Liverpool-Manchester United combined XI

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Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho (L) shoots past Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea (2nd L) to score their first goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16, second leg football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England on March 17, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) /

As Liverpool and Manchester United come closer to their first match of the season, what would a combined XI look between the two?

The last time Liverpool were playing Manchester United, Philippe Coutinho was personifying that feeling of when your favorite pizza place puts the pie in front of you with his goal.

It was pure euphoria, felt from my couch. It was disrespectful to United, belied by his adorable smile and ‘yeah, I did that, no big deal’ celebration. It was a true work of art that should be forever on display at the Tate Modern.

That’ll never get old to me. Just like Dejan Lovren’s winner against Borussia Dortmund.

Now Liverpool get to play United for the first time this season and their first crack at Jose Mourinho running the team.

There’ll be incessant stream of match previews, tactical analysis and anything else that could be thought up. For today, we’ll stick with the basic combined XI: who’d get into this team?

Both teams are similar that their strength lies in attack with general frailties in defense. There are a ton of stars that’ll populate the pitch Monday night.

The team is picked based on real life fitness. Ergo, no Joe Gomez. Sorry.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Manager: Jurgen Klopp

This is a Liverpool site, what did you expect?

All bias aside Klopp’s the right choice anyway. To show a little empathy to Mourinho, with the money United have pumped into the team, there’ll be unrealistic expectations. That’s how it ought to be, though, when you spend more money than some island nations have GDP in a summer transfer window.

It hasn’t totally clicked yet. The first three games, United game the facade of having it figured out. Then they got derailed when they played a real team in Manchester City, that they were painfully lucky to only lose by one.

Meanwhile Liverpool have had a hellacious start to the season with the fixture list. They’ve beaten Arsenal at The Emirates, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and deserved much more than their draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane. They’ve absolutely dismantled Leicester City at home, while taking care of the business against the lesser side bar the Burnley loss.

Liverpool’s affairs seem to be copacetic and there’s more than enough reason for optimism.

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