The champions dominate our combined Leicester City-Manchester United XI

One thing you have to hand to Louis van Gaal (other than a P45 and a massive pay-off) is his record against the big guns.

The erstwhile Manchester United manager’s safety-first approach invariably worked against the stronger sides in the Premier League, recording away wins at Manchester City and Liverpool despite a disappointing league campaign last season.

That extended to United’s record against the champions. Van Gaal masterminded a pair of respectable 1-1 draws against Leicester City last term in two very significant matches for the Foxes.

In November, United were the opponents at the King Power when Jamie Vardy broke the deadlock to score in a record 11th consecutive Premier League game, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy in the process. Bastian Schweinsteiger equalised for United.

By May Leicester were heading to Old Trafford as champions elect. The point earned when captain Wes Morgan cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opener meant Tottenham’s defeat at Chelsea a day later handed an historic first league title to Leicester.

Following United’s win in the Community Shield, the two sides face off for the second time this season in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford (if you eat your lunch at 12.30pm).

So, in the grand tradition of previewing big matches with combined XIs, we had a stab at naming a combined Manchester United-Leicester City side. We know what you’re thinking – those plucky underdogs who are struggling to make their mark in an unfamiliar European tournament cannot expect to have too many players featuring alongside one of the most well-planned and balanced squads English football has ever seen.

But you’d be wrong. Manchester United have nailed down no less than five players in the side. Fair play to them.

Goalkeeper

His father may be Manchester United royalty, but we cannot find a place for Kasper Schmeichel between the sticks. David de Gea remains the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and was worth about 66 points to the Red Devils last season. Keeping Schmeichel on the bench would allow him more time for rousing dressing-room orations.

Defence

Saturday will be a homecoming of sorts for Danny Simpson, who left United in 2010 after three first-team appearances. He showed flashes of brilliance and dollops of trouble at Newcastle United and QPR before Claudio Ranieri turned into a right full-back United would undoubtedly select ahead of Antonio Valencia.

Luke Shaw’s team-mates may be defending him from the slings and arrows of Jose Mourinho, but the fact of the matter is the left full-back has yet to regain the form he was beginning to show before last season’s horrendous leg break. Christian Fuchs, on the other hand, is solid as a rock, possesses a wicked long throw, is cool-headed and always pressures the opponent when he has the ball 25 yards from goal.

Leicester’s title last season was built on the solid, uncompromising foundations of Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, but since losing the perma-smiling, perma-running shield that was N’Golo Kante the central defensive pairing have looked vulnerable this term. Eric Bailly and Daley Blind have been forming a decent understanding for United. Bailly’s strength and speed make up for Blind’s soil-erosion pace. The Dutchman may have had a bit of a ‘mare against Manchester City, but his awareness and ability on the ball means we can find a place for him ahead of Leicester’s twin wardrobes.

Midfield

Riyad Mahrez has scored three goals already this season, picking up where he left off with last season’s 18. The PFA player of the year provided 11 assists last term and shows no sign of slowing up. First name on the team sheet.

This Paul Pogba character has been getting a bit of stick since arriving for the GDP of a small African nation. Sure, he has probably taken too much out of the ball and doesn’t seem to know exactly what he should be doing in the centre of midfield, but we feel putting him alongside a PROPER centre midfielder like Danny Drinkwater may bring the best out of him. We are convinced he has potential and the sober, astute, measured Drinkwater is just the man to bring it out of him. One spurned Manchester United academy man helping another.

The left-wing of our 4-4-2 may be the most controversial selection, but can anyone say, on form, Anthony Martial is a better choice than Marc Albrighton? Okay, one is an Aston Villa reject and the other is the most expensive teenager in football history but in a flat 4-4-2 we need a wide man who can deliver quality crosses to our front two, which Albrighton proved capable of time-and-time again last season. Martial will undoubtedly come good but his best position may be further up the pitch in a more central position.

Attack

Wayne Rooney is unlucky to miss out on a place here. If he were four years younger he would be running this pairing close, but seeing as it is 2016, not 2010, it is impossible to ignore the claims of Jamie Vardy and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The combination of Vardy’s terrifying pace and the Swede’s terrifying presence is, frankly, terrifying. Come the return fixture later in the season we may be making room for Islam Slimani, the Algerian beginning life in the Premier League with a brace last weekend against Burnley. Marcus Rashford too, if given opportunities, could come into the reckoning.

Here is the team in full. You couldn’t possibly have any arguments, could you?

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