Mark Goldbridge: Liverpool and Man City stars outshine Arsenal in my title race XI

Arsenal’s stars have impressed this season, but how many of them manage to make it into Mark Goldbridge’s combined title race XI?

With just six games remaining in what has been a thrilling title race, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City must keep their composure as the season draws to a close.

All three clubs were eliminated from European competition midweek, leaving domestic duties at the top of their end-of-season priorities.

Pep Guardiola’s side lead the way, with the Gunners and Jurgen Klopp’s men two points behind and ready to capitalize on any City mistakes.

All three of this season’s title contenders boast an abundance of talent and talkSPORT’s Goldbridge was faced with the unenviable task of naming his team of the season made up entirely of players from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

City and Liverpool dominate the chosen 11, despite the widely held claim that Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have been the better team during the campaign.

This was despite Goldbridge making a very different selection for the Premier League team of the year – but it was a different challenge, choosing the strongest XI, regardless of current form or injuries.

Starting with the choice of goalkeeper and defense, Goldbridge, a Manchester United fan, opted for a heavy Liverpool back line.

“He’s been injured recently but he’s the best of the three, it would be Alisson from Liverpool in goal for me,” Goldbridge explained. “He’s the best goalkeeper in the world, he has that personality.

“At right back, I want to salute Ben White. I would take him over Kyle Walker. This season he has been incredible, underrated, consistent and much faster than people think.

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“But I would give it to Trent Alexander-Arnold because I like a full-back who can get forward and when he gets forward I don’t think anyone can touch him in the world game.

“Central defenders, it must be (William) Saliba and (Virgil) van Dijk. They are the two most outstanding central defenders in European football, I think, but certainly in the Premier League.

“Left-back is difficult,” he added. “Arsenal, for me, haven’t solved that problem, Man City have a central defender there and Andy Robertson has been absent a lot this season.

“But I would always choose Robertson, he is the most suitable and attacking left-back and, when he is on, I always believe he is one of the best left-backs in world football.”

Goldbridge then turned his attention to midfield and admitted to choosing the best candidate for the starting role rather than his favorite stars.

“I think the player of the year should really be between (Declan) Rice, Rodri and (Alexis) Mac Allister,” Goldbridge said.

“If you look at the roles they played, they scored big goals. They are the engine room, the conductor and (Mohamed) Salah, (Erling) Haaland and (Phil) Foden have had reasonable seasons. But I think this has been the season of the midfield maestro.

“I would have to choose Rodri over Rice and Mac Allister, which hurts me because I actually prefer Rice and Mac Allister. He is the best midfielder in the game.

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“I would go with De Bruyne. he is clearly one of the best players in Europe and just a magician.

“The third midfielder is interesting because you could add a Rice or a Mac Allister, but I would like to have more control and I would actually go with Bernardo Silva.

“I opted for a midfield of three Man City players, which shocks me because they haven’t had their best season, but I think the balance of those three works when they’re at it.”

Goldbridge opted to move two of their front three away from their favored positions to best accommodate them alongside the Premier League’s deadliest marksman.

“I’m going to have to move someone into their unnatural position because of the top three I should be using,” he explained.

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“I would go Salah to the right and move (Bukayo) Saka to the left and Erling Haaland up front, because Arsenal have done well, but do they really have a striker who can compete with Haaland? No.

“I like Darwin Nunez but, with the team I have built, it has to be Haaland. He is the best penalty box attacker in the world.

So that’s it. Liverpool make up the bulk of Goldbridge’s squad in the season’s title race with five players, Manchester City have four and Arsenal have just two representatives.

Do you agree?

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