Do you agree with the Soccer Saturday pundit?
Sunday 14 December 2014 11:16, UK
With arch-rivals Manchester United and Liverpool set to lock horns on Super Sunday, skysports.com asked Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas what his combined XI of the two sides would be.
Nicholas has been less than impressed with Liverpool’s defending this season and says that if United weren’t so injury-struck he would have gone with a backline completely composed of Old Trafford players. However, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling both win midfield roles in his line-up.
Check Charlie's team out above – and read his reasons below – and then let us know what YOUR combined Man Utd-Liverpool XI would be using the comment section below.
CHARLIE'S TEAM
“David de Gea is an easy pick in goal. He’s been outstanding this season, unlike Simon Mignolet.
“I am going to have to go with Glen Johnson at right-back due to a lack of options; there really are few alternatives with both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones currently injured for United. I cannot select any Liverpool centre-backs right now, as they just do not deserve to get picked, so I am going with the returning Jonny Evans and Marcos Rojo gets the nod to partner him at the back. Left-back is another hard pick. I would have gone with Luke Shaw, despite the fact that he has not done that great since joining United, but with him now being injured, I will select Liverpool’s Jose Enrique, who I quite like.
“In midfield I am definitely going to have a holding midfielder to sit in front of that back four and, as I’m a big fan of Michael Carrick, he can play there. Ahead of him, Steven Gerrard, who would be a guaranteed selection for me, will play with Raheem Sterling and Ander Herrera – who is playing well – in a three.
“As for the forwards, Wayne Rooney has got to be there and, with Liverpool really struggling up front at the moment, I will go with Robin van Persie to partner him.”
CHARLIE'S ASSESSMENT
"The game on Sunday will be an absolute classic! It will be lacking in quality but it’s guaranteed to be high-tempo, full of tension and I would not be surprised if there was at least one red card.
"But, as bad as Liverpool are defensively at the moment, I still think they will go into this match with a defensive attitude to frustrate United. I think they can do that and get a score draw out of it."
Watch Manchester United v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Sunday from 12.30pm
