YES folks, it’s that time of year where the good football hacks of Post Sport sit down to decide on Merseyside’s team of the season.

And when plenty of readers then contact us wondering what planet we live on.

Similar to last year, there has been much to admire from both Liverpool and Everton with the heavyweight pair now firmly ensconced among the country’s leading clubs.

Rafael Benitez signed a new contract and took on Sir Alex Ferguson, but couldn’t quite knock Manchester United off their Premier League perch.

David Moyes, meanwhile, also penned a new deal while putting one over United in the FA Cup only to have his Guus cooked in the final.

There were fine individual performances over the course of the season, and here is an attempt to mould a team that represents the best of the city from 2008-09.

GOALKEEPER: Merseyside is blessed with two excellent goalkeepers. Tim Howard finally surpassed Neville Southall’s Everton record for the number of clean sheets in a Premier League campaign, but having only just missed out on a fourth successive Golden Gloves award, Pepe Reina gets the nod.

RIGHT-BACK: Tony Hibbert’s unfortunate Wembley experience encapsulated an inconsistent season, while Lars Jacobsen didn’t play enough. Alvaro Arbeloa was much improved but, as the team is well covered in central defence, Jamie Carragher will fill the position.

CENTRE-BACK: Although impressive when called upon, both Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel were injured for chunks of the season while Sami Hyypia was rarely utilised after Christmas. However, from December onwards, the Everton pairing of Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott have been hugely influential in the team’s fifth-placed finish and FA Cup final appearance.

LEFT-BACK: Fabio Aurelio, while eyecatching on the field, spent too much time injured off it, Emiliano Insua has promise while Andrea Dossena can at least claim two famous goals. An easy choice, then, to name Leighton Baines, who has made a first-team place his own at Goodison.

RIGHT MIDFIELD: This has often proven a troublesome position in our joint team. But despite Leon Osman’s worthwhile claims, Liverpool’s Mr Duracell, the likeable Dirk Kuyt, is the obvious choice after his best-ever season for goals.

CENTRE MIDFIELD: A tricky one, this. Xabi Alonso is an absolute cert given his outstanding form for Liverpool this season. Javier Mascherano came strong after Christmas and Lucas Leiva improved, while Phil Neville, Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell all proved their worth at Everton. But for his goals, his performances and his envious mop, Marouane Fellaini is in.

LEFT MIDFIELD: Albert Riera was a little too inconsistent while Ryan Babel disappointed, but there was little doubt the excellent Steven Pienaar would take his place in the team.

STRIKERS: The lack of any consistently fit forwards at Goodison mean Liverpool’s telepathic partnership of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres leads the line, the pair scoring 41 goals between them this campaign.

SUBSTITUTES: Tim Howard, Alvaro Arbeloa, Martin Skrtel, Javier Mascherano, Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun.

LAST SEASON’S MERSEY XI: Pepe Reina; Jamie Carragher, Joseph Yobo, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott; Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Leon Osman; Fernando Torres, Yakubu.