Alan Shearer had it wrong naming just one Man Utd star in his Liverpool combined XI

It is pretty difficult to pick much of a combined Liverpool and Manchester United XI right now. But Alan Shearer’s choice caught my eye because there was only one United player in the line-up.

And I disagree with Shearer because I can’t even be that generous. I can’t even get one into my combined XI. It’s hard to think of a time when Liverpool have been so more dominant, so further ahead and such big odds-on favourites to win one of English football’s classic matches.

Luke Shaw was the only outlier who made Shearer’s line-up which surprised me in itself because I think the only ones even in the conversation are Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

You could make a case for Amad Diallo but even he is not in great form. We’ve only seen snapshots of Cunha and Mbeumo so they will get better for United.

Shaw has clearly made Shearer’s XI because of Liverpool’s problems at full back and Milos Kerkez is taking time to settle in. But I’d still have Andy Robertson ahead of everyone else.

Fernandes is so important for United with goals, assists and what he offers even if United’s system is not getting the best out of their best player.

However, Dominik Szoboszlai has probably been my favourite player in the Premier League this season. I think he is absolutely brilliant.

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Szoboszlai’s work rate, his quality - from both right back where he has filled in and midfield - and his mindset have been incredible. There was a new challenge in Florian Wirtz, so Szoboszlai just took up his own game a notch and responded.

You could not leave him out of a Liverpool XI let alone a combined XI even with Fernandes.

Right back has also been Liverpool’s problem position but I would still go Jeremie Frimpong. Ibrahima Konate has not been very solid this season but he’s still better than anything United have got and Virgil van Dijk is untouchable.

How United would love a player like Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch in their midfield.

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Up front, is a big dilemma. Mo Salah is a shoo-in. But actually it’s more of a dilemma as to which Liverpool players get in to the remaining two places rather than if any United players get the nod.

I’d go Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak. They would work it out. Isak is worth the wait - what a player.

And you know you are asking for trouble with this. Just watch United go and get a result now. It’s like tempting fate. I remember something with Arsenal-Spurs a few years back. Tottenham were such favourites that it was hard to justify an Arsenal player… then Arsenal upset the odds.

But even after a bad run, this is Liverpool’s chance to bounce back. And when I asked one dyed-in-the-wool United friend of mine, could he get a United player in, even he said: “No, absolutely not.”

Shearer’s line-up courtesy of Betfair: Alisson; Bradley, van Dijk, Konate, Shaw; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo

My line-up: Alisson; Frimpong, van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Ekitike, Isak.