Man Utd-Liverpool combined XI: The pick of the bunch in the last 10 years

Manchester United’s meetings with Liverpool are one of the highlights of the season regardless of league position.

Both clubs have enjoyed long periods of dominance in English football down the years and there is no love lost whenever these fierce rivals meet.

Ahead of Monday’s showdown at Old Trafford, we have picked our best Man Utd-Liverpool combined XI from the last 10 years.

David De Gea

De Gea was part of the side beaten to the title by Manchester City on goal difference in his debut season before winning the Premier League in his second.

Despite United’s decline since Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the Spaniard has won the club’s Matt Busby player of the year award four times and, now 31, is still a key figure 11 years on from his signature.

De Gea’s longevity, despite questions over his form and distribution in recent seasons and especially at Brentford last weekend, earn him the nod over Alisson in goal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool’s rampaging full-back is integral to the way Jurgen Klopp’s side play and his attacking ability has lit up the Premier League in recent years.

The 23-year-old academy product has racked up a remarkable 45 assists in just 162 appearances, helping the Reds end their 30-year wait for a league title.

United have tried several right-backs, at great expense, since Gary Neville’s retirement but none have come close to matching Alexander-Arnold’s contribution.

Rio Ferdinand

The former England captain scored the winner in Ferguson’s final game at Old Trafford to cap off a season which saw him win his sixth Premier League title.

While Ferdinand, one of the top-flight’s greatest ever defenders, was not at the peak of his powers in his final couple of seasons at the club, he remained an integral presence in helping United wrestle the title back.

Liverpool have struggled to find a consistent centre-back pairing over the last decade, meaning Ferdinand makes the cut.

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool smashed the world transfer record for a defender to bring the Dutch centre-back from Southampton and it was certainly money well spent.

Van Dijk brought composure and quality to Liverpool’s backline and was the PFA Player of the Year as the Reds won the title. An injury the following season massively damaged Klopp’s side’s chances of retaining their crown, but Van Dijk has returned to form and fitness to re-establish himself as one of Europe’s best.

He is the quality of defender that United would dearly love to have.

Andrew Robertson

When Liverpool recruited the Scotland international from Hull, few would have expected the success that would follow.

Full of energy and quality, Robertson has been a crucial figure in Klopp’s tenure in both defence and attack from left-back. He has 45 Premier League assists in a Liverpool shirt and, in tandem with Alexander-Arnold, is a massive part of his side’s threat.

Patrice Evra was one of United’s most successful full-backs and pushed Robertson close, but the Scot gets the nod.

Michael Carrick

Carrick was signed in 2006 ostensibly as a long-term replacement for Roy Keane. He ended his career at Old Trafford 12 years later as one of the best and most decorated midfielders in United’s history.

A calm, composed holding midfielder, Carrick would slot into any side in the world and that quality sees off Jordan Henderson in this combined XI.

Fabinho

Perhaps an underrated cog in the Liverpool machine, the Brazilian is one of the best holding midfielders in the world.

Solid on the ball, a great reader of the game and a brilliant defender, Fabinho boasts all the qualities that have been missing from United’s side over the last 10 years and walks into our Man Utd-Liverpool combined XI.

Georginio Wijnaldum

The Dutch midfielder was one of Klopp’s first big signings, joining in 2016 for £25million from Newcastle.

Another underrated player, Wijnaldum was at the heart of so much of Liverpool’s link between defence and attack and a key figure in Premier League and Champions League success.

Wijnaldum’s long-term contribution gets him in ahead of United’s midfielders, including Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.

Mohamed Salah

Salah has been extraordinary since joining Liverpool, racking up 119 goals since his arrival from Roma.

The Egyptian has won two PFA Player of the Year awards and is the first name on the teamsheet in this combined XI.

Wayne Rooney

While Roberto Firmino has been integral to Liverpool’s attacking trio, it is United’s record goalscorer that gets the number nine shirt here.

Rooney’s partnership with Robin van Persie helped win United’s 20th league title and he went on to become captain and be a key figure under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

With 253 goals for the club, Rooney is impossible to overlook.

Sadio Mane

Another signing from Southampton, Mane proved himself as the best left-sided forward in the Premier League during his time at Liverpool.

The Senegal international hit 120 goals during six seasons with the Reds before joining Bayern Munich this summer.

His consistency and goal return put him clear of Marcus Rashford on the left side of the front three.

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