Picking a Combined Liverpool/Everton XI

Tuesday's Merseyside derby could be considered as one of the most important league meetings for years, as Liverpool and Everton face off at Anfield with both desperate for a victory to help their respective challenges for the Champions League.

The old rivals could end up putting on the kind of terrific show we saw back in November, when Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge scored a late equaliser to ensure that a remarkable game at Goodison Park ended 3-3.

But what if the teams were combined? Who would get into the XI, and who would miss out?

Here is a selection that would surely find themselves in the top few places in the table:

Tim Howard

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Had this team been picked earlier in the season then Simon Mignolet, who was superb at Goodison Park in November, would have walked into it.

We're going with the better form and greater experience of Tim Howard though, with the American targeting a first-ever victory over the Reds in an Everton shirt at Anfield when he lines up in front of the Kop on Tuesday night.

When on form, Howard can be a commanding presence and a good organiser of the defence in front of him.

He just sees off Mignolet to claim the No. 1 shirt, but it was a close-run thing.

Seamus Coleman

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Glen Johnson has had injury problems all season, but Seamus Coleman was always likely to win this battle due to his stellar campaign.

The Republic of Ireland international has added an even greater goal threat to his game this season, scoring five Premier League goals as the Blues have stayed in and around the top four places.

Coleman is making a serious run at perhaps being recognised in the PFA's Team of the Year come the end of the season, and so, it is only right that he is included here as our right-back.

Phil Jagielka

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He's gone about it largely quietly, but Everton captain Phil Jagielka has slowly but surely established himself as one of the more consistent central defenders in the Premier League during his time at Goodison Park.

Likely to be a key member of England's World Cup squad, the former Sheffield United man quickly settled into life on Merseyside following his switch from Bramall Lane in 2007, and now, he has to be considered as part of the furniture for the blue half of the city.

He takes his place at centre-back where his calm organisation skills will be crucial.

Daniel Agger

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The Dane, Daniel Agger, gets the nod alongside Jagielka at the back, largely because of the frequently classy displays he often gives for the Reds whenever he's fit.

Sadly, injury problems have affected him almost constantly since a switch from Brondby in early 2006, but whenever he is available, his ability to bring the ball out of defence and his goal threat make him a top-class defender.

As captain of the Danish national side and Liverpool's vice skipper, his leadership qualities will come in handy too, and so, he is preferred to the likes of Sylvain Distin, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho, although the latter is a promising player.

Leighton Baines

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Easily one of the obvious choices for the team, Leighton Baines shines in an area of the pitch in which Liverpool have continually had problems.

Having resisted a move to Manchester United in the summer, via Paul Joyce of The Express, the left-back remains one of the key figures and icons in the Everton side, with his terrific attacking abilities combining with his strong defending to make a perfect modern full-back.

His displays this season have made him the favourite for England's left-back slot in the summer, and he is a shoo-in for this team.

Lucas Leiva

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Although we've picked a strong defence, it'll still need protecting, and there a few better at doing that job in the Premier League than Liverpool's Brazilian international Lucas Leiva.

Injury problems have dogged him for the past few seasons, but when he's fit, he is an important performer for his side. He is now recognised as one of the key men in the squad following a difficult first couple of seasons on Merseyside.

If the mark of a good player is that you notice how much their team misses them when they aren't there, then Lucas is clearly a very good player.

Steven Gerrard

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Perhaps this will be considered controversial, but we've gone for the admittedly ageing legs of Steven Gerrard above the younger influences of Jordan Henderson and James McCarthy.

The Liverpool captain might not be the world-class performer he once was, but he remains a titanic influence and a player whose mere presence could often intimidate opponents.

Added to that, his delivery from set pieces is still up there with any player in the Premier League, and with so much Merseyside derby experience under his belt, he would be a player who could easily motivate his team.

Ross Barkley

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One of the reasons for picking Gerrard is also because of the man we've chosen to play alongside him in midfield.

Ross Barkley's game has drawn comparisons with the England captain's during what is his breakthrough campaign in the first team, whilst he's also picked up three England caps and is set to be included in England's World Cup squad.

The youngster would appear to have the world at his feet, and although English football has been guilty of over-hyping young players in the past, perhaps this one can live up to it.

Kevin Mirallas

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The Belgian has become a key player for the Blues during his year-and-a-half in English football, developing both a ruthless streak and an ability to score fine goals.

Able to cut inside from both flanks, the former Olympiakos man has scored four times in the Premier League this season, as per WhoScored, including once in the 3-3 draw with Liverpool in November (when he also should have been sent off), and there is a strong argument that he should really be getting more goals.

In this team, with the chances they'd create and the fine players around him, he'd certainly get his fair share of strikes.

Luis Suarez

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The first name on the teamsheet? Absolutely.

Luis Suarez will be earning a spot in all sorts of Premier League select XIs come the end of the season, and he takes his place in this lineup as clearly the key man.

One of the finest footballers anywhere on the planet right now, the Uruguayan has been in remarkably clinical form throughout this season, scoring 22 goals, including a fine free-kick against Everton in November, as per WhoScored.

No one would leave him out.

Daniel Sturridge

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Suarez's strike partner gets the final spot in the team due to his added goal threat when compared to Everton's Romelu Lukaku.

Daniel Sturridge scored his 14th goal of the season in Liverpool's 2-0 FA Cup victory at Bournemouth at the weekend, as per Transfermarkt, his third goal in three games since returning from injury as a substitute in the recent game at Stoke.

He has really matured into a top-class forward during his year at Liverpool, and he only looks set to get better and better during a World Cup year in which he could lead England's line in the summer.