It's been a season to forget for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp's side are sixth in the Premier League table - seven points behind Tottenham in fourth with two games in hand - and failed to win the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League. To add insult to injury, they must face Pep Guardiola's Treble chasers at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon. It's a fixture Liverpool can't afford to lose.
The gulf between the Reds and City this season is obvious when trying to piece together a combined XI. Here, Mirror Football names the 11 players to make the team - some based on form, some based on reputation - and it's not easy reading for Liverpool fans.
Goal And Defence
Alisson and Ederson are both world-class goalkeepers, but the Liverpool stopper is selected as Brazil's No.1. (also, we need to include some Liverpool players in this XI!)
Kyle Walker is ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold in England's pecking order and that's no surprise considering the City man's brilliant display against Kylian Mbappe at the World Cup. Walker, who gets the nod here, is a much better defender than Alexander-Arnold.
Ruben Dias has not played as frequently as he would've liked this season due to the centre-backs at Guardiola's disposal, with Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones all doing well. Yet there is no doubting the Portuguese is one of Europe's finest centre-backs.
Who would make your combined XI? Let us know in the comments below!
The same can be said about Virgil van Dijk , who remains Liverpool's best defender. Perhaps based on their reputations, Dias and Van Dijk are picked.
At left-back, it would be harsh for Andy Robertson to be omitted considering City's lack of depth in that position. The Scotland captain led his country to a memorable 2-0 win against Spain last time out and is one of Klopp's most important players.
A quick word on Ake, who has been brilliant for City this season at both centre-back and left-back. The Netherlands international's versatility has cost him here... and we're expecting a few complaints in the comments below.
Midfield
Liverpool's weakest department is their midfield and it's hard to include any of Klopp's stars here. So, we haven't.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are not as reliable as they once were, while Thiago Alcantara's injury record holds him back. It speaks volumes when James Milner, who was a senior professional at the Etihad at decade ago, continues to be a regular on Merseyside.
Liverpool need a central midfielder; they need Jude Bellingham. In the meantime, Ilkay Gundogan , Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne are on hand to complete our combined XI's midfield. Perhaps the only debate here is the omission of Bernardo Silva.
Attack
Liverpool's new-look attack of Mohamed Salah , Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo - with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz waiting in the wings - is very exciting, but only one those stars makes our combined XI on this occasion. It's Salah, obviously.
With 42 goals to his name already this season, it would be some take for us to omit Erling Haaland from the team. He is simply incomparable.
The last spot is arguably the toughest. Diaz would've pushing for a nod if he was fit, while Guardiola has the likes of Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez at his disposal. Yet we're going to give Jack Grealish a deserved spot in our combined XI.
The England international has played an important role in City's Treble charge this season - starting their last nine Premier League games. That record deserves some credit considering the attacking talents in Guardiola's squad.
"Obviously, he's playing really good in the fact especially not the decision-making but his ambition, aggression to point at the opponent and attacking the backline," admitted Guardiola in February. "The quality was always there but his commitment to take a risk in important decisions is right now making the difference. He has to continue."
Mirror Football's combined Liverpool and Manchester City XI: Allison; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne; Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish.
Agree with our team? If not, please let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
