English football pundit Jamie Carragher gave his verdict on who should be in the starting lineup between Phil Foden or Cole Palmer for England

Over the past few years, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer have been the cream of Manchester City’s youth team.

Foden has become a hero for the team where he played as a kid, but Palmer went in a different direction and is now a superstar for Chelsea.

The rise of both players shows how great City’s school is.

This is an interesting question because both Foden and Palmer are attacking midfielders. It will be interesting to see which player England temporary manager Lee Carsley chooses as the number 10 for his team.

In the UEFA Nations League, England will soon play Greece and Finland.

Lee Carsley is likely to choose both Foden and Palmer, unless one of them is found unfit.

Carragher ends the Foden-Palmer debate in England

The English pair might have to go up against each other to see who gets to start for the team.

Bukayo Saka has played well for both Arsenal and England in the past, which could mean that he will always play on the right wing under Lee Carsley or the manager who might be hired as the full-time Three Lions manager.

A lot of the time, players like Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, and Eberechi Eze play on the left side.

But every manager would want to start either Foden or Palmer, if not both.

At the moment, Lee Carsley has the selection problem that his peers would like to have.

On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher first said that he thought Palmer had a better season than Foden last season.

“I wasn’t sure if I should say he was the best player in the Premier League last season.” Even though I thought he was, I chose [Phil] Foden just above him because Chelsea hadn’t had a great season.

“And most people agreed because Foden won, I think, two Player of the Year awards (PFA and Premier League), but I thought he was the best player in the Premier League.”

Jamie Carragher then said that Palmer should start for England instead of Foden.

“I do feel a little sorry for Phil Foden.” When you talk about the national team, he’s never really taken that England spot.

A player has almost taken his place, and they came out of nowhere. At one point, it looked like he would play right wing for England, but then Bukayo Saka came in.

The expert went on: “Then it’s fine, he’s the number 10; Jude Bellingham comes in; and then you think, okay, we’ll get Foden in the team somewhere; Cole Palmer comes along.”

“Now I love Phil Foden so much, but Cole Palmer has to play for England because, as I said, there isn’t been a better player in the Premier League in the last, what, 15 months?”

Phil Foden should use the Cole Palmer example to drive himself.
Foden may find it hard to see Palmer as a straight competitor since he has played with Palmer since they were young, but he should use Carragher’s claim to drive him this season.

Because his England teammate has played so well for Chelsea, it makes sense that he is being hailed as the answer to their problems in the attacking midfield spot.

Palmer was better than Foden at Euro 2024 as well. He helped Ollie Watkins score the game-winning goal against the Netherlands in the semi-final and scored the equalizer against Spain in the final.

The winger for Manchester City should aim to become England’s #1 player by letting his play speak for itself.

Foden hasn’t had a big event yet, so it’s easy for many people to doubt his chances of doing well at the international level.

But the six-time Premier League winner, who is 24 years old, still has a lot of time to do it. He could put his doubters to rest by first having another great season.

It will be interesting to see how the highly regarded technician responds to Carragher’s claim once he is back to play regularly for City.

Foden will be very motivated to have yet another great season because he has won so many times before.