As you’ll know by now – unless of course you’ve been living under a rock – Liverpool take on Manchester United today in one of the most keenly anticipated matches of the Premier League season.
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So, in honour of the occasion, we’ve put together the best combined XI of all-time… even if we do say so ourselves! Among those missing out are Liverpool’s two-time World Player of the Year Kevin Keegan, and the now Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Who did make the cut? Find out below…
GK) Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United)
The charismatic Dane just gets the nod ahead of Ray Clemence. The 1999 Champions League winning stopper played almost 400 games during his time at United, a spell which saw him claim an impressive total of 15 major honours, including five Premier League titles.
RB) Phil Neal (Liverpool)
What, no Gary Neville? The United man might dominate most of these kind of sides, but it’s hard to argue with Neal’s impressive CV. The attacking full-back is officially the most decorated player in Liverpool history, having won four European Cups, eight league titles, four League Cups and a Uefa Cup.
LB) Roger Byrne (Manchester United)
The captain of the ‘Busby Babes’, as well as an unfortunate victim of the tragic Munich air distaster – which killed him just two days before his 29th birthday. Renowned as a wonderful competitor and leader, he was a star player for both club and country.
CB) Ron Yeats (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s leader in chief under the stewardship of Bill Shankly, he helped lead the Reds from the depths of the second division to the first division championship and the FA Cup. England World Cup winner and former Liverpool star Roger Hunt once said of Yeats: “With him in the team and at his best, we used to think we were unbeatable.”
CB) Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
A surprise inclusion? It’s hard to argue with his record of 450+ games and 16 major honours, more than justifying his near £30m transfer fee – a record at the time. He spent 12 years at Old Trafford, and despite a couple of minor controversies, will be remembered fondly in Manchester.
CM) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Arguably Liverpool’s greatest player of all time. The captain might not quite have the same influence that he once did, but he’s still likely to play an integral part in help guide the Reds to potential top four finish this season. The hero of Istanbul, as well as many other memorable nights.
CM) Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Admittedly a winger by trade, but we’ve tucked Giggs inside to make way for a couple of other icons – as you’ll see on the next page. Giggs played almost 1,000 games for United, and is now the club’s assistant manager. There was no way we could leave out ‘Mr. Manchester United’.
RM) Bobby Charlton (Manchester United)
United and England’s all-time greatest player. Charlton scored 249 goals for the Red Devils, as well as 49 for England – both records that Wayne Rooney is approaching. But he also offered so much else to the team – like being an exemplary figure both on and off the pitch.
LM) Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
Not even Gerrard has done as much for Liverpool football club as Kenny Dalglish – player, manager and winner at Anfield. After a trophy-ridden spell with the Reds as a player, he took the managerial hot-seat in the 1990s, bringing further success to the club that he loves so dearly.
ST) Ian Rush (Liverpool)
Michael Owen, Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez? These guys can’t even get close to Ian Rush, who scored 346 goals in 660 games during two spells with the Reds, inspiring them to 18 major honours, including five first division titles and two European Cups.
ST) George Best (Manchester United)
A sentimental choice? There are United players with better records that the Northern Irishman after all. But there’s just no getting away from the fact that George Best is… George Best! He was brilliant, and simply sensational at his best. He toyed with his opponents, and was virtually unstoppable!