Liverpool and Manchester City have been two of the best teams in the Premier League over the last ten years....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
For their upcoming match tonight we have decided to mark their rivalry with the best XI from both sides from over the past ten years.
And what we have come up with is a selection of world-class talents that almost split the two clubs directly down the middle.
Alas, here is the Daily Star’s choice of the best starting line-up from both teams from the past decade, using, of course, a 4-3-3 formation.
Not quite the scale of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but the debate around which of these two is the better goalkeeper is regularly held among football supporters – more often than not leading to petty squabbles.
For us, Alisson edges out Ederson owing to his versatility. Though both are phenomenal goalkeepers who can pull off some of the most audacious saves you’re ever likely to see, we feel that the former AS Roma man gets the nod owing to his one-on-one technique, even if we concede that Ederson is a superior distributor.
Defence – Trent Alexander Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Vincent Kompany, Joao Cancelo
Two of the most significant players from each club occupy the centre-back position: Vincent Kompany wasn’t bought into City when the money was rolling but he has grown to be one of the club’s greatest-ever legends with his leadership and on-the-ball quality.
Ditto the man who sits beside him in our selection – Virgil van Dijk arrived from Southampton for what was a record fee for a centre-back, but his £75million has paid Liverpool ten-fold in return.
Elsewhere, Trent Alexander-Arnold gets selected to the right of defence on the wing. Though his form has come into question of late, people often forget just what he has achieved at such a young age.
Joao Cancelo is able to perform on both sides, but he goes in at left-back, pipping Andy Roberton to the starting XI in our pick.
A player who struggled to begin with in Manchester but is now playing his best football, with last season’s Premier League title win cementing him as perhaps the best full-back playing in the game today.
Midfield – Yaya Toure, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne
Sorry Reds fans, but we have gone with a full City midfield – with three of the greatest players to grace the Premier League occupying the middle of the park.
David Silva, the eloquent creator, plays the number ten role – while Yaya Toure, who enjoyed probably the best-ever season for a central-midfielder in the division with 35 appearances, 20 goals, and 13 assists in 2013/14, acts as a box-to-box midfielder.
Lastly, Kevin de Bruyne completes the hat-trick for City, rounding off what is a trio for the ages.
And if you’re asking, Fabinho comes in fourth place.
Forwards – Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero, Sadio Mane
Mohamed Salah has redefined the concept of an attacker.
His goals cutting in from the left have dropped jaws, and though this season has been a bit dour, it appears that there is no letting up just yet.
He slots in on the flank, with the now-retired Sergio Aguero coming in centrally as the main man in the front of the attack.
Sadio Mane, now at Bayern Munich, comes into the other side to round off the attacking trio. Though we understand the remarkable and underappreciated role of Roberto Firmino, there is no question that Aguero is deserving of that spot through the middle, scoring goals ever which way.
And no, even with the current form of Erling Haaland and all his robotic wonder, Aguero still takes the top spot.
