Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton players feature for the North XI, whilst Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Southampton players star for South XI.
The North XI is made up almost entirely of Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool players, with one Everton star sneaking in. The South XI is similarly dominated by London’s elite; Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, with Southampton being the side with one player making the cut there.
Such is the strength of both sides, the likes of Sadio Mane, David Silva and Romelu Lukaku miss out on the North XI, whilst Laurent Koscielny, Dimitri Payet and Dele Alli all miss out on the South XI. We start with the North XI:
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea
In goal it is a very easy decision, David De Gea is among the best goalkeepers in the world and walks into this team. At right-back, Nathaniel Clyne beats Seamus Coleman and Antonio Valencia to a starting spot, although Everton’s impressive Irishman deserves at least a mention.
A centre-back partnership of Joel Matip and Eric Bailly is likely to cause some debate. Both players only arrived at their respective clubs this summer, but both have done enough in our books to beat the likes of John Stones, Ashley Williams and Lamine Kone to a starting spot. The trickiest decision in this XI comes at left-back, with Luke Shaw, James Milner, Andy Robertson and more all possible options, but ultimately Everton stalwart Leighton Baines just makes the cut.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne walks into our North XI
World record signing Paul Pogba finds himself in the heart of our North XI midfield, with Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne a shoe-in, alongside Henrik Mkhitaryan and Philippe Coutinho in what is admittedly a very attacking midfield.
Romelu Lukaku or Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the only tricky decision to make up front, although some Sunderland fans may feel Jermain Defoe ought to be in contention given his goal scoring feats in a struggling Black Cats side. We’ve opted for the Manchester United ace Zlatan, who naturally partners Manchester City’s world class Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero.
On to the South XI and once more there were some tricky decisions to make, starting right from the off in goal, where Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal fans may all feel their number one’s ought to come out on top. All three could make good cases, but we’ve just edged for Spurs’ top class shot stopper Hugo Lloris.
At right-back Hector Bellerin rightly comes out in favour of Kyle Walker, although it is a harder call at centre-back. Toby Alderweireld has to be in there, and then it is a toss-up between Virgil van Dijk and Laurent Koscielny. Ultimately, we have opted for the Southampton centre-back, who has been almost faultless this season.
Chelsea star N’Golo Kante starts for our South XI
The Saints may feel they should have another representative at left-back, but Danny Rose gets the nod there. N’Golo Kante is a must in midfield, the Chelsea ace does the work of two men and is much needed in another highly attacking XI. Arsenal’s creative force Mesut Ozil sits in front of him, whilst the incredible Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez play either side of the central duo.
Given Sanchez is deployed on the wing, it is an easy call up front, where Diego Costa and Harry Kane form a lethal strike partnership. Costa has been nothing short of sensational for Chelsea this season, whilst Tottenham’s Harry Kane picked up the Premier League Golden Boot last season.
Who would win if our chosen North XI faced the South XI?
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