Building a Merseyside XI

THE first Merseyside derby of the season is just over a week away and both sides have enjoyed successful starts to the season.

Brendan Rodgers and his Liverpool side are currently lying in 2nd place eleven games into the season, just two points off leaders Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Everton are just outside the top five, but are only five points off Wenger’s men themselves.

Liverpool have won over many plaudits with their campaign so far, but Everton should be given lots of credit too, particularly when considering they are under a new manager in Roberto Martinez, having had David Moyes in charge for eleven years. Liverpool possess a stronger squad than their rivals across Stanley Park, although remain some way behind their other competitors, especially the likes of the mega rich clubs – Manchester City and Chelsea.

However, when it comes to just the best eleven players on the pitch that the two clubs from Merseyside can offer, which team would have more players in a Merseyside XI?

Combining the two together produces a squad, let alone a starting XI, which could contend for anything, especially given the form many of the players are in.

Goalkeeper – Simon Mignolet

Tim Howard is a fantastic goalkeeper, but just misses out here as Liverpool’s new signing from Sunderland pips him to the goalkeeping position.

Mignolet has been brilliant so far in his debut season and at only 25 has plenty of time to improve further. His shot stopping has been excellent and he has commanded his defence and the box well.

There are occasional lapses of concentration or flapping in the penalty area from a cross, for example Sunderland’s goal in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light. Looking back, it was a goal Mignolet would expect to save. Nevertheless, Mignolet just shades out Howard to be the 1st choice.

Defence – Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines

An abundance of quality exists here when choosing a four man defence, but the right-back slot was the easiest pick of the four. When fit, Glen Johnson has been Liverpool’s unsung hero, producing man-of-the-match performances, in particular against Manchester United at Anfield. He is comfortably ahead of any Liverpool rivals such as the returning Martin Kelly.

Everton do possess a rising, talented right-back in Seamus Coleman, but he is not at Johnson’s level yet. Similarly at left-back, there is little argument against Leighton Baines. Jose Enrique and Aly Cissokho have bags of ability and physical prowess, but are inconsistent, especially defensively. Baines is a world-class left back. He rampages up and down the pitch, but at the right moments, always reading the nature of the game. In addition, he times his tackles superbly well, is exceptional at set-pieces and crosses but crucially is very consistent, week in and week out. Baines and Johnson are the stand out fullbacks.

When it comes to the heart of the defence, the difficulty cranked up many notches. Daniel Agger is a wonderful defender, but hasn’t played as much this season due to the form of those above him.

Martin Skrtel is the primary example. Having had a fantastic season on a personal level under Kenny Dalglish in 2011/12, culminating in a Player of the Season award for the Reds, he slipped down the pecking order under Brendan Rodgers. However he has come back this season with renewed vigour and purpose, looking back to his best and making it virtually impossible for the manager to drop him from the team.

Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho have also impressed at times, but not to the same consistent level as Skrtel. The same can be applied for Phil Jagielka. At international level he is growing with every game, but at club level he is settled and is one of the natural leaders of Martinez’s team. Always committed, good with the ball and aware of runners around him, Jagielka has formed a backbone partnership with Sylvain Distin, who just misses out with Agger, Toure and Sakho. None of these players have played poorly this season, just that Jagielka and Skrtel have been incredible and are two of the best centre-backs in the league so far this season.

Midfield – Ross Barkley, Steven Gerrard, Coutinho

Predominantly an attack-minded trio, but Gerrard can drop back while the younger duo go forward and cause damage. Some expected Gerrard to fall by the wayside once Rodgers was appointed manager a year ago, commenting that his passing style would not fit Gerrard’s and that poor form would follow. It has been the exact opposite.

There have been some spurts of inconsistency from Liverpool’s captain, but that can be put down to Father Time and the fact that he nearly played every minute of every game in the league for Liverpool last season. He has begun this season on a similar note. Lucas Leiva and Gareth Barry could also provide decent defensive cover but they are limited in comparison to Gerrard, who is without doubt the first choice in a Merseyside midfield, as he is still world-class when at his best.

Ross Barkley has gone through an impressive run of form so far this season, leading to a call up from Roy Hodgson to the England squad and a cap to boot. Perhaps he hasn’t been quite so incredible in the last few weeks, but he is still young and gaining experience all the time. His talent cannot be underestimated. Jordan Henderson could have a massive shout here, as he has really impressed for Liverpool this season, while James McCarthy could also vie for a spot, but Barkley and Gerrard together in midfield is a partnership worth seeing and they have been their clubs standout performers in midfield since the league began.

Lastly, Coutinho is preferred to Everton’s Leon Osman as the main attacking midfield player in the team. Despite the reduced work rate from the Brazilian compared to the lad from Manchester, Coutinho has the ability to unlock any defence with his passing, but from long distance and short. Therefore he can move forward and link up with the attackers with one touch football, waiting for the strikers to spin and turn where he can then put them through on goal. Moreover, he can certainly shoot, although Osman can produce similar quality from distance.

Nevertheless, it is the assists which are vital towards Coutinho’s inclusion. Combined with the energy and drive of Barkley and the assurance and awareness of Gerrard, the midfield has an all-round look to it, containing both youth and experience.

Attack – Luis Suarez, Romelu Lukaku, Daniel Sturridge

A trio called SALAS? Maybe not, but together this trio would represent an extraordinarily fearsome attack.

Sturridge and Suarez together have outscored entire teams so far this season in a destructive partnership. Both are the joint top scorers in the Premier League (along with Sergio Aguero) and if they can continue this red hot run of form, Liverpool will certainly be in the mix for a top four place at least.

At Everton, Roberto Martinez managed to secure one of the best deals of the transfer window in the summer by bringing in Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea. It was a decision which continues to baffle many Chelsea fans, given his performances for West Brom last season and the current crop of strikers who are frustratingly inconsistent. Having been a revelation for Steve Clarke in the Midlands, he is still keeping up a level which most strikers would be pleased with for Everton.

Despite his size, he is an all-round striker, with his obvious physical assets matching his touch and ability to hold the ball up and pick out other players making runs alongside him. He can score from anywhere, is almost impossible to stop in the air and is still only twenty years old.

The guile and skills of Suarez, the finishing and pace of Sturridge combined with a player who could become the next Didier Drogba makes for a front three that any team in the world would envy. There are others who could challenge the Big Three, with Victor Moses, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Pienaar all providing other options. But overall, SALAS has to be the Merseyside front three.

Looking back over the team selected, seven of the players in that team belong to the red half of Merseyside, so therefore it could be argued that they possess a greater amount of talent and ability in their starting XI.

However, there is always the possibility of my Liverpool bias creeping in without me knowing and there are a multitude of Everton players that could have made this team as well as other Liverpool players too.

There will be many disagreements and debates among fans from both sides, but that line-up above would definitely take some beating!

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