Virgil van Dijk is joined by a familiar face at centre back, Man United's renaissance man sits in midfield but there is NO place for Mo Salah: Stats boffins reveal combined Liverpool vs Man United XI

Man United 's recent trips to Anfield have understandably stirred trepidation among the Old Trafford masses, still traumatised by the 7-0 hammering served up two seasons ago.

But, in truth, the Red Devils have shown remarkable resilience since returning to Merseyside, holding their fierce rivals to draws on two occasions.

On those occasions, United visited a Liverpool side on the march, with Arne Slot (and before that, Jurgen Klopp ) mounting compelling title charges, while the visitors have been in a state of flux that appears never-ending.

And whilst there are plenty of issues to address for Ruben Amorim and his fabled 3-4-3 system, so too have questions been levelled at Slot's door.

The Reds enter Sunday's contest a shadow of the team that cruised to the crown last term, suffering three consecutive defeats to huge dismay among fans and pundits.

Graeme Souness famously claimed only one United player would make it into Liverpool's team prior to the 7-0 trouncing, but with both teams out of sorts, what would a combined team look like today? Stats boffins Sofascore have provided all the answers.

Arne Slot's Liverpool will take on Manchester United this weekend in a bid to turn about their poor form

Ruben Amorim's side beat Sunderland last time out but have again been enduring a slump

Though he is now out of action with an injury, Alisson has little competition between the sticks in this combined side - though that could change as the games continue to come thick and fast.

The Brazilian has kept two clean sheets in his six matches this season, with Liverpool's defence a little leakier than it was last term. It's seen him concede 1.17 goals per game and prevent -0.54 goals a game, with one defensive error to his name.

That said, United have had a bit of a keeper crisis, with Andre Onana leaving for Turkey and Altay Bayindir proving to be not up to standard, but Senne Lammens joined for £21.7million in the summer and kept a clean sheet on debut against Sunderland, showing good promise.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will deputise in Alisson's absence, but the Reds No 1 has averaged 1.5 saves per game, stopping 56.3 per cent of efforts he has faced. He takes the No 1 jersey in this team - for now.

Ironically for Liverpool, after signing one of Europe's most exciting right backs and also having an academy graduate full of potential in that position, their answer to Trent Alexander-Arnold's replacement may well be a midfielder.

Slot has been reluctant to drop any of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch if he can get away with it, and putting the Hungarian in defence has proven to be a solid way around that.

Szoboszlai has started all seven matches for Liverpool so far this season, with three of them coming at right back, including the vital 1-0 win over Arsenal at the end of August that saw him score a stunning free kick.

He is taking more than two shots a game and averaging more than one key pass a game and nearly two tackles. A duel percentage win of 50 per cent (3.57 per game) is also solid, and he continues to be vital for the Reds.

The first of our centre back pairing is a man rejuvenated this season.

After years of wondering whether his early potential will ever be realised, Matthijs De Ligt is finally showing signs of the colossus defender who led Ajax to the semi-final of the Champions League in 2019.

The 26-year-old has proven himself to be undroppable from Amorim's starting line-up and he has made an undisputable case to be included in this combined XI.

The big Dutchman averages over five clearances, two tackles, three ball recoveries and an interception per game, and can be trusted playing the ball from the back with a pass accuracy of 88 per cent.

De Ligt is the dependable rock who will partner the man likely to be the captain of this team...

Liverpool's Van Dijk, who is De Ligt's countryman, gets the nod at centre back, and there wasn't too much competition.

Potentially still the best central defender in the world, he has been an ever-present as his side defend their Premier League title, and has put up some seriously impressive numbers in the opening weeks of the season.

He averages 8.57 clearances a game, 1.14 interceptions a game, one block a game and is only dribbled past 0.14 times a game - essentially once this season.

Liverpool lack depth at centre back with Marc Guehi's proposed transfer from Crystal Palace collapsing at the 11th hour and Giovanni Leoni out for the season, and an injury to van Dijk would be disastrous. An important part of the Reds' defence - potentially the most important.

Virgil van Dijk has once again been an integral part of Liverpool's defence so far this season

Before a ball was kicked this season, there is little to no chance Danish defender Patrick Dorgu would be selected by fans as the starting left back of this make-believe team.

Milos Kerkez, after all, was far and away the standout player in his position in the entire league last term, with Slot eager to recruit the Hungarian as the long-term replacement for Andy Robertson.

But the young left back has demonstrated perhaps he is not quite the finished product just yet, with his erratic performances causing undue anxiety among the Reds masses.

So, step right up Mr Dorgu. A reliable presence on the left, the 20-year-old has won over half of his duels this season, as well as 2.5 tackles per game. He provides an attacking threat too, with an assist and cross accuracy of just under 30 per cent.

United midfielder Mason Mount has been a talent reborn under Ruben Amorim. Many expected Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to be the players to play in the No 10 roles for the Portuguese this season, but Mount has forced his way in.

The 26-year-old has started four of the seven games this season, scoring one goal - his first at Old Trafford - against Sunderland. His attacking numbers aren't spectacular - he is yet to create a big chance, has no assists, has 0.67 shots a game and his passing accuracy is 77.9 per cent - but his defensive work is what wins the plaudits.

Known as a hard worker by most, the former England midfielder recovery two balls a game and wins 2.5 duels a game. That, along with his pressing work, allows the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha to flourish when they are in the side too.

The find of last season has continued his good form this term for Liverpool, anchoring a midfield that has been gaping wide when he has been absent.

Ryan Gravenberch missed the first game of the season - the 4-2 home win over Bournemouth - through suspension and did they notice. The third Dutchman in the side has a ball recovery average of 4.67 per game and completes 1.67 tackles every 90 minutes, highlighting his defensive strength.

But he is starting to add attacking threat to his game too. Gravenberch is taking 1.67 shots per game and has scored two goals from his six games, also picking up one assist.

How United could do with a player like him to partner this next man...

Ryan Gravenberch's early season absence was noticed by Liverpool on the opening day

Bruno Fernandes has been playing deeper for Manchester United this season but earns a spot in this side

It's been a season of 'what ifs' for United captain Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder has missed two penalties already and is playing in a deeper position, but still earns a spot in this side.

Fernandes has scored two goals from 2.29 shots per game, while he also recovers a staggering 6.14 balls a game and wins 5.29 duels a game.

He is the glue to the United side and will be the last man dropped by Amorim, meaning he will always fill in in one position or another. If United truly are set to turn their season around, he will be key.

That together earns him a spot in this side - not that he had much competition. Good day to you, Florian Wirtz.

Comfortably the most controversial of the selections, there is no room for Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah in this team.

The Anfield hero, who at times singlehandedly spearheaded last season's title charge, has been out of sorts this campaign, providing a measly two goals and two assists from the first seven Premier League games.

And the boffins have seen fit to cull Salah from this combined XI, with United star occupying the right flank instead.

While Amorim has deployed the Ivorian at right wing back, the stats suggest Diallo can also threaten further forwards. He has registered 1.83 shots per game, and 1.33 key passes per game.

He's also been heavily involved in the opposition box with 4.5 touches per game and can lead from the front defensively, with nearly five duels won every game.

Cody Gakpo has ousted the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Florian Wirtz to make this side

Having spent a combined £250m on Cunha, Mbeumo and Florian Wirtz between them, surely one of the big money signings will occupy the left flank?

Think again. The trio of newbies have failed to live up to the excellent performances of last season that convinced United and Liverpool to splash considerable cash in the summer market, and so the boffins have rightly given this place to a man in sensational form.

While those around him have faltered, Cody Gakpo has delivered. The Dutch international has two goals and two assists from six starts in the league, created three big chances for teammates and converted the one big chance that has presented itself to him.

With an average overall rating of 7.24, it's no wonder the 26-year-old has nailed down a spot on the left.

Undoubtedly the best summer signing from either club, Ekitike's place up top can not be disputed.

With three goals and an assist from his opening seven Premier League games, the big Frenchman has settled into life in England with aplomb, and starts ahead of fellow big money signings Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak - the former showing signs of promise while the latter has not been at the races at all since his £125m arrival from Newcastle.

Boasting a big chance conversion of 67 per cent, you'd back Ekitike to deliver when the opportunity presents itself.

Sofascore's full combined XI includes six Liverpool players and five from Manchester United