Title Race XI: Best team from Manchester City and Liverpool players combined

As a huge Sunday in the title race approaches, we take a look at the best starting 11 of Manchester City and Liverpool players combined...

GK: Alisson Liverpool

Arguably the toughest position to call in this team is between the sticks.

Alisson gets the nod over his Brazilian compatriot Ederson having kept one more clean sheet (17 compared to 16) and made considerably more saves (64 compared to 48), suggesting he has been central to the Reds boasting the best defensive record in the league.

LB: Andrew Robertson Liverpool

Awarded the armband by Scotland, Robertson is a natural leader at the back. He contributes as much going forward as in defence and his marauding runs suit Jurgen Klopp's gegenpressing set-up.

CB: Virgil van Dijk Liverpool

As short as 1-3 to scoop the PFA Player of the Year award, Dutch defender Van Dijk has seen his stock rise considerably since moving to Merseyside.

The former Celtic centre-back makes the players around him better and he is a threat in the opposing box as well, with his goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League among his finest moments in a Liverpool shirt.

Virgil van Dijk has led by example at the back for LiverpoolCredit: Julian Finney

CB: Aymeric Laporte Manchester City

No Manchester City defender has made more Premier League appearances than former Bilbao battering ram Laporte.

The French-born centre-back has played his part in 27 league fixtures this term and, combining strength on the ball with finesse, he is the archetypal Pep Guardiola defender.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool

While Robertson does the business down the left for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold plays an identical role on the right.

His season can be epitomised by his performance against Watford in which he became the youngest player to pick up three assists in a single Premier League game at 20 years and 143 days old.

CDM: Fernandinho Manchester City

It is no coincidence that Manchester City's downturn in form during the festive period came at a time when Fernandinho was out of the team.

The Brazilian anchors their midfield and enables their galaxy of attacking midfielders to express themselves. He has averaged 1.5 interceptions per match - more than any other City player.

CM: Bernardo Silva Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne's absence could have hit Manchester City a lot harder had it not been for Silva deputising for the Belgian in midfield.

He set their season on its way with a goal against Arsenal on the opening day and has laid on seven assists. Although typically deployed on the flank, he has the technical ability to take up a central role in this 11.

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City has been in excellent form this seasonCredit: Richard Heathcote

CM: Sadio Mane Liverpool

When Mohamed Salah's form dipped in mid-February, Liverpool needed an alternative source of goals and Senegalese forward Mane clicked into gear.

Between January 19 and March 17, every game in which Liverpool scored, Mane was on the scoresheet. He has matured this season, notching 17 goals, and will be crucial as the title race draws to its conclusion.

Mane is playing further back in this team than he does for the Reds but he could not have been left out of the side given his current form.

RW: Mohamed Salah Liverpool

It is testament to how good Salah was last season that he has scored 18 league goals and laid on seven assists this term yet is being criticised.

His goal in a crucial match against Southampton in the context of the title race should have done wonders for his confidence and if Liverpool go on to secure the league title, he will have been at the heart of their triumph.

ST: Sergio Aguero Manchester City

Guardiola's arrival at City and demands of his inherited set of players threatened to dislodge Aguero from the first-team frame but the Argentinian has adapted to lead from the front for the Citizens.

His goalscoring prowess shows no signs of waning and he goes into this weekend as the division's top scorer with 19 league goals. His strike against City and hat-tricks against Arsenal and Chelsea pulled Guardiola's men back into title contention.

LW: Raheem Sterling Manchester City

The only player in the 11 to have plied his trade for both sides, Sterling is the leading contender at 1-5 in the PFA Young Player of the Year market.

As he continues to show maturity and leadership qualities off the field, his football on it says just as much about his strong character. Sterling has set up nine goals and registered 15 goals himself.

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