Picking a Combined Manchester United vs. Liverpool XI
The two most successful clubs in English football renew hostilities on Sunday as Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Any game between the historical rivals is important to both sets of fans. Liverpool once dominated the domestic landscape, but they have played second fiddle to the Red Devils in more recent times.
However, the clash at the weekend isn't about the past but the future.
Bragging rights are up for grabs, sure. So too are three vital Premier League points—and both sides need them, not just in the quest to keep pace with leaders Chelsea, but in the battle for a top-four berth.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool sit five points clear of Manchester United prior to kick-off, but Jose Mourinho's in-form hosts have won nine on the spin in all competitions.
Neutrals will just be hoping for a better spectacle than the 0-0 draw at Anfield back on October 17, 2016.
Ahead of the game, Bleacher Report has picked out a combined starting XI (in a 4-3-3 formation) from the two squads. We've taken into account recent form but also performances over the entire campaign.
Remember, though, it's all just a matter of opinion. Feel free to share yours via the comment section.
Please note: Only players available to play at the weekend were selected. If someone happens to be a major injury doubt, or is not currently on English soil, they were not considered.
Goalkeeper: David De Gea
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There were a few selection dilemmas when it came to picking each position for this team. Goalkeeper, however, was not one of them.
David De Gea is the obvious choice to start between the sticks.
The Spaniard has kept seven clean sheets in Premier League action, one of which came in the reverse fixture at Anfield. That shutout was secured thanks to a stunning save to deny Philippe Coutinho.
De Gea has won Manchester United's Player of the Year award for the last three seasons. While that is a ringing endorsement of his abilities, it's also an indictment on the rest of the squad.
At least the Red Devils know the identity of their No. 1.
As for Liverpool, Klopp has flip-flopped between Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius so far this season. While the former was first choice for the last league outing, the latter started against Plymouth and Southampton.
Watching them both in action is like riding a rollercoaster—even when things are on the up, you can sense a dip is coming just around the corner.
Right-Back: Antonio Valencia
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The right-back berth had strong candidates from both teams.
Antonio Valencia never quite convinced playing as a winger for Manchester United, yet the Ecuadorian has certainly showed his value since making the switch to full-back.
His current club boss saw the potential for a defensive change long before he arrived at Old Trafford, too.
"I tried to sign Antonio a number of years ago, when I was at [Real] Madrid," Mourinho told MUTV. "Even though he was not playing right-back at the time, I thought he could be phenomenal in that position. As it was, United told me 'no chance!'"
Valencia just edges out Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne, who feels like the footballing version of Ronseal—he does exactly what it says on the tin for a modern-day full-back.
While solid in one-on-one situations defensively, Clyne offers Liverpool a reliable outlet on the right when in possession.
However, his rival's greater attacking instincts—Valencia has stuck in 76 crosses in the Premier League this season—means the Red Devil gets the nod.
Centre-Back: Phil Jones
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Phil Jones' return to the starting XI coincided with the start of Manchester United's excellent run of form.
After overcoming a knee injury, the defender was recalled to the team following the 2-1 loss at Fenerbahce in Europa League action at the start of last November.
The Red Devils have not lost since, with Jones and Marcos Rojo forming a solid central-defensive partnership to anchor the resurgence.
So, what is the key to the England international's good form?
"I think as I’ve got older I’ve become wiser to recovery and realised how important it is," he told United Review last December (h/t James Goldman of Metro). "When I was younger you think you know it all and after games you probably just go for some food or sit on your PlayStation."
No one can ever doubt Jones' commitment to the cause—just look at some of his now-famous facial expressions—but the key to his United future is staying fit.
Speaking of fitness, Rojo would be alongside his colleague in this XI were it not for his own injury issue.
The Argentinian defender picked up a muscular problem in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Reading. Mourinho has told the club's official website he has "doubts" over the player's availability to face Liverpool.
Centre-Back: Joel Matip
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With Rojo doubtful, Eric Bailly away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Chris Smalling playing less than 100 minutes of Premier League football since last November, Joel Matip gets the nod to partner Jones.
Yes, Matip hasn't featured for Liverpool since the 2-2 draw with West Ham United back on December 11, 2016.
However, according to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, the defender, along with captain Jordan Henderson, is back in full training ahead of the trip to Old Trafford.
Klopp may throw the 25-year-old straight into his starting lineup, considering the pairing of Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan feels like the footballing version of the Chuckle Brothers.
Matip impressed before picking up an ankle injury.
What made his performances even sweeter for Liverpool fans is he didn't cost the club a penny, having signed on a Bosman deal from German club Schalke.
Perhaps Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross were right all along: The best things in life are free.
Left-Back: James Milner
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James Milner is so versatile it wouldn't be a surprise if he drove the Liverpool bus to Old Trafford at the weekend—and then took the kit home to wash after the game, too.
Left-back looked a problem position for the Reds at the start of the season.
Alberto Moreno hadn't convinced anyone he could actually defend, leading to speculation of a summer signing to offer competition for the role.
Instead, Klopp solved the problem without spending any money.
"I am not 100 per cent sure what his future holds in this position, but he [Milner] is comfortable and looks particularly assured with the ball. He is football smart and has good instincts and is quick, so he is good," Klopp told Joe Bernstein of the Mail on Sunday.
The switch from midfield was a gamble for sure, but it has paid off in a big way.
According to CIES Football Observatory (h/t Dan Matthews of the Liverpool Echo), the 31-year-old ranks as the joint-second-best full-back in Europe so far this season.
He's also a lucky charm. Per Squawka Football on Twitter, Milner has scored in 45 different Premier League games—and has never lost in any of them.
Midfielder: Jordan Henderson
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For a man Sir Alex Ferguson described in his autobiography as having an odd gait, Henderson's been running the show in midfield.
Here are a few statistics to back up the Liverpool captain's selection in this XI, just in case you need convincing:
- He has made more passes (1,650) than any other player in the Premier League this season.
- He has taken more touches (1,950) than anyone in the English top flight, too.
- He has recorded four assists, despite being used in a deep-lying role for much of the campaign.
- He has an average pass accuracy rate of 87 per cent, according to Squawka.
Pretty impressive numbers, huh?
Henderson's inclusion means Michael Carrick misses out.
However, that the 35-year-old was even a contender to be picked is quite an achievement, considering his Manchester United career looked to be over in the early stages of the season.
Having played just 12 minutes of Premier League football by the end of October, Carrick is now considered a key figure as the team's holding midfielder.
Midfielder: Adam Lallana
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According to Transfermarkt, Adam Lallana managed nine Premier League goals and the same number of assists in his first two seasons with Liverpool.
After 20 games of the current campaign (two of which he missed due to injury), the former Southampton player has found the net seven times and set up his team-mates for another seven goals to boot.
Once seen as a lightweight player unable to last the full 90, he has blossomed into a thoroughbred performer capable of going the distance.
Klopp's arrival at Anfield led to concerns over Lallana's future at Liverpool—now he is an integral part of the German manager's team.
Per Adam Bate of SkySports.com, Lallana ran further than any other Premier League player twice over the busy festive period. So much for concerns over his stamina—he's turned into the Energiser Bunny.
"If Jordan Henderson is staking a claim to rival Wayne Rooney as [England] captain, Adam Lallana is the player [Gareth] Southgate must build his side around. He wants the ball, he keeps the ball, he creates goals and he now scores more frequently. He is becoming the complete package," Chris Bascombe wrote in the Telegraph.
Is he the best English player in the Premier League? You can debate that in the comments section.
Midfielder: Paul Pogba
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Paul Pogba always faced a tough task living up to the £89.25 million fee Manchester United paid Juventus to sign the midfielder last summer.
Like the team as a whole, the Frenchman started the season slowly.
However, after settling back into life at Old Trafford, Pogba's form has markedly picked up. Turns out that even the very best can try too hard to impress.
"He has nothing to demonstrate, he has nothing to show, he just needs to enjoy the game and help the team like he's doing now. So now he's playing like a mature player and you see the results," Zlatan Ibrahimovic told ESPN FC (h/t James Ducker of the Telegraph).
In all competitions, Pogba has scored six goals and provided four assists.
Those numbers could easily be higher; he's hit the woodwork five times, per OptaJean on Twitter. Lady Luck is clearly not a fan of the dab celebration.
He sits second in the Premier League charts for passes (1,398) and through balls (20). He is top for one stat—his 41 fouls is tied for first place with Tottenham Hotspur's Victor Wanyama.
Ander Herrera is really unlucky to miss out on a midfield berth. The Spaniard has found himself a role squeezed in between Carrick and Pogba but ultimately was squeezed out of our final XI.
Right-Sided Forward: Roberto Firmino
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After a fast start to the season, Roberto Firmino's form has tailed off a little of late.
While he has scored six Premier League goals, he's found the net only once in his last nine games. He's also picked up more bookings (one) than he's managed assists (zero) in that same span of fixtures.
However, while the goals have dried up, you are always certain of getting maximum effort from the Brazilian.
His willingness to work for the team's cause is crucial to Klopp's pressing style, with the German demanding his side defend from the front.
"You have to be on the move. I'm not that crazy and I know there are times when you have to stop. I like to relax, of course I do! But when I am inside the pitch, that is it. You have to go on full on from the first minute," Firmino told Dominic King of the Daily Mail.
Manchester United are blessed with options to play out wide—but none of them had a compelling case to be included at Firmino's expense.
Anthony Martial's lack of goals (just two in 12 Premier League games) ruled him out, while both Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford have struggled to nail down a regular starting spot.
And while Henrikh Mkhitaryan has come good of late after a tricky start to his Old Trafford career, he's just not been quite good enough to edge his way into the XI.
Left-Sided Forward: Philippe Coutinho
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There were two positives to take out of Liverpool's performance in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final against Southampton on Wednesday.
The fact they only lost 1-0 was definitely one. The other, meanwhile, was the return to action of Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian was sent on as a second-half substitute at St Mary's Stadium to make his first appearance since suffering ankle ligament damage in the 2-0 league win over Sunderland on November 26, 2016.
The Reds coped admirably in his absence, but his return is timely ahead of a bumper January schedule that will have to be navigated without Sadio Mane, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Coutinho managed five goals and the same number of assists in the Premier League before his injury.
Picked here to play out wide in a front three, he could easily switch positions with the equally versatile Lallana to try to work his magic from the middle of the field instead.
Wherever he plays, Coutinho poses a serious threat to opposing teams.
Centre Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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Whatever Manchester United are paying Ibrahimovic following his arrival on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, he's worth every penny.
Some had their doubts when he rocked up at Old Trafford. At 34, he was past his prime and just looking for one last payday.
And what about the physical demands of playing week in, week out in England? It would be a far tougher test than helping PSG cruise to glory in Ligue 1 like a Tour de France winner down the Champs-Elysees.
But you doubt Zlatan at your peril. The Swede has become the focal point for Manchester United in attack—he's already scored 13 goals in his debut season in the Premier League.
"The older I get, the better I get, like red wine," Ibrahimovic said after scoring twice at West Brom, per Sachin Nakrani of the Guardian.
"You like red wine? I am a perfect example of that. I'm settling in and I feel happy, I feel good. Even if I'm 35, in my mind I’m 20. I think I could play at 50."
Uncharacteristically, he fluffed his lines in front of goal at Anfield, missing a close-range header in the 0-0 draw after being picked out by a superb cross from Pogba.
Liverpool were fortunate on that occasion—they are unlikely to be so lucky again if Ibrahimovic gets a similar opportunity on Sunday.
All statistics used are from the Premier League's official website unless otherwise stated.
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