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Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday as the 2020-21 season enters its last five games.
A massive 13 points separate the two teams in the league table, with the Red Devils on course to finish ahead of their Northwest rivals for the first time in three years.
While Manchester United have recovered from a poor start to the campaign, Liverpool's season has gone completely off the boil since the turn of the year, so much so that even their Champions League hopes are now hanging in the balance.
The defending champions are sixth in the league table, four points off fourth-placed Chelsea, after drawing their last two games. Liverpool now face an uphill battle in a fixture they usually struggle with, especially at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Manchester United couldn't keep up with runaway leaders Manchester City but are on course for a strong finish to their campaign. They also have one foot in the 2021 Europa League final.
Ahead of this mouth-watering game, let's have a look at how Liverpool and Manchester United would stack up in a hypothetical combined XI:
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
It hasn't been his best season by any stretch of imagination, but Liverpool custodian Alisson gets into our hypothetical combined XI. That's because Manchester United have constantly swapped between Dean Henderson and David de Gea this season, and neither has been truly convincing between the sticks.
Alisson, meanwhile, has continued to be Liverpool's undisputed choice in goal. The 28-year old has managed only seven clean sheets this campaign but has produced moments of class in some tense moments, making jaw-dropping saves and helping Liverpool build from the back.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
The Liverpool right-back has fallen short of his lofty standards this season, but Trent Alexander-Arnold gets the nod over Aaron Wan-Bissaka. That's because the Manchester United full-back has been inconsistent defensively, leaving plenty of gaps at the back and contributing precious little in the attack as well.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold has come into his own in the last few games, showing signs of his old, rip-roaring self. He will hope to get something against Manchester United, a bogey side he normally struggles against.
Centre-back: Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Liverpool's misfortune with injuries, especially to centre-backs like Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, who've missed almost the entirety of the season, leaves the door ajar for Harry Maguire, who has featured consistently for Manchester United this season.
Although Maguire is yet to fully justify his high price tag, the former Leicester City man has considerably improved in his second season at Old Trafford. He has helped Manchester United maintain good defensive form and could be key to keeping out the likes of Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.
Centre-back: Ozan Kabak (Liverpool)
Harry Maguire may have been consistent for Manchester United, but the same cannot be said of his defensive partner, Victor Lindelof. The Swede has looked suspect in defence many times and has been erratic too. That explains why Ozan Kabak gets the nod here. The young Turk arrived in January and has brought about a semblance of normalcy to Liverpool's chaotic backline.
Kabak's start to life at Liverpool was shaky, and he seemed to lack confidence, but he has settled in seamlessly since then, proving himself to be a useful presence during his team's ongoing defensive crisis. Nevertheless, the 21-year old will face his toughest examination yet on Sunday when he goes up against a free-scoring Manchester United team.
Left-back: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Under normal circumstances, Andrew Robertson would've walked into this combined XI. But Luke Shaw has been in a league of his own this season, enjoying his best season with Manchester United to date.
The Englishman has usurped Alex Telles to make the left-back spot his own, producing brilliant performances during the campaign. He's almost guaranteed of a starting berth at the upcoming Euros for England.
Central midfielder: Fabinho (Liverpool)
Fabinho has been more of a utility man for Liverpool this season, operating from several positions, including centre-back. He has been put as a central midfielder in this hypothetical XI because that's where the Brazilian has shone the brightest for Liverpool this campaign.
His crucial interceptions, power on the ball and excellent vision have bailed Liverpool multiple times. Fabinho will be required to produce more of the same against Manchester United, as a win would bolster Liverpool's flagging hopes of Champions League qualification next season.
Central Midfielder: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Joining Fabinho at the centre of the park in this hypothetical XI is Paul Pogba, who has been used in a more withdrawn role by Ole Gunnar Solksjaer this season. Nevertheless, the Frenchman has performed much better in a Manchester United midfield beset by inconsistent displays from Fred and Scott McTominay.
Especially since the turn of the new year, Paul Pogba has shown signs of his old self. He has returned from a recent hamstring injury by producing assists in three consecutive games. Pogba was also on target against AS Roma in the Europa League semi-final in midweek too.
Right Winger: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Despite Liverpool's inconsistent campaign this season, Mohamed Salah has continued to score goals by the bagful. He has got 20 goals this season, the most in the league behind only Harry Kane (21), in the process, tumbling a few records along the way.
Salah's record against Manchester United leaves a lot to be desired, though, as the Egyptian ace has tended to struggle against them. In fact, Salah has never scored at Old Trafford, an anomaly he'll look to erase before closing out another fabulous individual campaign.
Attacking Midfielder: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes has continued from where he left off last season. The Portuguese talisman has scored a lot of goals in his first full campaign at Manchester United, who's transformed into a highly menacing outfit since Fernandes' arrival.
He's netted 16 times and made another 11 assists in the league this season, a remarkable statistic that Fernandes will be looking to keep up against Liverpool.
Left Winger: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Marcus Rashford is often criticised for being inconsistent, but that hasn't deterred the striker from netting 19 goals and making 13 assists in all competitions this season for Manchester United. Ten of Rashford's strikes and assists have come in the Premier League.
While it's true that the Englishman's form has dropped off in the second half of the campaign, Rashford remains a key player for Manchester United. He comes into this combined hypothetical XI ahead of Sadio Mane, who is going through the worst season of his career.
Striker: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Few signings this season have made as much impact as Diogo Jota has at Liverpool.
Since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer, the Portuguese fireball has hit the ground running, netting 12 times from 27 games. Had it not been for his injury midway through the campaign, his goal tally would have been higher.
Quite incredibly, Diogo Jota hasn't got a fixed position at Liverpool. Even though most of his goals have come as a striker, he has been used on both wings as well as behind the striker. But purely considering his imperious goalscoring prowess, he makes our hypothetical combined XI as the no. 9.
