Friday 2 October 2015 16:01, UK
Six Everton players have made it into Phil Thompson's combined XI from Everton and Liverpool’s squad ahead of Super Sunday's Merseyside derby.
The Liverpool legend, who is backing a 2-2 draw in his Sky Bet tips, has left both Christian Benteke and Steven Naismith, who netted a hat-trick against Chelsea last month out of his team.
THOMMO'S COMBINED XI 4-4-2: Howard (Everton); Clyne (Liverpool), Stones (Everton), Skrtel (Liverpool), Baines (Everton); Barkley (Everton), McCarthy (Everton), Milner (Liverpool), Coutinho (Liverpool); Lukaku (Everton), Sturridge (Liverpool).
Here's Thommo's best XI:
The goalkeeper was a toss-up. Neither have not been great but Tim Howard just shades it for me because Liverpool have leaked more goals.
Skrtel is very steady. We've gone through Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho. We've tried three at the back with Emre Can and even Kolo Toure, but Skrtel is the one ever present and he's very good.
I'm a great admirer of (Phil) Jagielka but I stand by Skrtel, I think he is quicker and is better all-round.
I've gone for flair with Ross Barkley and Philippe Coutinho coming in off the lines to allow Nathaniel Clyne and Leighton Baines to come round and be over-lapping full-backs.
There's plenty of firepower up front. Romelu Lukaku is pretty good form and always a threat, and Daniel Sturridge has already shown how vital he is to Liverpool. Christian Benteke has done okay but Lukaku and Sturridge are the better pairing for me.
