Revealed: The ultimate combined Liverpool and Manchester City XI

While they may not be the top two following Chelsea’s trip to Southampton, Liverpool and Manchester City remain the favourites to battle it out for the Premier League title this season. This afternoon’s clash at Anfield will be the best indicator yet as to whether the Reds have the ability to dethrone last season’s dominant champions.

The players on show for either side would undoubtedly combine to make a fearsome XI, but which players would make that team? We’ve compiled the strongest side possible from the two based on this season’s Premier League ratings, with some notable omissions and perhaps surprising inclusions.

Goalkeeper: Alisson

Ahead of his compatriot Ederson in the international pecking order, it’s Alisson that gets the nod in our XI too, despite committing a notable if ultimately unpunished error earlier in the season. Both keepers have conceded the same number of goals (three) and kept the same number of clean sheets (four) after seven matches, but Liverpool’s summer signing has been considerably busier and boasts the best save success rate in the Premier League so far.

Right-back: Kyle Walker

Another battle between two fellow countryman, it’s Walker that makes the grade over Trent Alexander-Arnold. The City star has a goal to his name this season, and while the duo’s defensive statistics in terms of tackles and interceptions per game are almost identical, Walker is yet to be dribbled past all season and has a vastly superior pass accuracy (89.8 per cent).

Centre-back: Nicolas Otamendi

He may have only started three league games this season as Pep Guardiola as shuffled his pack at the back but Otamendi’s influence on City’s defence has been clear to see. The team has kept a clean sheet in each of the Argentinean’s outings, conceding in three of the four games he has missed, with his composure in possession outstanding once more, completing 94.2 per cent of his passes.

Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk

A dominant physical presence at the back for the Reds, Van Dijk’s impact at Anfield cannot be overstated. The Dutchman has won the most aerial duels (3.6) and made the most clearances (5.3) per game of any of the centre-backs between the two teams, as well as playing the most accurate long balls (5.6).

Left-back: Benjamin Mendy

Arguably the two best left-backs in the country at the start of this season, it’s Mendy that gets the spot over the impressive Andrew Robertson, with the Frenchman in line to return to action for the trip to Merseyside. The injury-plagued City full-back has only played four league matches this season but already has four assists to Robertson’s two, and his importance to Guardiola’s attacking approach has been evident.

Central midfield: James Milner

Perhaps the most surprising inclusion in this XI, and indeed Liverpool’s thus far this season, James Milner loves a challenge and has made it impossible for Jurgen Klopp to leave him out thus far, despite the arrivals of Naby Keita and Fabinho over the summer. At 32 he is still the fittest player in the Reds squad and his industry in the middle of the park, not to mention a quality in possession that is overlooked, unquestionably warrants a place in Klopp’s team right now.

Central midfield: Bernardo Silva

Ahead of the season there was real belief that this would be a breakout one for Bernardo in a City shirt, and injury to Kevin De Bruyne has only strengthened that assumption. The Portuguese certainly hasn’t disappointed to now, scoring twice and average 2.3 chances per 90 minutes.

Central midfield: David Silva

Another of the older statesman on display that just seems to be getting better with age, David Silva has scored two goals in five league appearances and created a superb 4.3 chances per 90 minutes. With a further 2.4 successful dribbles per 90, the Spaniard remains an easy choice in the combined XI.

Right forward: Mohamed Salah

It speaks volumes of Salah’s sensational start to life at Liverpool that a return of three goals and an assist after seven games is seen as a failure so far. The Egyptian may not have hit the heights of the previous campaign but has made a similar that to this season as he did last and is still posing a real threat in the final third, averaging 4.5 shots, 2.8 dribbles and 2.6 key passes per 90 minutes.

Left forward: Raheem Sterling

Set to be the subject of some abuse again on Sunday afternoon, Sterling makes his latest return to Anfield in sparkling form. Picking up this season where he left off the last, the England international has already stated that he wants to improve on some outstanding figures from last season and with four goals and two assists in just six league appearances he is on course to do so as things stand.

Centre-forward: Sergio Aguero

With five goals and two assists in seven league appearances to date, if there is one striker in the Premier League that guarantees consistency in terms of goals it is Aguero. It’s strange to think that his time at the Etihad was thought to be coming to an end following Guardiola’s arrival, with the striker still unquestionably first choice at the club and as potent as ever for the Citizens.