Lee Sharpe names his Premier League XI and makes surprise title prediction

Lee Sharpe has named his Premier League XI for the new season - and backed Manchester United to win the title.

Speaking exclusively to The Football Historian on behalf of NetBet Football, the former Manchester United and England winger admitted it was a difficult task at this stage of the summer, with so much transfer business still unclear, but eventually settled on a side based largely on the strongest performers from the end of last season.

“What that would be, impossible for me to do, because I don’t even know who signed who at the moment!” Sharpe said.

“I’m behind on the transfer window and who’s got who. I would probably go with the Premier League from the end of last season.”

Lee Sharpe’s Premier League XI

Position	Lee Sharpe’s pick
Goalkeeper	Alisson
Right-back	Nico O’Reilly
Centre-back	Virgil van Dijk
Centre-back	Gabriel
Left-back	Luke Shaw
Midfield	Declan Rice
Midfield	Elliot Anderson
Midfield	Bruno Fernandes
Right wing	Bukayo Saka
Left wing	Anthony Gordon
Striker	Erling Haaland

Sharpe began by naming Alisson in goal, before selecting Virgil van Dijk and Gabriel as his centre-back pairing.

At full-back, he picked Luke Shaw on the left after what he described as a “great season”, while Nico O’Reilly was named on the other side.

In midfield, Sharpe went for Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, with Bruno Fernandes ahead of them.

Out wide, he picked Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, calling them “very England” but also praising their consistency.

Up front, there was no real debate. Erling Haaland gets the shirt.

Michael Carrick gets the manager nod

Asked to choose a manager to go with the team, Sharpe allowed himself a little Manchester United bias.

“I’m going to be a bit biased and say Michael Carrick,” he said.

That is not the most neutral answer in the world, but it is a very Lee Sharpe answer.

A former United player backing another former United player? Football loyalty at its finest.

Sharpe backs Manchester United for the title

The biggest surprise came when Sharpe was asked who he thinks will win the Premier League.

He admitted it was a hugely difficult question, especially with so many major clubs going through change.

“It’s difficult,” he said.

“I’m not sure. It’s so difficult for Arsenal to come back and win it back-to-back, and I’m not sure they’ve strengthened enough at the moment.

“City with a new manager, Liverpool with a new manager, Man United still sort of catching people up, Chelsea new manager, Tottenham new manager. It’s such a difficult one.”

Then came the prediction.

“Do you know what? I’m going to say Man United.”

There you go.

Manchester United to win the Premier League.

Depending on your allegiance, that is either bold, beautiful, deluded, inspirational or the sort of thing that will be screenshotted and brought back in February.

First manager sacked?

Sharpe was also asked who he thinks could be the first Premier League manager to lose his job.

His answer?

“Alonso.”

That one will certainly raise eyebrows.

No long explanation. No 400-word tactical breakdown. Just the name.

Efficient, brutal, and exactly the kind of prediction that makes football social media such a calm and reasonable place.

So there you have it.

Lee Sharpe’s Premier League predictions: Alisson in goal, Van Dijk and Gabriel at the back, Rice and Anderson in midfield, Saka and Gordon out wide, Haaland up front, Michael Carrick as his manager pick - and Manchester United to win the league.

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