Jamie Carragher has insisted that Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has to start England’s opening group game against Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Liverpool legend was naming his XI for that opening game next Monday, as he dropped Chelsea’s big-money signing Raheem Sterling, even though he was ‘out of this world’ at Euro 2020.
Alongside the likes of Harry Kane, Callum Wilson, James Maddison and Phil Foden, then there aren’t that many attack-minded England players in-form.
Alongside Chelsea’s troubles, both under Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, it has been a struggle for all, including Sterling, but it’s a different story altogether for Saka across London.
That’s why Carragher has the Premier League table-topper in his XI, alongside Harry Kane and Phil Foden being part of his front three, as he told Sky Sports.
“I love Raheem Sterling,” said Carragher. “He was England’s best player at the Euros. He was out of this world. I just think this season his form hasn’t been great and also in an England shirt of late.
“I think Saka is playing that well in that position. It wasn’t one or the other because I always prefer Raheem on the left, if I am totally honest, it wasn’t Raheem or Saka.
“It was always going to be Saka on that right-hand side, then it came down to Raheem or Phil Foden. I just think the actual ability of Phil Foden, how he is playing since that European championships, mainly for his club, so I thought I would start with him.”
SAKA DESERVES TO START
There is no point in-form players going to the World Cup, if you aren’t going to pick them.
Gareth Southgate has enough players from within his squad that have question marks over their heads. From Harry Maguire to Sterling and Jack Grealish’s form.
Nonetheless, with the two other pieces of Arsenal’s front three – Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli – also at the 2022 World Cup, then this could be a tournament for a number of rising Arsenal stars to shine.
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