ROY KEANE believes Virgil van Dijk would be the only Liverpool star from their 2019-20 season to break into Manchester United’s treble-winning side.
The former midfielder, now 51, was an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team that won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1998-99.
"Really? Jamie I'm stunned" 😲@Carra23 picks his Man Utd 99' x Liverpool 20' combined XI but Roy Keane is not satisfied – even with a full Manchester United midfield 🔴
More: https://t.co/aXn22Jz0sS pic.twitter.com/2mLDKExqhR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 18, 2020
But despite Liverpool now being one of the biggest forces in the Premier League, he reckons Van Dijk is the single player who could improve that team.
Keane and Jamie Carragher selected their combined XIs on Monday Night Football in February 2020 from Liverpool’s 2019-20 squad and United’s 1998-99 team.
And they certainly had a few differing opinions – but did at least agree on Van Dijk replacing Ronny Johnsen.
Carragher said: “I don’t think it’s a big decision, put Van Dijk in next to [Jaap] Stam. But who’s the best out of those two?”
Keane concurred: “I’m a big fan of Van Dijk. The guy’s a machine, but Jaap was a machine, Jaap was fantastic.
“Van Dijk [is] a touch better on the ball. The two of them together you can’t imagine conceding too many goals.”
Both former Prem stars picked Peter Schmeichel in goal with fellow United heroes Jaap Stam, Denis Irwin, David Beckham, Keane himself – despite by his own admission being a ‘very average player’ – Paul Scholes and Dwight Yorke.
And the pair also opted for Liverpool’s colossus Van Dijk to partner Stam at the heart of the defence.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
DISAGREEMENTS
But it was at right-back and in attack they struggled to agree.
The Irishman opted for former team-mate Ryan Giggs on the left with Andy Cole up top alongside Yorke – Carragher, meanwhile, decided to bring in Mo Salah and now-Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane to form a deadly front three.
Keane was left stunned when Carragher said: “Giggs is not getting in my team. Judging him on the 1999 season, do you know how many goals he scored that season?
“I think Mane is the best left-sided winger in the world. Giggs, one of the best, but I don’t think at any stage he was the best.”
Giggs managed three league goals in the treble-winning campaign and Keane refused to leave the Welshman out.
He added: “Giggs did it year in, year out. Look what Giggsy did in the semi-final [of the FA Cup], tell me another player on this planet that could’ve done what he did against Arsenal.
“The key to me is being a consistent player. I’ve got loyalty towards Giggsy, I don’t know Mane.”
Keane eventually selected Gary Neville at full-back – not just because he gets Salford tickets for him – while Carragher snubbed his Sky Sports colleague, favouring Liverpool sensation Trent Alexander-Arnold instead.
The ex-United man added: “I’d bring Van Dijk in, maybe the right-back, but leave the rest, 4-4-2. If they go on and win the treble this year, we’ll have a different conversation.”
Liverpool didn’t win a historic treble, though they did claim their first top-flight title since 1990.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
