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Rio Ferdinand did not name a single player from Manchester United in his Premier League 2024-25 Team of the Season.
Footballer turned pundit Rio Ferdinand (Instagram
Liverpool have been absolutely ruthless so far this season. With just a defeat and 45 points under their belt, Liverpool are leading the Premier League standings. In their last outing, the Merseyside-based side claimed a resounding 5-0 win against West Ham United. With the ongoing campaign reaching its halfway mark, former Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand picked his Premier League 2024-25 Team of the Season. Four of the Liverpool footballers were named by Ferdinand in his Premier League 2024-25 Team of the Season. But not a single player from his former club Manchester United found a mention in this elite set-up. For the goalkeeper’s position, the ex-England defender opted for Arsenal’s David Raya.
In the defensive unit, Rio Ferdinand chose the Liverpool duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, Arsenal’s William Saliba and Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella. In the midfield, Ferdinand picked Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch. Ferdinand named Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in the attacking department.
Rio Ferdinand felt that Mohamed Salah has been in brilliant form so far this season and the Egyptian has been ahead of the others players this time. Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former defender said, as per Metro, “I’d go Salah. I think Palmer and Saka are close seconds.”
In terms of the Premier League managers, Rio Ferdinand was in praise of Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca. While explaining his reasons, Ferdinand said, “My reason why [it’s Maresca]… Arne Slot has been amazing, don’t get me wrong. But he’s taken over a very good team, a stable team, a stable club, the manager says he’s leaving months before he’s leaving. He’s been able to prepare, the club hasn’t gone mad in the transfer window.”
Rio Ferdinand went on to add, “Slot comes into a well-oiled machine already. Yeah, it was stuttering a bit. He’s tweaked a few things, wasn’t crazy which I think is an art in itself and I give him credit for. They’re flying, top of the league. Maresca has come into a circus. At the back-end of last season, they were in great form but, nonetheless, it was a kamikaze, circus season. All over the place, having to deal with saga after saga. He absolutely settles the ship and they’re flying. Most chances created, most shots on goal, most goals, entertaining to watch, the lot.”
Liverpool currently find themselves at the top of the Premier League standings with 45 points from 18 games. The Reds have so far managed to win 14 out of the 18 games they played so far in the Premier League this season. While Arsenal occupy the third position, Chelsea are placed at the fourth spot on the Premier League points table.
