Liverpool legend Carragher picks Son Heung-min for top 11

Son Heung-min [AP/YONHAP]

Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min was commended for his all-round performance this season by top pundit and former Liverpool and England star Jamie Carragher on Monday.

Carragher, along with commentator and former Manchester United and England player Gary Neville, on Monday named their top lineup of players from the 2020-21 season on Sky Sports' "Monday Night Football," a tradition on the show for the final episode of the season.

Neville and Carragher agreed on a number of players — both choosing Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Manchester United's Luke Shaw in defense, City's Kevin De Bruyne and United's Bruno Fernandes in midfield, and City's Phil Foden and Spurs' Harry Kane up front — but disagreed on the other five players.

Among the contested players, Carragher chose to add Son to his forwards, while Neville went for Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. Neither chose Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who trails Kane as the Premier League's second-highest goal scorer this season.

"Up top, I went for Son," Carragher said. "I know Mohamed Salah is top scorer, but in terms of goals and assists, Son has more. Next to Son I've gone with Harry Kane, both of their numbers are brilliant considering they've played most of the season in a team which is defensive."

Carragher, who played his entire career with Liverpool, faced some criticism from fans for not choosing his old club's star player Salah. Undeterred, the former England defender defended his decision on Twitter, pointing out that Son has been a better all-round player and his goal stats aren't inflated by a number of shots from the spot.

""I looked at this [statistics sheet] & Son just edged Salah," he said. "Salah has also scored six pens [and] Son one. Relax!"

Son and Spurs have three games left this season — against Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 16, Aston Villa on May 19 and Leicester City on May 23 — but have likely already missed out on a top-four finish and a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]