JAMIE CARRAGHER has picked his Liverpool and Manchester United combined XI – with just THREE Red Devils stars making the cut.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad head to Anfield on Sunday for a monumental, top-of-the-table showdown with the reigning champions.
Jamie Carragher’s Liverpool-Man Utd combined XI features just three Red Devils stars
Despite sitting three points clear of the Reds in first place, Carragher reckons just THREE United stars would make a combined XI of the North-West giants.
Starting at the back, just one United defender makes the back-four and goalkeeper.
Harry Maguire joins Fabinho in the heart of defence, with Alisson in goal behind Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson in the full-back slots.
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Explaining his logic, Carragher told Sky Sports: “Liverpool at this moment have the edge on Manchester United, so they would always dominate these teams.
“A few years ago, David De Gea would have been straight in, but that is the role of Alisson right now.
“The big decision for me was at centre-back, Harry Maguire has a really tough time at the start of the season.
“But I have really admired the way he’s come out of that with the performances he has shown. That’s a testament to his mentality.
“Fabinho is not a centre-back, so United supporters may argue for Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly.
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Carragher named EIGHT Liverpool stars in his combined XICredit: Reuters
“But Fabinho has been Liverpool’s best player this season at centre-back. He’s looked like a centre-back, so there is no doubt there.”
Further up the pitch, ex-Reds defender Carragher opted for Thiago and Jordan Henderson in the two deeper midfield slots.
The Liverpool duo beat the likes of Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic and Fred from United, as well as Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the Reds.
Bruno Fernandes starts in his favoured No10 position, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane joined by Marcus Rashford in attack.
Carra continued: “Bruno Fernandes is a shoo-in; he’s been one of the stars of the Premier League this season.
“I also had to have Marcus Rashford in the team.
“Was I going to leave Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane out? No, they are two of the first picks in there.
“I love Roberto Firmino, but I am a huge admirer of Rashford and had to find a position for him, and those three are the best attacking players at both clubs.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
