---
title: "Fans can’t believe Matip’s omission from Liverpool-Man United combined XI"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/fans-cant-believe-matips-omission-from-liverpool-man-united-combined-xi/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2019-10-16T19:30:12Z"
modified: "2019-10-16T19:30:12Z"
---

# Fans can’t believe Matip’s omission from Liverpool-Man United combined XI

Clashes between Liverpool and Manchester United remain the biggest in English football, regardless of where both sides are in the Premier League table.

It is a rivalry as fierce as anything in Europe and victory tastes sweeter than in any other game.

It’s no surprise to see endless focus on Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford, with numerous pundits picking their combined XI this week.

The latest to try his luck on *Sky Sports* was former United assistant manager Steve McClaren.

Although his team looked relatively fair on paper, the omission of in-form Joel Matip left these supporters baffled.

https://twitter.com/KianWard\_1/status/1184407258559590401?s=20

> If you think Maguire is better than Matip, your footballing knowledge needs to be questioned
>
> — Kit Maytum (@maytumator) [October 16, 2019](https://twitter.com/maytumator/status/1184407079576100864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Anyone who thinks Maguire is better than Matip bases their football knowledge off a price tag
>
> — AL (@a\_lythgoe00) [October 16, 2019](https://twitter.com/a_lythgoe00/status/1184407100430209024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Matip is better than Maguire. There's no evidence to tell me otherwise
>
> — 🐦‍🔥ANDY 🐦‍🔥 (@amdlfc91) [October 16, 2019](https://twitter.com/amdlfc91/status/1184407107241762817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> matip\>maguire
>
> — Luke (@LM4R7) [October 16, 2019](https://twitter.com/LM4R7/status/1184406949678309376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Maguire over Matip hahahah
>
> — Liverpool GFN (@LiverpoolGFN) [October 16, 2019](https://twitter.com/LiverpoolGFN/status/1184407140485750784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Read Liverpool Verdict

This support for Matip shows just how far he has come in the last 12 months.

The Cameroonian appeared likely to leave Liverpool this time last year, when he was arguably fourth-choice centre-back.

He has been magnificent in 2019, however, performing as well as Virgil van Dijk this season and winning the Premier League Player of the Month award for September.

Harry Maguire is a good centre-back, too, but on current form Matip deserves the nod alongside Van Dijk in a combined XI.