Liverpool and Manchester United fans have been left puzzled over Sky Sports’ combined XI ahead of tomorrow’s derby match at Old Trafford.
Both teams are fighting for second place in the league and automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League with just two points separating the sides.
Ahead of the match, Sky Sports have published a combined XI according to their power rankings points, which they say reflects a player’s performance over the last five matchdays by awarding points to players for 32 different stats.
Unsurprisingly, both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino feature, however, the inclusions of Emre Can, Dejan Lovren and Chris Smalling have left fans scratching their heads.
Smalling?? That must be a mistake
— Jamie Waite (@jamie_waite_17) March 9, 2018
Lovren over Jones? Brilliant
— Ali Vettori😷 (@alivettori) March 9, 2018
Ox-Chamberlain/Pogba over matic 😂
Lovren over VVD 😂
Sanchez over Martial 😂
Really not surprised you didn’t put Mignolet I’ve DDG— Richard Clutterbuck (@RichyC86) March 9, 2018
Can over matic 😂😂😂😂… Joke
— Keith Karugu (@keithkarugu7) March 9, 2018
Liverpool joined Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this week after defeating Porto 5-0 on aggregate and manager Jurgen Klopp insists that the Reds belong alongside Europe’s best.
“I never had a timescale for it in my mind and thought ‘then we have to be there and then we have to be there,” Klopp said following the win.
“I don’t want to make it smaller than it is, but I don’t want to make it bigger than it is. I think this year we belong there, to be honest – it should not be a big surprise.
“The next round will be very difficult, I think that’s clear. There are seven other very good teams that will be involved.
“Maybe four of them are then from England and that doesn’t make it easier, to be honest, but I think we’ll have a chance, for sure, to go to the semis and that’s the target. But you’re right, take it step by step and tonight it’s cool, absolutely. This year we had the first opportunity to do it and now we are in it, so I think we are in time.”
Meanwhile Manchester United will welcome Sevilla to Old Trafford on Tuesday for the second leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie as they also look to make the cut for the last eight.
