7th placed Everton host 19th placed Swansea on Saturday afternoon when action resumes in the Premier League following the international break.
Both teams have a couple of great players within their ranks, but how does a combined starting XI look like?
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK – Stekelenburg
While Fabianski has made more saves (32) than the Everton goalie (22) has, the former Arsenal goal custodian hasn’t been excellent as the Dutch who has kept the Toffees in games and won them a couple of points, with his 2 penalty saves against Manchester City a perfect highlight of his brilliance. Slightly edges the pole out.
LB – Naughton
The England full-back has been a mainstay in the Welsh team backline, playing at both right and left back positions and missing just a game.
Oviedo, however, has only appeared 6 times for Everton as a result of Leighton Baines’ injury and would return to the bench once the veteran attains full fitness.
CB – Williams
The Welsh will face his former club for the first time since departing in summer and would have made this list regardless of which of the 2 sides he turned out for.
Definitely better than his former centre defence colleagues.
CB – Jagielka
The veteran and ever-reliable centre-half beat Amat hands down in many ways. While the Spaniard is a fine player in all fairness, he doesn’t provide his backline with the type of much-needed assurance the 34-year-old English does.
RB – Coleman
How many right backs in the top flight can actually defend and attack with equally same standout quality like the Irish man does?
The only reason United are planning a swoop on him is because of his all-round greatness and experience which combine to make him one of the best.
CM – Gueye
Playing for a side that eventually got relegated only undermined the abilities of the Senegalese whom only 2 players have made more tackles than this season, and had only Kante make more last season.
Idrissa is miles ahead of the duo of Jack Cork and Ki Sung-Yueng.
CM – Cleverley
The former Manchester United hold down this spot with pride as he is no match for any of Swansea’s central midfielders.
This Premier League winner has an incredible 83.6% pass accuracy and helps to dictate the pace of play from the middle of the park for the Goodison Park outfit.
AML – Bolasie
Put this powerhouse across any of the attacking positions on the pitch and he would perfectly fit in.
Since making that deserved switch from Palace, he has been at the heart of Koeman’s attack, contributing a goal and 4 assists.
Routledge comes close too with a goal and is also a threat on the wing, but he isn’t as exciting to watch like the skilful and dangerous Bolasie.
AMC – Fer
No midfielder from both sides have scored more than he has this season (4). Considering his quality, the Dutch looks too good for the struggling Swans and would sure give Ross Barkley a run for the money if he were to be on the other side. Based on his contributions this term, he takes this spot.
AMR – Sigurdsson
The Iceland international just has to be in this combined best XI for so many reasons.
For starters, his return of 2 goals and 3 assists, playing virtually everywhere across every position in midfield and upfront is no small feat, and one would wonder where Swansea might have been without him.
CF – Lukaku
Fernando Llorente doesn’t come any close.
Lukaku is the future, and one can only imagine how lethargic he would get as he comes of age. With 7 goals and 3 assists, the only player/striker with an hat-trick this term obviously eyes wrecking havoc to Swansea’s defence this weekend.