Manchester United play host to Tottenham this Sunday in what will undoubtedly be one of the defining games in this year’s race for the Premier League’s top four places.
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The Red Devils currently occupy fourth place in the Premier League with then games to go until the end of the season and they are two points clear of fifth placed Liverpool. Tottenham are placed sixth at the moment, three points behind Manchester United and, should results go their way, could draw level with the final Champions League spot this weekend.
Here is a combined XI from the two sides with Spurs taking six places and United having five.
GK: David de Gea (Manchester United)
The Spanish stopper has made nine clean sheets so far this season and Manchester United have much to thank him for. Had it not been for de Gea, it is likely the Red Devils would be much lower down the table and not in the top four race at all.
RB: Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Walker is an attacking right back, though he does look after his defensive duties. The former Sheffield United man affords more security than Antonio Valencia, who put in an inept performance against Arsenal earlier in the week.
CB: Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)
A brick wall in Tottenham’s defence. Playing next to youngster Eric Dier, Vertonghen has had to mentor him while also putting in assured performances, particularly in the second half of the season.
CB: Phil Jones (Manchester United)
Jones has suffered with various niggling injuries, but when on form he’s up there with the best centre backs in the Premier League. Pips Rojo to a place due the the Argentine’s unspectacular showing this season.
LB: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Another player who has suffered with niggling injuries this season and hasn’t played as well as he would have liked. More reliable than Danny Rose and Ben Davies though and will look to kick on for the rest of this season and the next.
CM: Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur)
The 20-year-old holding midfielder has impressed, putting in many assured performances which have belied his young age in his breakthrough season.The Algerian international has featured in 25 games this season, though that would have been more would he not have played in the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
RW: Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Argentine has scored four goals and assisted a further five this season, showing much improvement from a tricky first year in North London after his move from Roma.
AMC: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Eriksen is undoubtedly the man who makes Tottenham tick, dictating the play and contributing 11 goals. The 23-year-old Dane is known for spectacular free kicks and if Spurs can clinch a top four spot, it will likely have a lot to do with this man’s performances.
LW: Ashley Young (Manchester United)
Young has grasped his first-team chance at Manchester United with both hands after Louis van Gaal decided to shake things up in his faltering side. The 29-year-old winger is likely playing for his Old Trafford future and that seems to have spurred him on to produce some of the best form we have seen from him in a United shirt.
ST: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
The Manchester United captain is, largely, the heart and soul of their team. When Rooney was forced to play in midfield earlier this season, due to an injury crisis, he looked restricted, but nevertheless got on with the job. He was placed back up front for the Red Devils and looked like he had been given a new lease of life and much expectation rests on his shoulders.
ST: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane has come from nowhere this season to be the overwhelming Premier League success story, scoring a phenomenal 26 goals. Only time will tell if his form is just a flash in the pan, but with an England call-up on the horizon and a second consecutive Premier League Player of the Month award, his confidence will by sky high.