Manchester United vs Liverpool: Combined XI | Premier League 2021-22

Central Midfielder: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

Paul Pogba had a good start to the season, but has struggled in recent games.

For the central midfield role in our hypothetical combined XI, Manchester United's Paul Pogba gets the nod. That is because of his ability to move the ball quickly through the middle of the park. Pogba has also taken on a more defensive role with France, which should help him in club football as well.

His ball distribution has taken a hit as the season has progressed; Pogba has completed only 86% of his passes so far. There might be a host of midfielders available for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to choose from for this game. But at the moment, there is no player in better form than the Frenchman to start in central midfield against Liverpool on Sunday.

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Attacking Midfielder: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Bruno Fernandes has been a creative force for Manchester United.

Bruno Fernandes has earned his place in this hypothetical combined XI, as he has been in great touch since joining Manchester United. This season, he has scored a club-high four league goals, and has also bagged two assists.

With a whopping four key passes per 90, Fernandes is a creative force in midfield, helping create a lot of chances for United. He has a wide array of passes in his arsenal. Fernandes can pick out teammates with short and direct passes, and can also find attacking colleagues by making runs into the box and whipping in lobbed long balls.

The pressure of being the most creative and reliable player for a club like Manchester United can take a toll, But Fernandes has delivered consistently thus far. In this game against Liverpool, the Portuguese will look to remove his tag of being an underperformer against the top six clubs in the league.

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Attacking Midfielder: Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)

Mason Greenwood has been Manchester United's biggest threat in the final third.

Manchester United's academy has produced some real talents over the years, with the likes of Marcus Rashford making a name for themselves on the big stage. The latest player in that regard is United's 20-year-old sensation Mason Greenwood.

The player's impressive displays have earned him a nomination for the Kopa trophy this year. With Solskjaer handing him more and more starts, Greenwood is only expected to improve as the season progresses.

Thanks to his eye for goal and confidence, Greenwood is a player Liverpool will need to keep an eye on.