Two of England's most successful clubs meet on Saturday as Manchester United welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford, and Michael Owen, a former striker of both, picked the best combined XI of the two present teams exclusively for premierleague.com.
Owen burst on to the Barclays Premier League scene as a 17-year-old at Liverpool and scored 118 goals in 216 league appearances for the Merseyside club, before winning his first top-flight title in a three-year spell at Man Utd later in his career.
But despite spending more of his career at Liverpool, Owen's combined XI is dominated by players from Louis van Gaal's side.
"Having played for both teams I know this is going to upset quite a few people," he said. "But Manchester United are slightly ahead of Liverpool in terms of quality at present."
- Michael Owen's best XI of current Man Utd and Liverpool players
- David De Gea kept 10 BPL clean sheets for Manchester United last term
- Matteo Darmian has impressed Owen since his summer move from Torino
- Luke Shaw (right) 'will be a mainstay for Man Utd and England for years'
- Martin Skrtel has played all four of Liverpool's BPL matches in 2015/16
- Man Utd's Chris Smalling is 'big, strong and quick', says Owen
Goalkeeper: David De Gea (Man Utd)
Michael Owen: "I was fortunate enough to be at Manchester United when we signed him, and he is a phenomenal goalkeeper. He is one of the top few, now, in the world."
Michael Owen: "I was fortunate enough to be at Manchester United when we signed him, and he is a phenomenal goalkeeper. He is one of the top few, now, in the world."
Right-back: Matteo Darmian (Man Utd)
"I have been really impressed with him. It was quite a close call between him and Nathaniel Clyne, but I am going to go for Darmian. He was played particularly well for Manchester United, marauding down that right-hand side."
"I have been really impressed with him. It was quite a close call between him and Nathaniel Clyne, but I am going to go for Darmian. He was played particularly well for Manchester United, marauding down that right-hand side."
Left-back: Luke Shaw (Man Utd)
"This was an easy decision. He is a real favourite of mine in many ways. He's a fabulous football player. He is going to be a mainstay for Manchester United and England for many years to come."
"This was an easy decision. He is a real favourite of mine in many ways. He's a fabulous football player. He is going to be a mainstay for Manchester United and England for many years to come."
Centre-back: Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)
"He's developed into a real mainstay of the Liverpool team. He's hard, he's tough, he's robust. He never misses many matches. He scores the odd goal as well, and he's one of the first names on the Liverpool teamsheet for Brendan Rodgers, week in, week out."
"He's developed into a real mainstay of the Liverpool team. He's hard, he's tough, he's robust. He never misses many matches. He scores the odd goal as well, and he's one of the first names on the Liverpool teamsheet for Brendan Rodgers, week in, week out."
Centre-back: Chris Smalling (Man Utd)
"I trained with Chris for many years at United. He’s got real qualities as a defender. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s quick, and those three alone make it very hard for anybody to play against."
"I trained with Chris for many years at United. He’s got real qualities as a defender. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s quick, and those three alone make it very hard for anybody to play against."
- Owen believes Michael Carrick is Man Utd's best midfielder
- Bastian Schweinsteiger joined Man Utd after an illustrious Bayern Munich career
Centre-midfield: Michael Carrick (Man Utd)"He remains Manchester United's best central midfield player. I was fortunate enough to play with him many times. Two-footed, he's got a great football brain and is a real undervalued player. When you play alongside him you appreciate what he gives to the team."
Centre-midfield: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Man Utd)
"It's difficult to leave out Bastian Schweinsteiger, with all that he's won and his experience. He’s a two-footed player, he’s tough, he can get about the pitch. He’s going to be a vital cog in the wheel of Manchester United."
"It's difficult to leave out Bastian Schweinsteiger, with all that he's won and his experience. He’s a two-footed player, he’s tough, he can get about the pitch. He’s going to be a vital cog in the wheel of Manchester United."
- Philippe Coutinho scored a stunning winner in Liverpool's season opener at Stoke
- Owen says Memphis Depay is another new Man Utd recruit who has started well
- Wayne Rooney is the third-highest scorer in BPL history
- Christian Benteke brings power and an impressive goal ratio to Liverpool's frontline
Right attacking midfielder: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
"I would put Coutinho on the right of the three behind the striker. He's developed into one of the best players in that type of position, behind the centre-forwards, liking to come in off the flanks or stay in that position. He's a world-class player, Liverpool’s best, arguably. He's the first person to start off play, to try to score or assist a goal. There may not be many Liverpool names on my list but Coutinho would be one of the first."
"I would put Coutinho on the right of the three behind the striker. He's developed into one of the best players in that type of position, behind the centre-forwards, liking to come in off the flanks or stay in that position. He's a world-class player, Liverpool’s best, arguably. He's the first person to start off play, to try to score or assist a goal. There may not be many Liverpool names on my list but Coutinho would be one of the first."
Left attacking midfielder: Memphis Depay (Man Utd)
"He's had a good start to his Manchester United career. He scores goals, creates goals. He's got a great physique, he’s quick and strong. He gets in down the left."
"He's had a good start to his Manchester United career. He scores goals, creates goals. He's got a great physique, he’s quick and strong. He gets in down the left."
Central attacking midfielder: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
"I would play Wayne Rooney in behind my striker. He's got a great scoring record. He's going to be an all-time leading goalscorer for Manchester United and England. He’s a great friend as well, and I don’t think anyone will argue with his inclusion in the team.
"I would play Wayne Rooney in behind my striker. He's got a great scoring record. He's going to be an all-time leading goalscorer for Manchester United and England. He’s a great friend as well, and I don’t think anyone will argue with his inclusion in the team.
Centre-forward: Christian Benteke (Liverpool)
"He's the modern type of striker. He can lead the line. He's big, he's strong and can bring others into play. He can score with his feet and his head. As a lone striker he will certainly occupy both centre-backs."
"He's the modern type of striker. He can lead the line. He's big, he's strong and can bring others into play. He can score with his feet and his head. As a lone striker he will certainly occupy both centre-backs."
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