Combined XI's are something that Sky Sports have really embraced in recent months, perhaps realising that while they are ultimately pointless in almost every way imaginable, there's also something about them that makes it tough for fans to ignore. Especially when it's Man Utd and Liverpool... And especially when it's someone like Graeme Souness picking the team.
Nobody wins in a combined XI. No matter how balanced the team, or strong the argument for someone's inclusion, whoever makes it will be mocked relentlessly by the fans of whoever has less players in the side, and sometimes from both sides regardless.
But Liverpool fans have been enjoying a giggle at the reaction to Souness' combined Man Utd/Liverpool XI, which has gone down like a lead balloon with United fans.
In picking the entire back four, leaving Paul Pogba (and Sadio Mané btw) out of the team, and picking Juan Mata who, despite being much loved and in great form, doesn't get into Man Utd's strongest XI... He left himself open to abuse.
His reasoning didn't do much to ease the concerns of those who were upset.
Valencia is the only one I’d maybe think about, and I’m not really sure he knows his best back four yet, Jose.
News quickly hit social media, and there was outrage.
The absolute of Graeme Souness. Surprised he hasn’t crowbarred Gerrard and Carragher into that combined XI even if they retired years ago.
— Dan (@mufc_dan87) January 12, 2017
Souness picked the Liverpool back four in his United/Liverpool XI hahahaha Sky actually pay him money
— Liam (@_LiamBromley) January 12, 2017
Graham Souness' combined United Liverpool team is the most biased thing I've ever seen
— Conor O'Doherty (@conorodoherty92) January 12, 2017
Graham Souness has completely left Pogba out ??
and the back Four ??, I don't want to even go there pic.twitter.com/TmEQgBrzlG— B.M (@whiisperz) January 12, 2017
I literally HATE Graeme Souness ?Henderson over Pogba Matip and Lovren over Rojo and Jones fuck sake https://t.co/ssKQGVID5J
— Aayron (@WittleEZ) January 12, 2017
Is Paul Merson still the most useless in the sky sports team? Souness contributing with a fine act of stupidity to contend here. https://t.co/jqURGFbjRI
— Chris (@Mezufc) January 12, 2017
Souness picking Liverpool's defence to a man
Eric Bailly could simultaneously nuggie their entire Back Four #MUFC pic.twitter.com/M191AWUsAC— Jonathan Shrager (@JonathanShrager) January 12, 2017
However, the most accurate tweet of the lot was this:
Souness has caught a few there... ?
— Wayne Horlick (@Horlick7) January 12, 2017
If Souness was intending to wind up the type of people that get wound up by combined XI's, then he has well and truly achieved his goal.
You could argue a case for Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba or anyone really, but it's his team. It's his XI. And if he had twitter he would probably think this is all hilarious.
