As Liverpool and Manchester United prepare to lock horns on Sunday, it’s been no surprise to see numerous combined XIs doing the rounds this week.
Although the teams have unsurprisingly been heavily made up of Reds players, there has been one area of contention.
Virgil van Dijk has walked into the side, but Joel Matip and Harry Maguire have seen themselves both omitted and included.
Having asked Twitter who they believe is superior, Matip earned the vast majority of the votes, potentially with a bit of Liverpool bias thrown in.
These Reds supporters have revealed why they believe the Cameroonian is superior to Maguire.
Matip. He's performed at a higher level in his career. More consistent, doesn't get caught out by a slow turn of foot. Whenever Maguire has performed against the best, he's struggled. Hence England's struggles against Holland etc etc. Comparison should have been Lovren Vs Maguire
— Chris Jennings 🟨🟥 (@cjluck84) October 16, 2019
I've gone for Matip as better,ehoxh at the moment I think he is. Given time, maguire will probably be better but it's a bit soon for him. Matip has got so much better under Klopp and with Virgil.
— ♿Rachel Ellis♿ (@RleEllis) October 16, 2019
We'd need to see them both play in the same defence to really know. Perhaps Maguire alongside VvD would look better than he does now. But based on the current situation – Maguire makes a lot more critical (and often unforced) errors that lead to dangerous chances.
— Andy Wright (@andrewwright2) October 16, 2019
This season has been outstanding, playing at a higher level and stepped up!
— mattchun (@mattchun78) October 16, 2019
Matip. Doesn't have to live up to a price tag. Better positional awareness and reading of the game. Improved in the last year whereas Maguire has stayed level
— Elliott Blackburn (@Elliott619) October 16, 2019
Matip reads the game better and has a calming effect when defending. Both can come out of defence with the ball at there feet but I'd say matip is a better passer. Maguire can and will improve tho but I think Matip just has a bit more about him
— @DarrenKennedy4🤫 (@DarrenKennedy41) October 16, 2019
Read Liverpool Verdict
Matip’s stock has risen so much in the last 12 or so – the thought of him being rated higher than Maguire back then was unthinkable.
He has been imperious in 2019, however, playing a huge part in a Liverpool’s Champions League success.
Maguire is a good player in his own right, but he has been over-hyped by some in the media, who treat him like Rio Ferdinand or John Terry in their prime.
It could be argued that Maguire potentially has the higher ceiling, but right now, Matip is the superior player.
