Picking a Liverpool-Manchester United XI Based on This Season's Form
Manchester United and Liverpool meet on Sunday in a game which could have significant implications for both teams' Champions League ambitions.
Liverpool are currently two points behind United, although their recent form is significantly better than the Red Devils'. That two point gap is enough to earn United the honour of having six players to Liverpool's five in this season-long form-based XI.
There are several players unlucky to miss out who could form the subs bench in this imaginary side. From the United side, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and the much-maligned Chris Smalling were closest to making it in. Carrick misses out to the more attack-minded Ander Herrera, there is no natural role in the side for Fellaini and Smalling misses out on consistency.
Angel Di Maria is also unlucky to miss out, given he has more league assists than any player in either squad, but his recent poor form has seen him excluded.
Liverpool's most notable exclusion is Steven Gerrard. His form has been patchy, and though he remains important to Liverpool, at 34 years old, it seems clear his best years are behind him. He has scored six league goals, but has just one league assist to his name.
The two teams in this fictional XI line up in Brendan Rodgers' 3-4-3—a more consistently effective formation than any Louis van Gaal has managed this season.
David De Gea
1 of 11
The first pick is any easy one. Simon Mignolet's form may have picked up recently, but David De Gea is easily the standout choice for the number one spot.
He has saved United's bacon on countless occasions, executing remarkable reaction save after remarkable reaction save. His all-round game is much improved too, and his performance against Liverpool in December was a masterclass in the importance of positioning and decision-making for a goalkeeper.
De Gea will probably win United's Player of the Year for the second season in a row, seems a lock for Premier League team of the year and is the obvious selection here.
Emre Can
2 of 11
Emre Can has nailed down a spot in Rodgers' side since the move to a back-three. A ball-playing centre-half, an example of his importance to Liverpool can be found in the data from their recent 2-0 victory over Burnley. During that game, Can touched the ball 93 times, second only to Jordan Henderson.
In an all-action performance, he was accurate with 85.5 percent of his 76 passes, made two key passes, two tackles, two interceptions, four clearances, blocked a shot, made three dribbles and had two shots on goal.
Can's consistency exceeds any of United's defenders, and he is a lock for the back-three.
Mamadou Sakho
3 of 11
Mamadou Sakho had missed three months of football before returning to the Liverpool side for their 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup.
That game was the turning point in the Merseysiders' season, and they remain unbeaten in the league since. From December to February, Sakho was an ever-present for Liverpool, and his solid physical presence would suit this formation perfectly.
Marcos Rojo
4 of 11
Marcos Rojo is the only one of United's central defenders to have consistently impressed this season. He is incredibly calm under pressure—occasionally a little too calm when dallying on the ball while pressed by opponents—physically brave, good in possession and eager in the challenge.
He has consistently kept his head when all around him have been losing theirs. United's smash-and-grab victory against Southampton back in December, for example, owed much to Rojo's defensive work as he provided nine clearances, six tackles, seven interceptions and a blocked shot.
He could act as the stopper in this back three, and help with the distribution, thanks to his average successful pass completion percentage of 86.1 percent.
Daley Blind
5 of 11
Daley Blind has had a very good first season for United and edges out Lazar Markovic for the first wing-back slot.
He had an exceptional game at wing-back on Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur, but has also been crucial to United in midfield on more than one occasion. As well as scoring two crucial late equalisers—away to West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United—he has been instrumental in the games in which United have dominated possession—against Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland at home, for example.
His delivery from left-wing-back could be crucial to this side—after all, it was his long pass which found Robin van Persie for his remarkable header during last year's World Cup.
Ashley Young
6 of 11
The other wing-back berth reaches almost-De Gea levels of automatic selection. It is almost unbelievable to be typing these words, but Ashley Young has definitively been one of United's standout performers this season.
His unexpected transition to wing-back began in pre-season, and since then, he has built on the confidence he has gained from decent performances in the more defensive role to become an automatic choice for United as a wide-forward.
After being pilloried by fans of the club during David Moyes' tenure (and before), Young's remarkable turnaround makes him a shoo-in here. His pace will be important on the flanks, and he has shown how well he can link up with wide-forwards and midfielders in recent games, particularly in his link play with Blind and Fellaini against Spurs.
He is averaging more than a key pass per league game, as well as 1.5 tackles, 1.5 clearances and 2.1 interceptions. One goal and one assist may be below expectation, but his all-round performances have been generally excellent.
Ander Herrera
7 of 11
Ander Herrera has been United's best midfielder this season. Three goals and three assists are not spectacular numbers, but he has only started 10 games, overlooked in spite of clamour among fans to see him in the starting XI.
He has been a feature in almost all of United's best performances this season—the home wins over QPR, Hull City and Spurs stand out. His passing is generally accurate (88.4 percent pass completion on average), but more than that, he injects pace into United's play when the ball is in midfield, looking to find the forwards and create an opening.
He is averaging just 0.8 key passes per game, but his 3 assists sees him in joint third place in United's assist table.
Jordan Henderson
8 of 11
Joint top of Liverpool's assist table, with Raheem Sterling, Henderson is enjoying an excellent season in Liverpool's midfield.
He has played a good deal more football than Steven Gerrard, his closest competitor for this berth (2446 minutes to Gerrard's 1799), and has five goals on top of his many assists. Gerrard has six league goals, but just one assist.
As well as averaging 1.6 key passes per league game, Henderson is also crucial defensively, with 2.4 tackles and an interception per game. An easy pick here, and it is easy to wonder if Sir Alex Ferguson made a mistake in passing up the chance to sign Henderson because of his gait.
Philippe Coutinho
9 of 11
As a United fan, it is generally frowned upon to derive too much pleasure from watching Liverpool players.
Philippe Coutinho is a player who makes that difficult. He is a very aesthetically pleasing footballer, whose style adds attacking verve to Liverpool. He has four goals and four assists in the league this season—a decent return—and averages 1.5 key passes per game.
However, it is the 2.7 dribbles per game which make Coutinho so much fun to watch. He so often looks to run with the ball, and with him running from one side and Sterling from the other, Liverpool, and this combined XI, are hard to defend against, and pleasing for a neutral to watch.
Raheem Sterling
10 of 11
Sterling is Liverpool's joint top goalscorer this season, with Gerrard, but has six more league assists than his senior colleague. He is Liverpool's most important creative player, averaging 2.3 key passes and 3.1 dribbles per game.
His importance for his team is highlighted by the fact that, in spite of only turning 20 in December, he has played the fourth-most minutes of league football (behind Martin Skrtel, Henderson and Mignolet). An obvious pick.
Wayne Rooney
11 of 11
At centre-forward, there is really only one reasonable choice. Daniel Sturridge has missed too much of the season with injury, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao have only rarely been at their best and Mario Balotelli and Ricky Lambert have done little to put themselves in the running.
Wayne Rooney being such an obvious choice here is somewhat ironic given how little time he has had at centre-forward this season, but his recent run up-front has been very productive. It is hard to see him being unseated from his forward berth for United before the end of the season, and he certainly belongs up front in this combined XI.
Given his Everton background, he would also probably earn the honour of being the least popular player with Liverpool fans among United's representatives here.
All statistics relate to league games, and are courtesy of WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.
