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COMBINED STARTING XIs: Manchester United vs Liverpool – one big name misses out!

By Ollie Slack

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Manchester United host great rivals, Liverpool, this afternoon and with both sides in decent form heading into the match. Therefore, we decided to pick our combined Manchester United-Liverpool best XI. Who makes the cut?

Ali Akbar

De Gea is easily the best goalkeeper in the world, so I doubt any Liverpool fan would object to having him start over Alisson.

Although Young knows how to put in a shift, Alexander-Arnold is a natural right-back and excels in all aspects of the position, so I’d pick him.

Lindelof has been phenomenal under Solskjaer, but since United have no other quality centre-back, Van Dijk would certainly make the team.

Although Shaw is better defensively than Robertson, the latter is better going forward and knows how to put in a deadly cross, so he makes the team.
Although Shaw is better defensively than Robertson, the latter is better going forward and knows how to put in a deadly cross, so he makes the team. /

This may be a bold choice, but I don’t think any of Liverpool’s midfielders would make a combined XI, as United’s midfield three of Pogba, Matic and Herrera is arguably the best in the world right now.

Since United don’t have a natural right winger, Salah easily starts there, and as Liverpool don’t have a solid, traditional number nine, Rashford would start up top.

Mane is no doubt a brilliant winger, but if Martial is fully fit, there aren’t many players in the league better than him on that left wing, so he makes the team as well.

David de Gea

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Victor Lindelof, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson

Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba

Mo Salah, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial

Ollie Slack

Despite Alisson having a very strong first season in the Premier League with Liverpool, there is no questioning David de Gea’s place in the side. He is the world’s best keeper and could potentially be United’s greatest ever too.

A centre-back partnership of Victor Lindelof and Virgil Van Dijk would be a dream pairing. The two complement each other’s game very well and are both strong playing out from the back and starting attacks.

Alexander-Arnold is one of England’s most promising talents and could go on to don the nation’s number two shirt for many years to come. It was also a tight call to decide who features at left-back with both Andy Robertson and Luke Shaw having good seasons. I went for Robertson due to his consistency over the past couple of years.

After his outstanding display versus Chelsea last Monday, Ander Herrera storms into my combined XI. However, he sits at the base of the three-man midfield. The reasoning for this is because I can’t think of an outstanding candidate out of Matic, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, as well as the fact that I had to include Gigi Wijnaldum, Liverpool’s unsung hero.
After his outstanding display versus Chelsea last Monday, Ander Herrera storms into my combined XI. However, he sits at the base of the three-man midfield. The reasoning for this is because I can’t think of an outstanding candidate out of Matic, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, as well as the fact that I had to include Gigi Wijnaldum, Liverpool’s unsung hero. /

Paul Pogba is another no brainer, the furthers forward of the other two midfielders, The Frenchman would love to play with this team due to the pace on offer in attack.

Mo Salah and Marcus Rashford were both easy picks, however, like Ali, had a tricky call to make regarding my left-winger. I opted for Sadio Mane. Yes, Martial has probably got better feet when taking a defender on, but Mane’s movement off the ball is something the United forward has struggled to incorporate into his game.

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The Senegalese international has also been a more consistent Premier League player over the past couple of season, unlike Martial, for various reasons has had peaks and troughs.

David de Gea

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Victor Lindelof, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson

Georginio Wijnaldum, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba

Mo Salah, Marcus Rashford, Sadio Mane

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