IT’S ONE OF football’s great rivalries and Manchester United and Liverpool will renew hosilities when they meet at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
Both Louis van Gaal and Brendan Rodgers spent large sums of money during the summer in a bid to bolster their squads but who currently has the better side?
We’ve decided to pick a combined XI ahead of this weekend’s eagerly anticipated clash.
Goalkeeper:
David de Gea (Man United) – After a drawn out transfer saga, the Spaniard looks set to return to action on Saturday. Louis van Gaal opted to leave him out of the squad during the window but now that he remains at Old Trafford, the United boss will want to avail of his services.
He gets the nod here over Sergio Romero, Simon Mignolet and Adam Bodgan.
Defence:
Matteo Darmian (Man United) - The Italian has been arguably United’s best buy and was this week named the club’s player of the month for August. Defensively sound, Darmian has added steel to United’s back line and isn’t bad going forward either.
Difficult to leave Nathaniel Clyne out but Darmian just edges it.
Chris Smalling (Man United) - Smalling has enjoyed a terrific start to the season and appears to have become van Gaal’s first choice. In contrast, Dejan Lovren is lacking all confidence and continues to be guilty of making mistakes.
Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) - The best option of a bad lot? Nobody else really stands out and the Slovakian has been solid this term.
Luke Shaw (Man United) - Joe Gomez has showed promise but Shaw looks to have a renewed sense of purpose after a frustrating first season in Manchester. He’s looked far more solid at one end and has always offered a threat at the other.
Midfield
Juan Mata (Man United) – The Spaniard has established himself under van Gaal and has started every match this season – scoring once. Doesn’t possess the pace you’d often associate with conventional wingers but he’s as creative as any other player in the league.
Roberto Firmino has yet to prove he’s worth £29 million and because of his inexperience at this level, Mata is included at his expense.
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) - Difficult to leave a World Cup winner on the bench but this is a combined XI and Henderson, as the Reds’ captain and talisman, merits a place in midfield.
Morgan Schneiderlin (Man United) – Schweinsteiger’s arrival may have stolen the headlines but Schneiderlin has made an impressive start to his United career. James Milner is forced to settle for a place on the bench.
Memphis Depay (Man United) - With Philippe Coutinho suspended for this game, there’s no debate needed here. Depay is already showing signs of why he’s regarded as one of Europe’s most promising prospects and he offers United a genuine attacking threat down the left.
Forwards
Wayne Rooney (Man United) - Both managers like to play just one up top but for the purpose of this team, we’ve gone with two. England’s new leading goalscorer leads the line, although he still has to score in four Premier League outings.
Christian Benteke (Liverpool) - Benteke has scored just once for the Reds but he’s made a positive impact and he can certainly cause United’s defence plenty of headaches on Saturday.
United-Liverpool XI: De Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Skrtel, Shaw; Mata, Henderson, Schneiderlin, Depay; Rooney, Benteke.
