Rio Ferdinand names FOUR Liverpool gamers in his Team of the Season as far as Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer make the reduce – and divulges the Arsenal defender who’s ‘unfortunate’ to overlook out

Rio Ferdinand has named his best XI for the first half of the Premier League season.

The 2024-25 campaign has already brought with it a number of compelling narratives as we approach the halfway point.

In their first campaign in nearly a decade without Jurgen Klopp in the dugout, Liverpool have emerged as early title favourites – with Arne Slot‘s side sitting pretty with a six point lead at the top of the table and a game in hand.

In the chasing pack Chelsea appear revitalised under Enzo Maresca, while Arsenal are once again mounting a charge for the title. 

Meanwhile despite yet another strong start, Manchester City have found themselves in the midst of their worst-ever run since Pep Guardiola took the reins.

On Saturday, Ferdinand was joined Jody Morris, Joel Beya, and his former Manchester United team-mate Owen Hargreaves, with the group tasked with reaching a consensus on a team of the season so far.

Gunners goalkeeper David Raya was the first to make the team, despite protestations from Beya that Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher deserved a look after impressing while deputising for the injured Alisson.

The group agreed unanimously when it came to centre-backs, with Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba getting the nod.

Saliba’s Arsenal team-mate Gabriel ultimately missed out, with Ferdinand arguing the Brazilian had been ‘unlucky’ not to find a place in the team.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was joined by Marc Cucurella in the full-back positions, with former Chelsea midfielder Morris insisting Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber was also worthy of consideration.

Moises Caicedo and Ryan Gravenberch earned the midfield spots, with the group opting for a front three playing behind a lone striker.

After a prolific start to the campaign, Mohamed Salah was a shoo in on the right hand side, joined by Cole Palmer in the middle.

A debate then ensued as to who would play on the left, with Bukayo Saka ultimately selected out of position to ensure that he didn’t miss out on a place.

The final piece of the puzzle came in the form of Erling Haaland, who enjoyed a thunderous start to the campaign but has suffered amidst City’s slump in form in recent weeks.

Despite Liverpool having suffered just one competitive defeat under Slot, Ferdinand insisted that Enzo Maresca has had the most impressive managerial campaign thus far.

‘Arne Slot has been amazing, don’t get me wrong,’ he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. 

‘But he’s taken over a very good team, stable team, stable club. The manager said he’s leaving months before he’s leaving, able to prepare, hasn’t gone mad in the transfer in the transfer window in terms of recruitment. 

‘[Slot] comes into a well-oiled machine already, yet stuttering a bit. [He] tweaked a few things, nothing crazy, which is, I think, an art itself, which I give them credit for and they’re flying. 

‘Maresca has come into a circus. We spoke about before back end of last season they were a great bit of form. But nonetheless, kamikazee circus season, right? Everyone going, “where they’re going to be. They could finish 20th, they could finish 10th, they could finish second”. 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, etc, entertaining to watch, the lot.’