Ray Parlour has revealed his Liverpool-Arsenal combined XI – with just two of Jurgen Klopp’s men making the cut.
Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday in what is a pivotal game for both sides, with the Gunners looking to at least maintain their eight-point lead over Manchester City in the title race.
Following Tuesday night’s goalless draw at Chelsea, Liverpool’s top four hopes have taken a big blow, with the Reds now eighth in the table and 10 points off fourth-place Manchester United.
The fortunes of the two clubs this season could not be more different, with many of Arsenal’s players in the running for player of the year awards, while it can be argued that none of Liverpool’s stars have had a great campaign.
And that is reflected in Parlour’s combined XI of the two sides based on current form and fitness, which is dominated by Mikel Arteta’s team.
The Gunners legend told NetBet: ‘Looking at current form, it has to be all Arsenal, except for Virgil van Dijk. I know he isn’t playing great, but you would get him in alongside Gabriel, no disrespect to Rob Holding, and with William Saliba currently out injured.
‘You would also still have to find a spot for Mohamed Salah, but you can’t leave Bukayo Saka out and Gabriel Martinelli is playing well so it is an awkward one.
‘But with Gabriel Jesus having recently come back from injury, I would put Salah up front over the Brazilian. You’ve got to get Salah in there somehow – he could play as a false number nine up front with Saka and Martinelli on the wing – as Jesus has only just come back.
‘Liverpool don’t get many spaces. You’ve got Aaron Ramsdale in goal, I am happy with Ben White at right-back, he’s a good defender and has done so well this season, and at left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has been brilliant.
‘I love Andy Robertson, he’s a good player, but Zinchenko has been one of Arsenal’s best players in recent weeks. I’d certainly rather have White and Zinchenko over Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson.
‘And in midfield, Thomas Partey has been excellent, and you can’t leave Martin Odegaard out the way he’s been playing. Nobody from Liverpool’s midfield gets in.
‘Partey, Granit Xhaka and Odegaard, as a three, they work so well together, and I can’t see how the likes of Jordan Henderson or Fabinho get in the way they are playing.’
Saka is widely considered to be Arsenal best player right now, though was surprisingly benched for the recent win over Leeds, a decision that Parlour has heralded as a ‘masterstroke’.
He added: ‘He will be fresh and raring to go at the weekend. You need your best players in big games, and it’s another opportunity for him to show just how good he is.
‘Saka has played so much football in recent weeks so it was a masterstroke from Mikel Arteta to rest him at the weekend against Leeds so he has a boost going into this busy April spell and for this Liverpool game.’
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