Liverpool vs Manchester City: Combined XI for 2013/14

Liverpool host Manchester City in a top of the table clash

With the Premier League title race heating up, Liverpool will know that their 10^th successive League win will put them seven points clear of Manchester City. The Citizens know that a victory at Anfield would not only close the gap to the Reds, but also give them a psychological edge going into the final run of the games.

Everything is set for a cracking game, with both sets of players in scintillating form. But, which of them would get into a combined XI of both teams? Will Liverpool lead City in this as well? That very question is the basis of this article, which is a combined best XI from both teams, considering their form and availability.

This is how the team would look in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Goalkeeper

Simon Mignolet

Simon Mignoet – The more consistent of the two goalkeepers

Whilst Liverpool have been breathtaking going forward all season long, recently, they have also managed to shore up at the back. Simon Mignolet has racked up 10 clean sheets so far. And whilst that is the same as Joe Hart, the Belgian gets the nod as he has been more consistent throughout the campaign. Early in the campaign, Joe Hart’s form was in question and although he has recovered since, he still hasn’t had his greatest season. Barring a couple of questionable calls early in the campaign, the Belgian has been far more consistent and that is why Mignolet gets the nod in goal.

Defenders

Pablo Zabaleta – Martin Skrtel – Vincent Kompany – Jon Flanagan

At right back, it is Zabaleta who gets the nod over Glen Johnson, by virtue of being consistent throughout the season without any bad games at all. Whilst Johnson has been solid, he has been caught out a few times and as a result loses his place in the side.

In the center of defense, Martin Skrtel and Vincent Kompany form a combative and enterprising duo, capable of both scoring and shutting up shop. Whilst Skrtel leads the defenders in the goal scoring charts, Kompany has been City’s inspirational skipper on the pitch.

At left back, up-and-coming English full back Jon Flanagan gets the nod over both Clichy and Kolarov. So far, the full back has repaid the faith shown in him by his manager and proved to be a solid addition to the back four. Not only is he a tenacious tackler, he has also got forward with great effect this season and as a result makes it into the XI.

Central Midfield

Yaya Toure – Fernandinho – Steven Gerrard

Yaya Toure and Fernandinho – The best midfield duo in the EPL

Arguably the toughest of all the decisions, the three players who’ll be occupying the central midfield only just made it, fighting off some very strong competition. Whilst the combination of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho have clicked right from the start, playing as an unfamiliar holding midfielder, it is Steven Gerrard’s performances that have been surprising.

In Toure and Fernandinho, Pellegrini has two players who are equally good at both ends of the pitch. Toure has had his best season in a City shirt yet, with 18 goals and five assists in his 30 League games this seasons. Whether it is from set pieces or from open play, the Ivorian has had a stellar goal scoring campaign and has been at the heart of most of City’s attacks. Although the Brazilian doesn’t boast of a similar goal scoring record, he has certainly settled in seamlessly alongside Toure. Together, the duo have taken the League by storm.

With 13 goals and nine assists, Gerrard has merely gone along his merry way. Although his numbers aren’t extraordinary, thanks to the standards he sets himself, what makes it special is that all of that has been from a deep-lying midfielder role which many thought he couldn’t do. Once again, he has proven his doubters wrong by demonstrating plenty of defensive discipline, coupled with his usual attacking awareness.

Attacking Midfield

David Silva

Even in a season, in which he hasn’t had the greatest numbers, David Silva continues to be City’s creator-in-chief. Whilst his six goals and nine assists in 22 games aren’t bad, such are his lofty standards that many think that those numbers reflect a sub-par season. And whilst it is true that he doesn’t possess the most impressive numbers, he is still the player that everyone in a blue shirt looks up to in attack. With his intelligent movement, spatial awareness and ability to thread the eye of the needle pass, he remains one of the League’s most potent attacking midfielders.

Strikers

Luis Suarez – Daniel Sturridge

Arguably the easiest pick of the bunch, Sturridge and Suarez are the strike force that complete this lineup. With 49 League goals and 18 assists between them, the duo have created more goals than every team but Manchester City. What makes them so effective is their ability to either drop deep or stay on the shoulder of the last defender, which leaves the opposition defense with a dilemma of whether to stick or twist.

The duo have terrorized opposing defenders all season long and have been taking turns in doing so. At the start of the campaign, it was Sturridge, then Suarez, back to Sturridge and so on. While Suarez is on track to finish with Premier League record for most goals in a single season, Sturridge’s goals and assists this campaign, are his career-best figures. The duo are on track to finish as the highest scoring strike partnership in the League. Should SAS guide Liverpool to the Premier League title that would surely trump all their individual accomplishments.