Feeling nervous about today's game? Get yourself match-ready with the Liverpool FC morning digest for Sunday, April 10.
Liverpool and Man City combined XI with only three stars from one team
Liverpool travel to Manchester City tomorrow for a top of the table clash that many believe could determine the destination of this season's title.
Ahead of the showdown, a hat-trick of ECHO writers have selected their combined elevens from Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's sides. The consensus is that the Reds dominate - with three City men in two of the teams, and even less in the first XI.
Take a look below and see if you agree...
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp reveals Pep Guardiola plan for when Liverpool boss has retired
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Theo Squires: For so long Man City have had the strongest team and squad in the Premier League, but while they might not be top going into Sunday’s title clash, Liverpool have certainly usurped Pep Guardiola’s side on that score and now boast the superior depth. And it sees them dominate when it comes to naming combined XIs!
It’s a Reds clean sweep for the back five. Brazil have the option of Alisson and Ederson yet start Jurgen Klopp’s number one so that’s good enough for me. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson are the best right-back, centre-back and left-backs in the world so they all go in, though it is harsh to leave out Joao Cancelo. Meanwhile, Ruben Dias’ current injury lay-off sees Joel Matip edge out Aymeric Laporte.
I think we’re all in agreement that Kevin De Bruyne starts, while Fabinho’s place as the holding midfielder is equally secure. And I’m going to go for Thiago Alcantara as the final midfielder, his CV speaks for itself.
As he’s not in midfield, Phil Foden can start on the right, freeing Mohamed Salah to play upfront. He might be out of form but best player in the world and all that. Raheem Sterling is City’s best attacker in my opinion, but seeing as he’s not a guaranteed starter under Guardiola, no start for him here either. Instead it’s Luis Diaz who gets the nod ahead of Sadio Mane following an explosive start to life at Anfield.
Check out what teams our other Liverpool FC writers chose HERE.
'So glad I listened to my agent' - Liverpool defender rejected Manchester United and makes Jurgen Klopp retirement claim
As Liverpool go in pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple, Jurgen Klopp continues to rotate his side to give the Reds the best possible chance of glory. However, that wasn’t quite the case the last time the club were still competing on all fronts at this stage of the season.
Gerard Houllier famously led Liverpool to a cup treble in 2000/01, with the Reds lifting the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup, as well as qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, as they competed in every game possible to them over the course of the campaign. Should Jurgen Klopp’s side reach the Champions League and FA Cup final this season, they will match that feat and contest a maximum 63 matches.
Jordan Henderson has made more appearances than anyone else for Liverpool this season, featuring in 41 of the Reds’ 47 matches, while Alisson and Virgil van Dijk boast the most starts with 38 apiece. Yet remarkably back in 2000/01, defender Markus Babbel started a whopping 60 times in his maiden season on Merseyside as he helped Houllier’s men clinch the treble - even scoring the opener in their UEFA Cup win over Alaves.
Playing at right-back, he thrived as an attacking full-back following his Bosman transfer from Bayern Munich, scoring six goals and recording five assists with his presence ensuring Jamie Carragher was switched to left-back. Yet despite being a fan-favourite as a result, and one of the first names Kopites will associate with that season, his career could have turned out very differently had he not listened to his agent.
A member of the Bayern Munich side that lost to Manchester United in the Champions League final in 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson had previously tried to sign the German with a deal even being agreed with the Bavarians. However, Babbel would turn down the offer before signing for Liverpool in 2000.
Looking back, he certainly has no regrets with a couple of reasons ensuring a switch to Old Trafford would not have been right.
“(I was) very close. At this time, it was a record fee, nobody had ever been signed for that fee before,” he told the ECHO via bet365. “It was 40 million German Marks at the time.
“I was talking to United, but my agent said to me, “Listen Markus, there is something wrong. They are willing to pay this much on your transfer fee, but your salary is okay, nothing more. With this money on the transfer fee, they should be paying a lot higher wages.”
I said, “Okay, I don't have to leave if it's not right, I'm happy to stay at Bayern Munich.” It’s a fantastic club and afterwards, with hindsight, I'm so happy it didn't happen. They wanted to sign me as a centre back, but I wasn't the best at centre back!"
Read the full story HERE.
