Chelsea taking just four points from the three games he missed through suspension.
Carragher's Explanation and Apology
"The other one to put in there was Caicedo, and that was a really tough one," Carragher admitted during the broadcast. He explained his dilemma, stating he felt compelled to include an attacking midfielder like Fernandes and was swayed by the transformative impact of Xhaka at newly-promoted Sunderland.
"I've said I think Declan Rice just has the edge on Caicedo but I just felt the impact of Xhaka this season, for me, is the biggest impact of a signing or effect on a team," Carragher elaborated. His ultimate conclusion led directly to the apology: "So I apologise to Chelsea fans, as I seem to do a lot, but I couldn't find room for Caicedo because of those reasons."
The Full Team of the Season So Far
Carragher's team, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, contained several surprise inclusions beyond Xhaka. Sunderland's goalkeeper Robin Roefs was selected, while no players from Arne Slot's Liverpool were deemed worthy of a place.
The complete line-up is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Robin Roefs (Sunderland)
- Defence: Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
- Midfield: Granit Xhaka (Sunderland), Declan Rice (Arsenal); Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
- Forward: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Carragher justified his wide picks, noting a lack of standout wingers and praising Rogers as "the most in-form player in the Premier League" lately, while acknowledging Semenyo's brilliant early-season form for Bournemouth. He described Haaland, the league's top scorer, as "almost a guarantee" for selection.
The pundit's choices highlight the unpredictable nature of the 2025/26 campaign, with promoted Sunderland earning two spots and traditional 'Big Six' clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool missing out entirely from his personal XI.
