07 March 2024 , 02:00
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Jeff Stelling has admitted he is expecting to get "a battering" from Liverpool fans after picking Bukayo Saka over Mohamed Salah in a combined XI.
The talkSPORT presenter was tasked with selecting a Premier League title race XI made up of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal players, but he and Ally McCoist disagreed over who should line up on the right.
McCoist opted for Salah, who has made 24 goal contributions in 21 league games for top of the table Liverpool. However, Stelling picked Saka, who has scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in 26 games for the Gunners.
"How you possibly aren't playing Salah is remarkable! I'm playing Salah on the right, (Erling) Haaland through the middle and (Phil) Foden, in current form, he might be the best player in the country," McCoist said.
However, Stelling explained it was the "exuberance of youth" that prompted him to pick Saka over Salah.
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"Haaland and Foden go without saying. I've gone with Saka rather than Salah, I just think Saka has been sensational," he responded. "Look, the stats, there isn't much to pick between them. I've gone for the exuberance of youth. Saka has got age on his side and that's why I've gone for him above Salah.
"But I accept I'm going to get a battering from Liverpool fans." There were only three other positions that Stelling and McCoist disagreed on, having both picked a midfield trio of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Declan Rice.
Stelling picked Arsenal star Bukayo Saka over Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)They also both opted for Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson in defence. However, Stelling picked Arsenal's William Saliba to partner Van Dijk, while McCoist opted for Manchester City's Ruben Dias.
The pair also disagreed over the right-back position, with Stelling selecting Trent Alexander-Arnold and McCoist picking Kyle Walker. City's Ederson, meanwhile, was Stelling's pick in goal while McCoist opted for Liverpool star Alisson.
Stelling XI: Ederson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Saliba, Robertson; Rodri, De Bruyne, Rice; Saka, Haaland, Foden.
McCoist XI: Alisson, Walker, Van Dijk, Dias, Robertson; Rodri, De Bruyne, Rice; Salah, Haaland, Foden.
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