10 hours ago
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Only one Manchester United star gets into a combined XI with Liverpool, according to Alan Shearer.
Not even their talisman and captain Bruno Fernandes is afforded a space in the dream squad composed by the Premier League's all-time top scorer.
It is a damning sign of how far the Red Devils have fallen as they prepare to travel to Anfield on Sunday for what used to be a tense watch.
And while the great rivalry is still a blockbuster, its recent history certainly leans Liverpool's way - they've won five of the last 10 clashes in all competitions and only lost two, with an aggregate score of 33-11.
Shearer's brutal verdict is not even softened by the fact that Liverpool are out of form.
Arne Slot's side have lost their last three, while Ruben Amorim's have won two of their last trio, but they are still considered the heavy favourites.
Alan Shearer has picked his combined Liverpool-Man United XI - and one one Red Devil gets in
Alexander Isak (left) and Florian Wirtz (right) are both excluded from the line-up
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is given the cold shoulder by Shearer
But can you guess which star Manchester United man is the only one to break into Shearer's team?
Let's hear what he has to say on the fixture first.
He told Betfair: 'Liverpool v Man United is always big because of the size of both clubs and former players will always tell you that the fixture is huge and one they look out for which means so much to both sets of fans and players.
'With Liverpool having lost three on the spin which no-one saw coming and Man United being the way they are, there's no doubt there is extra spice to this game. It's a game that both teams have to go and win for different reasons.
'International breaks are always tricky because as a manager and club, you want to sit and work or go on the training ground and work on what's gone wrong but it's difficult when you've got so many international players away.
'It would've been a tricky two weeks for Slot and Amorim.'
Believe it or not, Luke Shaw is the man who Shearer selects to infiltrate the Liverpool XI in favour of Milos Kerkez.
Shearer is clearly wanting a defensive left-back because Shaw has typically been deployed as a left centre-back in Amorim's rear three this campaign.
Luke Shaw is the only Manchester United player who makes Shearer's combined XI
Milos Kerkez has not done enough to impress Shearer after his £40million switch to Anfield
Kerkez has not had the quickest of starts since his £40million move from Bournemouth and Shearer favours the experience of Shaw, 30.
Other than that, though, he is all in for the reigning champions.
Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Conor Bradley complete his defensive unit.
In midfield, Shearer opts for a solid trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch - at the expense of £116m man Florian Wirtz.
But Wirtz isn't the only mega-money star to miss out. Alexander Isak, who cost Liverpool £125m, is cast aside by Shearer, who scored 260 Premier League goals.
He favours Hugo Ekitike as his striker, supported by Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on the wing.
'Man United would snap your hand off for a point, there's no doubt about that,' Shearer summed up.
'It's easier said than done though because as we said, the noise around this fixture is great and there'll be a great atmosphere at Anfield. There always is.'
