The greatest Manchester United and City Man combined Premier League XI



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With the 177th Manchester derby on the horizon, it is only natural with the fixture's greatest XI has cropped up again.

Manchester United travel to face Man City in the Premier League fixture on Sunday afternoon as Jose Mourinho's side look to an upset against the reigning champions of England.

But which team has produced the best players during the Premier League era and which players would make it into a combined XI?

Our panel has had their say on the issue. Let us know in the comments below who would be in your combined XI.

Stuart Brennan

This was tough – so many legendary players left out. I still can not justify omitting Eric Cantona, Yaya Toure, Roy Keane and Carlos Tevez.

But I took the coward's way out of the game, and it was a tight call between Kyle Walker and Gary Neville at right back.

Then Kevin De Bruyne marginally saw off Keane, as more of an all-round footballer, while I expect that in five years Raheem Sterling and / or Leroy Sane may have displaced Giggs – another close call.



Charlotte Duncker

De Bruyne and Cantona do not even make the cut.

So starting in net it would have been to Schmeichel, United's treble winning keeper and played for City too so ticks both boxes. Then there's not really any argument at right back, yet. Neville and while he's still getting to grips with the United States.

Center back pairing would have to Vidic and Kompany, a formidable duo that would frighten any attacker in the Premier League.

Then the real debate comes in midfield. Playing a 4-3-3 way to a grading and a wealth of talent to pick from. Silva's arguably one of the world's best players and one of the greatest midfielder in the Premier League. Keane gets the nod for his physicality and leadership skills.

Aguero gets in ahead of Rooney, just, but there would be a clear argument for the training.



Rich Fay

In goal we already have the first contentious point. Growing up Van der Sar was the standard setter in the Premier League – yes I am that young. However, the Dutch keeper won 27 major trophies during his career and holds the world league clean sheet by a single goal for 1,311 minutes.

For balance in midfield I have chosen Yaya Toure, Roy Keane and David Silva. For me this midfield has the best captain Keane, while Toure at his peak was one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the division. Paul Scholes and Silva for the final creative spot, but the city maestro edges it for me.

The final selection is worth the striker with Wayne Rooney. Love him or hate him, the veteran attacker is the recorder in the history of the derby and ever so slightly to the incredible talents of Sergio Aguero.



Liam Corless

Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar are two of United's all-time great goalskeepers but David de Gea is better than both of them.

At right-back Gary Neville is the obvious choice, while Vincent Kompany and Rio Ferdinand provide the perfect mix of defensive ability and class on the ball. Honorable mentions for Jaap Stam and Nemanja Vidic.

Patrice Evra and Dennis Irwin are the only real candidates for the left-back berth goal I've been plumped for the first time in the team that reached the final Champions League in four years between 2008 and 2011.

In midfield Yaya Toure is just edged out by Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and David Silva. In a couple of years Kevin De Bruyne might be in the equation but it's not enough to justify his inclusion just yet.

In the forward positions I have gone for Cristiano Ronaldo on the right wing with Wayne Rooney Sergio Aguero has the lone central striker.



Ciaran Kelly

I went into this thinking selecting a goalkeeper would make the decision to make me think aloud – not a great start. I've gone for Peter Schmeichel but David from Gea is well on his way to establishing himself as a United legend.

The back oven was pretty straightforward – Denis Irwin was Mr Consistent – and Vincent Kompany just edges Nemanja Vidic out for a bit of blue / red balance.

In midfield, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane play David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne beat third.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs were picked out Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney were tricky.

The Argentine gives the side some much-needed City balance – and he's well on his way to surpassing Rooney's goal tally in Manchester.



Samuel Luckhurst

Schmeichel and Van der Sar are probably the greatest United goalkeepers but neither have defied beliefs like De Gea has. The Spaniard's ability may well be longer than that of United Schmeichel or Van der Sar.

Neville was one of the most consistent right-backs in Europe for upwards of five years. Ferdinand and Vidic were the best defensive partnerships on the planet between 2006 and 2008 and Ferdinand was the finest center half in the world during that period. Evra may be more successful than Irwin (Ultimate Champions League in his career) but the Irishman was stabler and ahead of his time with his sense of adventure.

Keane was maybe as important as Eric Cantona. Scholes is possibly the greatest Greater Manchester-born player in the club's history and has the best Premier League player since Ronaldo left in 2009. There are no better Premier League goalscorer this decade than Aguero. Giggs' longevity often masked his quality, which became more sparing in his last eight years, but he was still twisting blood in his late 30s. Ronaldo is the most gifted talent United George Best.



Nine red and two blue
Nine red and two blue

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