Liverpool v Manchester United: Combined XI
By David Gate
Defensive Midfield: Nemanja Matic
Liverpool don’t even have a defensive midfielder so this was not a hard decision. Though take nothing away from Nemanja Matic who has been outstanding in his first season at Old Trafford.
It was a huge shock that Chelsea would let Matic go so soon after his excellent performances helped lead them to the Premier League title last season. His partnership with N’golo Kante was crucial in Antonio Conte’s side winning the league.
At 29-years-old many questioned the wisdom of spending £40 million on a defensive midfielder. The justification for the decision has been all over the pitch for all to see this year. The Serbian has anchored the Manchester United midfield in a way they have not seen for years.
It has been crucial to shore up a defense prone to individual errors. Yet is has also had the effect of helping the attack. Star man Paul Pogba was playing with the kind of form that led to Manchester United breaking the world transfer record for his services. This was in no small part to the fact he doesn’t need to worry so much about defensive responsibilities.
The Liverpool midfield is in desperate need of someone with his capabilities. They have a number of players who can recycle possession and contribute offensively. Yet they seriously lack someone who can lock down the center of the park.