“I think he was unbelievable” - Gary Neville picks Arsenal star over Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in FC25 Team of the Year

Gary Neville has named Arsenal star William Saliba over Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in his FC25 Team of the Year for 2024. The pundit, while acknowledging it was a close call between the two, felt Saliba was slightly more deserving of the spot.

Saliba showed excellent form for the Gunners last season, helping them concede the least number of goals (29) in the league. The France international played every single minute of Arsenal's Premier League action last term.

Meanwhile, Van Dijk, who was an integral part of Liverpool's success over the years under Jurgen Klopp, continues to play a marquee role for the club. While they finished third, conceding 41 goals last season, the Merseysiders are in pole position to win the league this season and Van Dijk was a stalwart figure in their backline last year.

During an interview on Sky Sports, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were asked to name their combined XI for the FC25 Team of the Year. While they agreed on Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger, the pair clashed on the second center-back spot, with Neville choosing Saliba.

He said:

"I was torn. It was 50/50. I just went for Saliba purely because of the back end of last season. He'll [Carragher] know more about Liverpool than I will, I also watched Van Dijk a lot this season. He's been immense.

"But I think Saliba last year for Arsenal was unbelievable in terms of the back end of last season. I have to say he's still been pretty good [this season]."

Saliba has made 28 appearances across competitions for Arsenal this season, scoring two goals.

Jamie Carragher explains why Liverpool's Van Dijk deserves spot in FC25 TOTY ahead of Arsenal's Saliba

Jamie Carragher believes Virgil van Dijk deserves a spot in the FC25 Team of the Year ahead of Saliba. The pundit hailed the Dutch defender as a great center-back, who elevates the team around him.

Carragher drew attention to Liverpool's Carabao Cup victory during the 2023-24 season that saw Van Dijk score the match-winner in the final against Chelsea.

He said:

"It's Van Dijk, for me. I think of the Carabao Cup final."

Carragher added, claiming that Saliba's partnership with Arsenal teammate Gabriel Magalhaes is what makes him so great, unlike Van Dijk, who plays alongside multiple center-back partners. He opined:

"What I would say about Saliba, I love him, but he's more of a partnership with Gabriel. You always think of the two of them.

"Whereas Van Dijk always has to play with three different partners throughout a season. The great center-backs make other players look like great players, and he makes the player who plays alongside him look like a great player. "