Its a busy night in The Transfer Tavern tonight, the atmosphere is electric and the banter is flying between both the Manchester United and Liverpool fans who are here.
The televised game this evening is the big Europa League game between both sides and you can see nerves on the faces of both sets of respective fans.
When the draw was made we never expected the pair to be drawn to play each other, but it has brought the interest back to a competition that has lost its way a bit since it introduced a group stage a few years back.
When the draw was made Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp declared it was the tie he wanted, and leading up to the game his counterpart Louis van Gaal has called his side’s biggest of the seasonal winning the competition is now a route into next season’s Champions League.
So with the game set to be full of thrills and spills, our landlord has been looking at both squads and come up with his combined XI……
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE BEST COMBINED XI!
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David De Gea
Spanish keeper De Gea is the obvious choice between the posts.
The Spaniard is now one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League after a shaky first season at United.
Although left out of United’s team in the opening weeks after a proposed move to Real Madrid failed to materialise, De Gea has got on with life at Old Trafford and is now back to his best both mentally and physically.
Nathaniel Clyne
The Englishman was one of Brendan Rodgers’ better summer signings.
He defends strongly and gets himself into some great attacking positions to assist at the top end of the field.
Began his career with Crystal Palace, before making his name with impressive performances for Southampton which now sees Clyne as an England international.
Chris Smalling
The English centre back has been in inspired form at the back for Manchester United this season.
Smalling had a shaky start to life at Okd Trafford but he seems to have grown in stature this season and has played with a more dominant presence about him.
Many clubs would love the 27 year old in their back line and if he carries on the way he is he will no doubt be an England regular.
Mamadou Sakho
Another player who has come on in leaps and bounds this season following a change of manager at Anfield.
The Frenchman puts it all on the line at centre back and gives 100% to the cause in each game he plays.
He is passionate about playing for Liverpool and displayed this when he was aggrieved to be substituted during the Capital One Cup final defeat to Manchester City last month.
Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw is another who struggled last season when he joined Manchester United from Southampton.
During the opening weeks of the season the left back looked back to his best and you could see why Manchester United paid what they did to secure his services.
Injury has interrupted his season since suffering a horrendous injury in a Champions League game which has more or less ruled him out of the current campaign.
Ander Herrera
The Spaniard has been a menace to many a defence for United this season.
A string of impressive performances and the capability of popping up with the odd spectacular goal has seen the Spaniard as one of Manchester United’s star players in another wise disappointing campaign.
Signed from Athletic Bilboa in 2014 and with two years left on his contract we can be sure we will all be enjoying watching the Spaniard play for a few more years in England yet.
Phillipe Coutinho
The mercurial Brazilian a been in inspired form for Liverpool again this season.
His link up play with the forwards and his ability to pull of the perfect pass make him one of the most underrated players in the Premier League.
On his day he can be one of the most feared players and is not frightened to run and defenders and pull of a remarkable goal or two.
James Milner
The former Manchester City midfielder has been great in midfield for Liverpool since joining the club in the summer months.
Milner can play in the middle or out wide and one thing you are guaranteed from Milner is that he will keep running from the first to the last minute.
Can pop up with the odd goal too which just enhances what he can offer and he is a player who could fit well into any Premier League side.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
The German midfielder is another who could probably walk into any side in the Premier League.
Joined Manchester United in the summer after spending his entire career at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Although United fans have not got to see the best of Schweinsteiger he can on his day still be a formidable force in midfield.
Wayne Rooney
The English forward has been a prolific performer for Manchester United for numerous years, and the fact he can still compete for one of the best club sides in the world is testament to his ability.
Rooney can still change a game with a long range screamer or a tap in but one thing you know you will get from Rooney is desire and effort.
Always in a referees ear to try and get decisions, but his overall all round game is still second to none.
Daniel Sturridge
The Liverpool striker when fit is one of the most prolific in the Premier League at the moment.
He can create chances out of nothing and can play either on his own up front or as part of a pair, which was devastatingly shown when he was paired with Luis Suarez during his time at Anfield.
Although injury has affected the amount of performances for the club this season, in the games he has played this season he has shown that he still has that eye for goal.
