Manchester United vs Liverpool - A combined XI

With just 10 games to go in the current campaign, both Manchester United and Liverpool come into Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford with differing ambitions. Whilst the Reds are flying high in second place, competing for the title, United find themselves nine points behind fourth-placed Man City, having played two more games. With the chances of United finishing in the top-four becoming slimmer with every passing weekend, United will be hoping that victory over the old rivals will mark the start of a strong end to the campaign.

Both clubs have had plenty of players put in commendable performances over the course of the current campaign. So, who would get into a combined XI of both teams? That very question will be answered over the course of this article as a team of 11 players and 7 substitutes have been chosen, considering their form and availability.

This is how the team would look in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Goalkeeper

David De Gea

Whilst Liverpool might have the best attack in the League, defensively they have looked far from resolute, having kept only eight clean sheets all season. And although the Red Devils haven’t looked great going forward, David De Gea has been a rock in goal. The Spanish shot stopper has kept 10 clean sheets this season and more importantly, is on a run of three-successive clean sheets going into Sunday’s clash. The Spaniard has also conceded four fewer goals than his counterpart Simon Mignolet and has come good whenever he has been called into action. Although there is not much in it, thanks to his superior stats, De Gea gets the nod in goal.

Defenders

Rafael – Phil Jones – Martin Skrtel – Patrice Evra

Unlike the goalkeepers, the defense is fairly straight-forward and three United players make it to the starting line-up. At right back, it is Rafael who gets the nod over Flanagan, but only just. Although the Brazilian has been out for a while through injury, he has certainly established himself as first-choice and United have struggled to cope with his absence. His tenacious tackling, coupled with his adventurous style of play make him one of the finest right backs right now.

In the center of defense, Phil Jones and Martin Skrtel form a combative and enterprising threat. Both defenders are adept at the art of not just defending, but scoring as well. Although Jones hasn’t played at center half too often this season, the imminent departure of Vidic has meant that he will finally get a run of games in his preferred position.

At left back, it is the Frenchman Patrice Evra, who has silenced his critics on numerous occasions this season and established himself as the side’s premier defender. His attacking exploits are well known and he already has a goal and three assists to show for his forays forward.

Central Midfield

Steven Gerrard – Michael Carrick – Jordan Henderson

Arguably the easiest of the selections, the three players who’ll be occupying the central midfield positions have been on their A-game right throughout the season. Whilst Gerrard has demonstrated that he can hold his own as a holding player, Carrick continues to show England just what they are missing out on. With a pass completion rate of 88.1% in the League, it is no wonder why the players rate Carrick so highly. And it is not just his pass completion rates, but the fact that he initiates most attacks as a quarter back that makes him standout in an area where United have struggled this season.

Alongside Carrick are two players who have showed everyone just how important they are to the Reds lineup. Gerrard is undoubtedly one of the finest box-to-box midfielders in recent times. But this season, he has had to reinvent himself in a deeper role. A role which many thought he couldn’t do, but one that he is accomplishing with great élan. Eight goals and nine assists show that even in a withdrawn role, Gerrard is the player who makes the Reds tick.

Alongside him is a player who has started all of Liverpool’s league games this season and has slowly but surely started to repay the faith put in by his manager. At the start of the campaign, not many would have predicted the Englishman to be in or around the England setup this close to the World Cup. But, three goals, six assists and a pass completion rate in the high 80’s mean that Henderson probably deserves his place in Brazil, if he is chosen.

Attacking Midfield

Wayne Rooney

Currently the highest-paid player in England by virtue of his lucrative new contract, Wayne Rooney has thus far shown that he is worth every penny he is set to earn. Although he missed quite a few games due to injury, the Englishman has still managed to rack up some impressive numbers. With 11 goals and 10 assists in 21 League starts, Rooney is arguably the most complete forward in the League at the moment. He has been the creator-in-chief for most of United’s goals and has shown that his transfer request is a thing of the past.

Strikers

Luis Suarez – Daniel Sturridge

Sturridge and Suarez, or SAS, as they have come to be called are the most lethal strike partnership in the League this season. The duo have between them scored 42 goals this campaign, four fewer than what the entire Manchester United squad have managed. Add to this, their 15 assists and you have the most complete strike partnership anywhere in Europe. And whilst Robin van Persie started brightly, the Dutchman has been overshadowed by the duo who have terrorized opposing defenders all season.

While Suarez is on track to finish with the record for most League goals in a single season, it is Sturridge, whose form, has surprised one and all. The Englishman had scored in eight-successive games before failing to find the back of the net against Southampton. He has scored 10 goals in his last nine League games and has taken over the mantle of scoring, with Suarez having netted only twice in his last seven matches. And although Suarez hasn’t been in scintillating goal scoring form recently, he has stilled managed five assists and two Man of the Match performances in his last seven League games.

Substitutes

Simon Mignolet, Nemanja Vidic, Jon Flanagan, Raheem Sterling, Adnan Januzaj, Juan Mata, Robin van Persie.