Manchester United vs Liverpool – Picking a combined team
After our new author JAFL inadvertently sparked off the customary Friday controversy by telling Liverpool fans that they won’t win the Premiership this season, one of the threads talked about “who had the better players” between Manchester United and Liverpool.
As a result of that discussion, here is my pick of a starting 11, a manager and 7 (1 keeper, 2 defenders, 2 midfielders, 2 strikers) bench players for a combined team from the two clubs. I’m a Manchester United fan, but I will do my best to be objective.
Criteria for picking the team:
- We’re going for a 4-4-2 formation.
- We’re picking a team that should do well in the Premiership AND Europe.
- Only current squads will be used.
- The focus is on picking a team that is the best at present. I understand that each club has tremendous potential in young players, but picking Evans as a defender just because he’s got a great future ahead of him means diddly squat. It doesn’t do justice to the players who are performing well today.
Please remember that when you carry out this ‘combination exercise’ between two top teams like Liverpool and Manchester United, the decisions are based on the tiniest of differences as in most cases both players will be very close in terms of ability. So don’t take too much offense and realise that with a slight adjustment the decision can easily go the other way.
Ready? On we go.
Selection
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Starting 11: Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, Gabriel Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha
Bench: Pepe Reina, Brown, Vidic, Sissoko, Scholes, Peter Crouch, Bellamy
Score: Manchester United 12-7 Liverpool
Reasoning
Several tough calls to be made here and I’m sure people will disagree. The ones I think could have gone either way I’ve put in bold.
Ferguson vs Benitez – went for Ferguson’s experience in the Premiership – winning back to back league titles or the Champions League with a famous comeback is not only the realm of Rafa’s teams.
van der Sar vs Reina – calmer, better positioning skills. Reina probably has slightly faster reflexes, but van der Sar’s experience and control of his box compensates for that.
Neville vs Finnan – Experience wins out again. Finnan has improved considerably (and can play RM in a pinch) but my vote’s with Neville, also because of his single-mindedness.
Ferdinand and Carragher – the two best central defenders in the two teams, so no arguments there. Vidic and Hyppia were other candidates, but these two are proven and first choice.
Heinze vs Aurelio vs Riise – One of the toughest choices to make. Aurelio has a lot of talent (although I’ve seen very little of him), Riise has an awesome shot while Heinze is the toughest left-back I’ve ever seen. I guess this is one area where us biased fans cannot decide fairly, so I’m interested in seeing who non-Manchester United and non-Liverpool fans pick as left-back.
Ronaldo vs Pennant – One of the easiest choices to make. Like him or hate him he is one of the most talent youngsters around.
Gerrard and Alonso vs Sissoko, Scholes and Carrick – I went for the established partnership of Alonso and Gerrard. Sissoko is a good hard-man to have but I’d rather keep him on the bench.
Giggs vs Gonzalez vs Kewell – Giggs all the way folks. Pure class, and his ability to switch wings as well as play up front in a pinch speaks volumes for the abilities of the Welsh winger.
Rooney – This guy is a shoe-in, the same way Gerrard is a shoe-in for a midfield slot and Ronaldo is guaranteed a spot on the wing. Many others will disagree, and that’s ok.
Saha vs Crouch – I plumped for Saha because of his on-field relationship with Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs (the four form an awesome attacking quartet for Manchester United – imagine how well Gerrard and Alonso would fit with them). Saha’s injury problems aside, he is an effective goal-scorer although yes, I could have also gone for Peter Crouch here. Bottom line? It was a 50-50 call for me, and with nothing substantial to decide either way I went with the club bias.
Bench – Brown as utility defender (can play across the back four), Vidic as backup central defender, the rest are pretty obvious choices (although it was hard to choose between Kuyt and Bellamy, I went for Bellamy because Bellamy has the pace and the skills are already in the side with Saha and Crouch)
Alternative Team
Made this list considering that we were building a team for the next three years (and for this season only).
Manager: Ferguson
Starting 11: Reina, Brown, Ferdinand, Carragher, Heinze, Ronaldo, Alonso, Gerrard, Aurelio, Rooney, Crouch
Bench: Foster, Vidic, O’Shea, Carrick, Sissoko, Rossi, Bellamy
Score: Manchester United 11-8 Liverpool
Fans’ Choice
Now it’s your turn – let me know your starting 11 and manager pick for a combined Liverpool and Manchester United team, according to the criteria I listed at the beginning. Oh and don’t forget to mention which club you support 
Topics: Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, English Premier League, Liverpool, Manchester United, Rafael Benitez, Steven Gerrard, UEFA Champions League, Wayne Rooney
Football News 24/7
van der Sar, Riise, Carragher, Ferdinand, Heinze, Ronaldo, Gerrard, Sissoko, Giggs, Rooney, Saha
Riise goes forward while Sissoko covers for him, giving Giggs and Gerrard run of the midfield with Ronaldo playing on the wing. Rooney benefits from their passing and runs, while Saha finishes off any rebounds.
October 2nd, 2006 @ 20:41Those choices that you have made are absolute bollocks.
My team,
Manager:Rafael Benitez
First 11: Van Der Sar, Finnan, Carragher, Ferdinand, Riise,
Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Giggs, Rooney, Kuyt.
Bench: Reina, Neville, Carrick, Ronaldo, Crouch
October 2nd, 2006 @ 20:49Reina- Despite shakey start this year still had that incredible run last year, is a penalty specialist and cleans up behind the defence almost like a sweeper
Neville Carragher Ferdinand Riise, no questions here really although Riise for his attacking threat and options down the wing put him above Heinze for me
Ronaldo Gerrard Alonzo Giggs Close call on the left wing with possibilities of Gonzales for Giggs but if we are going with proven current form it has to be Giggs. In 6 months think this may well change however. If we are ignoring injuries, or likelihood of lasting the season, and are just using ability against age I would be tempted to add Kewell to the mix
Rooney Kuyt Rooney has to be a shoe in, but for me I’m more confident picking Kuyt over Saha or Crouch. Strength and game intelligence as well as a phenomenal goal scoring record means he deserves his place
Subs: van der Sar, Hyypia (experience), Finnan (Mr consistency with a very good cross on him), Garcia (to shake things up between the lines), Sissoko (for some muscle in the middle if needed), Crouch (for more options in a tricky away match), Saha (can’t question his goal scoring record this year)
Liverpool 10-8 United
October 2nd, 2006 @ 21:02Liverpool Fan- and its damn hard to not be biased
I’m a Liverpool fan, but agree with much of your selection.
GK – Van der Saar. Reina is clearly just a shot stopper. Van der Saar’s command of the box and all around play is superior.
RB – Finnan. I expect this is one, where your club loyalties have shaded your views. Neville in his prime may have edged it, but Finnan’s performances over the past few years have been exemplary.
CB – Agger & Ferdinand. Our new boy, Daniel Agger is my first choice CB for Liverpool. As much as I think Rio is overrated (horrible concentration), given a choice between him and the others, he pips it.
LB – Heinze. I only base this on his debut season, as he was out for so long. Riise is my first choice for Liverpool, but Heinze is a more complete player defensively and attacking.
RMF – Ronaldo. Utter twat, but a superior player.
CMF – Gerrard & Alonso. No arguments from me.
LMF – Giggs. Difficult choice, here. Giggs is clearly past his best. If Kewell were fit (big if), I might select him. Gonzalez looks very good, but has yet to prove himself.
ST – Rooney & Kuyt. Saha is clearly preferred to Crouch, but I think Kuyt is a more complete player. Some question as to whether Rooney & Kuyt could work effectively together but since this is a what if, who care?
October 2nd, 2006 @ 21:04Team I support: Bayern Munich
My squad of choice:
Keepers: Van De Sar, Kuszack, Dudek
Defenders: Neville,Finnan, Heinze, Aurelio, Ferdinand, Carragher, Brown, Vidic
Midfielders: Sissoko, Gerard, Alonso, Scholes, Carrick,
Wingers: Ronaldo, Giggs, Pennant, Gonzalez
Forwards: Saha, Rooney, Crouch, Bellamy,
Team:
1. Vandesar 2. Neville. 5. Ferdinand 4. Vidic 3. Riise
7. Ronaldo. 6.Sissoko 8. Gerrard. 11. Giggs
9. Saha. 10. Rooney
Bench:
October 2nd, 2006 @ 21:071. Dudek 3. Heinze 8. Alonso. 10. Bellamy 9. Crouch. 11. Gonzalez. 3. Aurelio
Don’t you mean Alternative team? I wouldn’t put Vidic in either side, he’s a yard dog.
October 2nd, 2006 @ 21:14Crappy, how can you justify putting Ronaldo on the bench???
My team
Manager: Ferguson
Starting 11: van Der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Carragher, Heinze, Ronaldo, Alonso, Gerrard, Carrick, Rooney, Saha
Bench: Reina, Vidic, Riise, Aurelio, Sissoko, Kuyt, Bellamy
October 2nd, 2006 @ 21:20I’m a United supporter myself and agree with your entire team except Neville. As much as i think he is the best RB at United, Finnan is much younger, quicker and puts in a hell of a cross. So everything else remaining, its the only player i’d change
October 2nd, 2006 @ 21:37I absolutely and completely agree 100% with all of your selections apart from Alonso (Scholes) and Carragher (Brown).
October 2nd, 2006 @ 21:42This is easy
Manager: A.Ferguson
Gk: Van Der Saar(Just of this year as Reina was the Best keeper in the league last year)
Def: Finnan,Ferdinand,Carragher,Riise
Mid:Ronaldo,Gerrard,Alonso,Giggs
Att: Rooney, Kuyt
Subs: Reina,Brown,Agger,sissoko,Scholes,Saha,Bellamy
October 2nd, 2006 @ 23:18I agree – you can’t leave Ronaldo out of *any* side right now! Though how Skysports managed it in their Team of the Week, I can’t figure out
surprisingly sensible comments so far!
October 3rd, 2006 @ 01:36what’s with the debate about heinze and riise?
riise’s an average defender. he’s poor at tackles. yes he can strike some good ones but ultimately what are we looking for from a defender?
well about heinze, capello wanted him, it’s as simple as that.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 02:25___________van der saar
neville__ferdinand __carragher __heinze
_____________alonso
______gerrard______scholes
ronaldo_________________giggsy
_____________rooney
with a midfield like that, we’ll dominate any team in any competition
subs: reina, vidic, agger, riise, carrick, sissoko, saha, crouch.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 07:19GK: Reina RB: Finnan CB: Carragher CB: Ferdinhand LB: Heinze RM: Ronaldo CM: Gerrard CM: Sissoko LM: Giggs ST: Rooney St: Kuyt
Bench: Kusczak, Agger, Neville, Alonso, Carrick, Saha, Garcia
Manager: Rafa
I went for Sissoko because we need the agrresive midfielder which Alonso is not.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 08:14Pennant is soon gonna be a England starter and will help in Qualifiers for Euro
October 3rd, 2006 @ 08:17Whoever puts Neville instead of Finnan is crazy. Even my Chelsea fan friends say Finnan is best right back in premier league. He has had more experience then neville play for many clubs in each division from conference to premier league which no other player has done. People who say neville is better should crawl out the rock theyve been under for the last 2 years
October 3rd, 2006 @ 08:21One point is that you claim to chose the best team going on current form and while you cannot deny Rooney’s obvious potential you’re missing the fact he is in a bad spell. I would say that you could pick Crouch or Kuyt ahead of him purely because both of them are scoring goals. Rooney maybe a game or two away from turning it round but he hasn’t yet and is therefore not the best player you could pick at present.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 12:53Nevile??? not at all, finnan is the best RB right now,
I belive ur picking a team to play tomorrow, not one which played 2 years ago.
Mean while, I am a chelsea fan.
GK: Vander saar RB: Finnan CB: Carragher CB: Ferdinhand LB: Heinze RM: Ronaldo CM: Gerrard CM: Xabi Alonso LM: Giggs ST: Rooney St: Kuyt
Bench: Kusczak, Agger, Riinse, Sisoko, Saha, Garcia, bellamy
I would realy like to try bellamy in place of rooney,i kept with later bcoz both are having poor season.
In defence, Both ferdinand and carragar has co-existence issues!!, still not much options left.
According to me liverpool wins.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 13:17Van der Sar – Neville, Ferdinand, Carragher, Heinze – Ronaldo, Gerrard, Sissoko, Giggs – Rooney, Saha
Subs: Kuyt, Alonso, Scholes, Reina, Riise, Crouch, Carrick
I’m a United fan and I’m f***in biased but did my best. I can’t separate Neville and Finnan in terms of current form or ability. Reliability: Finnan edges it, experience: Neville superior, I like both of them so I’ve made a tipically biased decision.
As for Rooney’s form: Carragher is not at his commanding best currently but I’d still rather include him than Agger who is a very good defender though.
I chose Sissoko to have a proper ballwinner in the side. Scholes would have won in 2003 but now Gerrard is the obvious choice. Heinze and Riise are both admirable in attack but in terms of defensive duties the Argentine shades it. Van der Sar is better, more experienced, he’s in good form whereas Reina… well he’s not so it was easy.
United have better wingers imho though Gonzalez has time to prove he can live up to the expectations. Kewell’s been desperately unlucky throughout his Liverpool career and Giggs just gets better with age (maybe not but he’s still really good). Saha is in better form than anyone else and Rooney is better than anyone else: that’s why I go for a United strikeforce.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 15:42my team would be reina, finnan, carragher, agger, rise, gerrard, alonso, sissoko, garcia, crouch and kuyt. :~). On a serious note, a message to the editors, how bout one for all those southern fairies. let them pick a combined arsenal/chelski side….??
October 3rd, 2006 @ 16:15My team
Manager: Ferguson, impressive results in premier league over time. Rafa has yet to prove he can cope with the league.
Van der Sar(GK)-Finnan,Agger,Ferdinand,Heinze-Ronaldo,Gerrard,Alonso,Giggs-
October 3rd, 2006 @ 17:34Rooney-Kuyt
Van der Sar
Neville – Ferdinand – Carragher – Heinze
Giggs – Gerrard – Xabi/Sissoko – Ronaldo
Rooney – Saha
I am a neutral, to be honest I don’t think any of these can be even disputed.
Reina isn’t good enough in the air, Riise/Aurelio aren’t good enough in defence, Ronaldo is probably the most certain player on here with Gerrard. Sissoko/Xabi are close, but Sissoko have no attacking ability.
The Finnan/Neville debate: Neville has SUCH influence it’s scary, he hardly puts a foot wrong and he plays a very safe way. Finnan reaks incertainty, his passing is poorer even though he isn’t much behind Neville in the pecking-order. Rooney is a cert of course, Crouch wouldn’t score goals for any other than Pool. Hell, he doesn’t score for you either! Saha will score more goals than Kuyt, easy as that. Ronaldo is hated by many people, but only biased people would NOT put him in the allstar team of the Premiership. In fact, on his day he is the most dangerous winger in the world. He picks up pace faster than anyone else. If you dare name Pennant before him, you just being foolish.
I picked 3 Liverpool-players and United for the rest. Easily because United have much better players. Liverpool mostly have players who work excellent together in a system.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 18:56I also support the idea of a topic about a combined Arsenal/Chelsea team…
October 3rd, 2006 @ 19:47plasticscouser, chelsi/arsenal:
October 3rd, 2006 @ 19:59Entire Chelsea team + Henry (4-5-1)
Did I mention that I don’t like Chelsea?
October 3rd, 2006 @ 20:00Van der Sar
October 3rd, 2006 @ 20:27Neville-Ferdinand-Carragher-Heinze
Ronaldo-Gerrard-Alonso-Giggs
Rooney-Saha
Subs: Reina, Brown, Riise, Sissoko, Scholes, Kuyt, Crouch
Manager: Alex Ferguson
I’m a Man United fan and i make it 10-8 United
Van der Sar over Reina only due to commmand in the air
Neville is better than Finnan although only marginally
Midfield picks itself but may lack a ball winner
Saha is on good form currently so shades Kuyt who may not work with Rooney
Subs, Riise and Brown provide good cover all along the back 4 and Riise can play left wing, sadly Carrick didnt make the grade as i felt the need more for a DM and with the passing talent already on show he wouldnt fit.
Well I’ll jump in my choices are
Manager: Ferguson
Van der Sar
Finnan – Ferdinand – Vidic – Heinze
Gerrard – Xabi – Sissoko – Ronaldo
————–Rooney—————-
————Saha – ——
Reina, Carragher, Brown, Neville, Giggs, Kuyt, Pennant
In any team balance is necessary. Thats why neither Gerrard or Xabi plays as the defensive midfilder hence Sissoko is needed. Xabi’s passing is better than anyone Manchester have and Saha with his speed and being the perfect complement to Rooney who likes to lie deep will relish having perfect passes over the top to him. That being so Gerard has to move to the Wing as he does for Liverpool and England. Ronaldo will move to the left and create even more problems as he drifts either way. The defence picks itself as Vidic is Ferdinand’s best partner apart from Woodgate and Sol Campbell he has never played well with Carragher as a center back so why would we expect him to do so now. So since he gets the nod over Carragher as first choice his first choice partner has to be selected. Anyhow a bench with the versatility of Caragher Brown and Neville means that any injuries in the entire defence can be covered. Van Der sar is the best allround Defender in the Premiership and the primary reason for manchesters position last year he can distribute better is better in the air and covering the box than Reina ever will be.
The rest of the Bench is there again because of versitility Giggs plays on the wing, in the middle or up on top as does Kuyt of course Kuyt plays on either wing as he is two-footed. Pennant plays in the middle or on the flank he pips scholes because he is better at playing on the flank and I like his game.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 20:32Chelsea/Arsenal.
Hmmmm, both teams weak in the fullback position.
Cech
Lauren Terry Gallas A Cole
Makelele
Fabregas Essien Robben
Henry Drogba
Manager: JM, obviously. He’s won the Champions League, after all…
Subs: Lehman, Toure, Ferreira, Ballack, J Cole, Shevchenko, Van Persie
Sorry Lamps!
October 3rd, 2006 @ 20:40The alternative would be Lampard for Robben, with AR on the bench and no room for Ballack.
October 3rd, 2006 @ 20:43Wat about this team Wow
Cech
Eboue,Terry,Ferdinard,Gallas
Gerrard,Essien,Fabragas,Lampard,Ronaldo
Henry.
Sorry Rooney u dont cut it.
Bench: Van der sar Toure,Agger, Alonso,Rosicky,Robben,Rooney,Makelele
October 5th, 2006 @ 14:36reina
finnan
carra
agger
riise
gerrard
alonso
sissoko
kewell
bellamy
kuyt
subs:
dudek
aurelio
hyypia
gonzalez
garcia
pennant
crouch
fowler
October 5th, 2006 @ 18:51liverpool will lose rooney upfront with ranaldo will hit the back of the net with every shot
October 20th, 2006 @ 18:52The ideal team cannot be without Hyypia,GK is van der Saar,Finnan is RB,Rio is with Hyypia,Giggs and Ronaldo must be on the wings,Gerrard and Carrick CMF-s,Saha with Crouch forward.
November 2nd, 2006 @ 03:22steven gerrard i sosport liverpool your team is the best team in world you done really well againt arsenal and againt psv
April 4th, 2007 @ 18:43Vidic is a million miles better than any other prem defender.
June 20th, 2007 @ 03:48How about the best XI in the world? But they must have the capacity to gel. ok heres my team.
Formation 3-5-2 Manager: Arsene Wenger
————————-Cech—————————-
—–Daniel Alves——–Terry———-Ashley Cole——–
——————Essien———Gerrard——————-
—–C.Ronaldo———– KAKA ————Ronaldinho——
————–David Villa ——— Eto ——————-
Bench : Buffron ( GK ) / Gallas (RB/CD/LB) / Gattuso (DM) / Fabregas ( CM ) / Ribery ( CM/Winger) / Drogba ( Phy.striker) / Henry ( a bit doubtful)
August 5th, 2007 @ 05:46GK:Reina
Def:Finnan Carra Agger Riise
Mid:Ronaldo Gerrard Scholes Giggs
For:Torres Rooney
Liverpool 7:4 United
August 31st, 2007 @ 18:20GK:Reina
Def:Neville,Ferdinand,Carragher, Heinze
Mid:Ronaldo,Kaka,Silva
For:Torres, David Villa
February 12th, 2008 @ 08:31Reina
Finnan Ferdinand Agger Evra
Ronaldo Gerrard Masch Giggs
Torres Crouch
February 12th, 2008 @ 12:09No Anderson???
February 13th, 2008 @ 09:05is Anderson attacking mid or defensive because he confuses me
or is he like Lucas he just doesnt have a clue?
February 13th, 2008 @ 12:41It is a bit confusing because (at United), he is an Attacking mid from a Defensive mid position.
February 13th, 2008 @ 15:29In other words, its like having a classy Mascherano (no pun intended)
I think Man you is just the best because they are just winning every match and rooney tries really hard for his team to win!!!!!
February 19th, 2010 @ 19:07Man u have loads of good players such as rooney,carrick,berbatov and etc. Van-der-sar really tries it does not matter about the age!!!!
February 19th, 2010 @ 19:11It is difficult to say that manchester united are the best team in the world! (i hope non of the players or the manager move)
February 19th, 2010 @ 19:13Well i’m just thinking how man u win their matches these days!!! shame on liverpool How come liverpool lose their matches these days. PROBABLY BECAUSE TORRES IS NOT PLAYING!!!!
February 19th, 2010 @ 19:17Van Der Sar
Johnson Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Fletcher
Valencia Carrick Gerrard
Torres Rooney
IMO the best combined team player wise, ideally Gerrard would swap positions with Carrick, but Carick cant operate wide, a younger Scholes would get in it, aswell as Giggs but they cant play in every game anymore, unlike the players in the team i picked
March 17th, 2010 @ 15:15manu are the best
April 11th, 2010 @ 23:24