Neil Warnock spent more than four decades in football management at a host of clubs - including Leeds United - and during that time, he stepped into the dugout for over 1,500 games and picked over 1,500 starting lineups.
And now, with a live audience tour on the horizon, the former Middlesbrough, Huddersfield and Sheffield United boss had picked a Premier League XI for the Daily Star in which there is no maximum budget - and he’s put Whites midfielder Kalvin Phillips on the bench.
The decision to include the 26-year-old England international on the bench could be seen as one of the more reasonable decisions in a squad that has Dan Burn in the starting lineup, while Ruben Dias, Antonio Rudiger and Joel Matip have missed out entirely. Former Leeds goalkeeper has also been picked to start, with Burnley’s Nick Pope second-choice ahead of Brazilian duo Ederson and Allison.
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Phillips has earned a place in the squad as back-up for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, with two potential future teammates also in midfield in the form of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. Manchester City are intensifying their interest in the Leeds midfielder and are said to be confident that they can tempt the club with an offer of £45-55million.
Newcastle United’s Dan Burn has found himself staring at centre-back as the perfect partner for Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arsenal’s Kieran Trippier will marshall the full-back roles.
Warnock went for a front three of Mohamed Salah, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane - hard to argue with considering the trio managed 63 goals and 29 assists between them in the Premier League last season.
The full squad is below.
Starting-XI: Kasper Schmeichel; Kieran Tierney, Dan Burn, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Declan Rice, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva; Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, Son Heung-min.
Subs: Nick Pope, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Kalvin Philips, Bukayo Saka.
