The anticipation for the Liverpool vs Manchester United clash intensified as Darts prodigy Luke Littler found himself in the midst of a heated debate over his contentious combined XI lineup.
As Jurgen Klopp’s team prepares to face off against their rivals at Old Trafford, seeking redemption after a heartbreaking FA Cup defeat a month ago, the stakes are higher than ever. Every point is crucial in this tightly contested season.
Littler, a rising star in darts, was asked to showcase his football knowledge by selecting a combined XI from both Liverpool and Manchester United players. However, his choices have sparked a heated debate on social media, particularly due to his evident bias towards a certain team.
In his lineup, Littler notably omitted key Liverpool players like Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah, opting instead for Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai over Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay.
It's time for This or That 🤔
Man Utd v Liverpool edition 🆚
Do you agree with Luke Littler’s choices? 🤔#BBCFootball #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/ReeRarxuyM
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 7, 2024The most controversial decision came at the right-back position, where Littler surprisingly chose Diogo Dalot over the highly acclaimed Trent Alexander-Arnold, causing bewilderment among fans and prompting questions about his judgment.
Furthermore, Littler excluded standout performers like Alexis Mac Allister, who has been a revelation for United this season, in favor of Bruno Fernandes, despite Mac Allister’s impressive recent form.
In other positions, Littler’s choices included Harry Maguire over Liverpool’s promising youngster Jarrell Quansah, Kobbie Mainoo over Wataru Endo, Ajenadro Garnacho over Luis Diaz, and Rasmus Hojlund over Darwin Nunez.
This resulted in a combined XI that favored United with six players, raising eyebrows given Liverpool’s dominant position in the Premier League standings.
While Littler’s selections may seem unconventional and even biased to some, they highlight the subjective nature of creating combined XIs and the diversity of opinions within the football community.
In conclusion, Littler’s combined XI may not align with popular consensus, but it has certainly sparked lively discussions among football enthusiasts, adding another layer of excitement to the upcoming clash between Liverpool and Manchester United.
