Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Vincent Kompany is one of the big name omissions from a combined Liverpool and Manchester City XI based on statistics this season.
The two clubs will meet in the League Cup final on Sunday, with Jurgen Klopp hoping to win the first trophy of his tenure - and the Reds' first since Kenny Dalglish was in charge - and Manuel Pellegrini hoping to make his final season at the Etihad a successful one.
Fantasy Football game Oulala have crunched the numbers and found which players have been, statisically speaking, performing the best this season.
The stats are all based on Premier League appearances.
City skipper Kompany surprisingly misses out - given his importance to the side it is clear that the Belgian's influence extends far beyond just the numbers.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is another player to not make the side, along with Yaya Toure who, in truth, has had a poor season.
Oulala's stats team took a look at two players in each position and analysed a host of key areas to determine who made the grade to feature in the combined Liverpool and Manchester stat-based best XI.
See who makes the XI and why below...
Show all 12 1 /12Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Goalkeeper Joe Hart is the clear winner to take the No 1 shirt, beating Simon Mignolet in every major statistical category. Hart has kept three more clean sheets (11 to 8), makes more saves per game (2.3 to 1.9), more saves per goal (2.3 to 1.5), concedes fewer goals (1 to 1.3 per game) as well as catching more high balls (3 to 2.2) and punching more away (0.9 to 0.6).
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Right-back Another City man in this spot with Bacary Sagna just outplaying summer signing Nathaniel Clyne. Sagna creats more chances per game (1 to 0.6), makes more clearances (4.1 to 2.4) and 13 more passes per game. However, the pair both make 1.8 interceptions per game, while Clyne wins more tackles (1.8 to 1.2 per game) and has more successful take ons (0.7 to 0.2) than the Frenchman.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, largely seen as a bit of a flop so far this season, beats Dejan Lovren - who's definitely been seen as a flop. Otamendi wins more takles (2 to 1), makes more clearances (8 to 6.6) and intercepts more (3.2 to 1.6) than the Croation. The pair both make the same number of blocks (0.4) but Lovren definitely has an advantage in the air - he wins more aerial duels 3.5 to 3.1) and has much more success (81% to 64%).
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Centre-back Surprisingly, the second centre-back spot is filled by Mamadou Sakho and not City lynchpin Vincent Kompany. On a per-game basis, Sakho wins more tackles (0.9 to 0.6), makes more clearances (6.3 to 5.6), more interceptions (1.6 to 1.5) and blocks (0.8 to 0.4). He also wins more headers (3.5 to 2.3), although Kompany has much more success in the air (85% to 62%).
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Left-back Gael Clichy makes it three out of the back four to be Manchester City players. Clichy beats Alberto Moreno with more clearances (2.3 to 1.7), interceptions (2.8 to 1.8) and take ons (1 to 0.6). However, Moreno wins more tackles (2.2 to 1.7) and creates many more chances (1.8 to 0.5) than Clichy.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Defensive midfield Another surprising selection sees Fernando beat Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in defensive midfield. Although Henderson creates more chances per game (1.3 to 0.4), Fernando beats him in five other key categories. Recording more clearnaces (1.5 to 1.2), interceptions (1.5 to 1.3), tackles (1.7 to 1.2), blocks (0.3 to 0.1) and pass completition 91% to 77%).
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Defneisve midfield The second Liverpool player in the side is the impressive Emre Can, who beats Fernandinho. It's a close call but Can creates more chances (1.1 to 0.9), makes more clearances (1.8 to 1.6) and more blocks (0.2 to 0.1) than the hard-working Brazilian. However, Fernandinho does have the edge in tackles (2.4 to 2.2) and pass completition (88% to 81%), while the pair both make 1.8 interceptions per game.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Right wing No surprise to see David Silva in ahead of former Manchester City man James Milner. Silva creates more chances (2.4 to 2.1), key passes (2 to 1.8), successful passes (46 to 36) and take ons than Milner (1.4 to 0.6). Silva has more assists (8 to 6), although Milner has been on the scoresheet more often, scoring four goals to Silva's two.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Attacking midfield Big money signing Roberto Firmino has been inconsistent this season but he has been better than the off-key Yaya Toure. Firmino has created more chanes (1.6 to 1.3), made more key passes (1.4 to 1.1) and also has more goals (6 to 5) and more assits (6 to 5). Toure does have a better pass completition rate (87% to 76%) and more take ons than Firmino (1.9 to 1.6).
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Left wing Raheem Sterling made a mega-money move to the Etihad in the summer but he is still being outperformed by Philippe Coutinho. Sterling is slightly ahead of the Brazilian in key passes (1.4 to 1.3), but is behind in chances created (1.6 to 1.5), successful passes (33 to 26), take ons (1.9 to 1.5) and assists (5 to 2). The pair each have five goals this season.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI Striker There can only be one winner here. Daniel Sturrdige may have a better sconversion rate (21% to 18%) and shot accuracy (70% to 58%) than Sergio Aguero, but the Manchester City striker has two more assists. There's also the small matter of Aguero's 14 goals to just three for Sturridge.
Liverpool vs Man City - statistical XI
Oulala.com
Stats supplied by daily fantasy football game www.oulala.com
Follow Oulala on Twitter @OulalaGames
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies