As Manchester United and Liverpool clash at Old Trafford on Saturday, we take a look at who would make the team in a combined XI from the two biggest teams in English football.
It may just be a battle for second place with Manchester City racing off in the distance, but there doesn’t need to be any added incentives when these two old rivals get together.
Just two points separate them in the table, and it’s hard to split them in this game - United are slightly favoured at 13/8 with Sky Bet while Liverpool are 7/4 and the draw is 12/5.
But who would get in the team if you could pick from both squads?
Here’s our combined XI – tweet us your thoughts & suggestions @SportingLife.
Man Utd v Liverpool XI Formation: 4-3-3
David De Gea
Do we really need an explanation here? De Gea would get the nod for most combined XIs as he’s probably the best goalkeeper in the world right now – and in a match-up with Liverpool’s options there’s no comparison.
He makes all the saves you’d expect a top keeper to make and along with his great agility he looks almost unbeatable at times - in one-on-one situations he has lightning-quick reflexes with both hands and feet.
Clean sheet? Man Utd 5/2 Liverpool 5/2
Antonio Valencia
Come next season and Trent Alexander-Arnold may get the nod, but he’s still a work in progress while Valencia has proved time and time again to be a reliable fixture both at the back and going forward.
The former Wigan winger has transitioned into a superb full-back – you don’t see many players beat him for either speed or strength and going forward he has the winger’s instinct and terrific quality on the ball.
Eric Bailly
He’s not played as much as United fans would have liked having spent three months out injured from November, and only running out 12 times this season, but he’s clearly the best option when fit and firing.
United have kept eight clean sheets in the 12 games he’s appeared in, and he’s certainly got more pace, strength and presence than any other option at Mourinho’s disposal.
Win to nil - Man Utd 4/1 Liverpool 4/1
Virgil Van Dijk
A £75 million defender should be getting in any team really, and while Van Dijk isn’t at that level as yet he’s still given Liverpool more of a solid look at the back and looks to be growing into the defensive leader they so desperately needed.
Scoring the winner against Everton wasn’t a bad way to start, and although defeats to West Brom and Swansea followed, the trip to former club Southampton looked a turning point. Streets ahead of Matip and Lovren in terms of being calm under pressure, his distribution is also a factor.
Andrew Robertson
Not getting a game behind Alberto Moreno would be a low point for any footballer, but the Scotland international did well to grow into his move to Anfield this season and, of late, has been a real star down the left.
Given how narrow Liverpool’s front three, and midfield, can get, full-back is one of their most important positions and the timing of Robertson’s runs has improved along with his delivery. Ashley Young is United’s best option but preference here is for a specialist left back.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
There are so many midfield options in both squads but no real huge standouts this season, and in this 4-3-3 formation the Ox has been as good as any in recent games with his combination of defensive graft and attacking guile.
Klopp has eased him in slowly, but in this formation he has the perfect combination of skills – while his dribbling ability stepping out of midfield is the kind of game-breaking talent that can decide big games.
Oxlade-Chamberlain to score & Liverpool win 9/1
Nemanja Matic
The true holding midfield option in either side. Emre Can has been playing superbly as his contract winds down at Liverpool but in this role Matic offers the best defensive shield to protect the centre backs.
How Chelsea let Matic join United is one of the great transfer mysteries as he’s been one of Mourinho’s best players and almost the first outfield name on the team sheet. Adding a late winner at Crystal Palace was the icing on the cake.
Paul Pogba
The big-money midfielder has been attracting criticism left, right and centre of late, some of it justified, some of it not, but one thing you can’t deny is that he has the talent to be among the best in the world.
True, the Frenchman has not been at his best, but that could be because he’s been shackled somewhat by Mourinho’s tactics, but if he’s let off the leash then he can go and help win games. It’d be foolish to write him off just yet.
Paul Pogba to score & Man Utd to win 13/2
Mohamed Salah
We’re running out of superlatives for the ‘Egyptian King’ after one of the best debut seasons in Premier League history that has seen him tie Harry Kane for top scorer with 24 goals – coming from predominantly a winger!
Overall he’s netted 32 goals in 36 starts and at times has looked unstoppable cutting in off the right flank. He’s deceptively strong on the ball and his pace and close control, especially in and around the box, make him a nightmare for defenders – he’s looking like one of the best bargains of all time.
Mo Salah first goalscorer - 4/1
Roberto Firmino
Long given the ‘most underrated player’ tag, Firmino is very much rated these days having excelled since grabbing the number nine shirt and playing up front in Liverpool's three-pronged attack.
He leads the Reds’ pressing game from the front, never giving defenders a moment’s peace on the ball, but also has skill and trickery to go with an increasing eye for goal rapidly turning him into a complete centre forward package.
Roberto Firmino first goalscorer 11/2
Alexis Sanchez
He’s still not perhaps reached his peak Arsenal form in a United shirt, but it seems just a matter of time for Sanchez, who is one of those player who’s always alive and sniffing out any opportunity to get forward.
Like Firmino, he runs all day chasing down defenders, but he’s also got great skill on the ball, can pick out a killer pass and can finish superbly well – he’s alsmo made for this 4-3-3- formation coming in off the left.
Alexis Sanchez to score in 90 minutes 2/1
Manager - Jurgen Klopp
A coin toss depending on what you like to watch. Mourinho obviously has the silverware and knows what it takes to win big trophies, but he's still not getting wholehearted support from the Old Trafford faithful due to the style of play being served up - especially in the big games.
By contrast, Klopp has fans purring at his attacking philosophy and although he needs to win a trophy sometime soon, he's still got plenty of credit in the bank.
Manchester United are 5/6 to finish best of the Premier League without Man City, Liverpool are 13/8
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