The Merseyside derby is a fixture that every fan looks out for when the footballing calendar is announced at the start of the season, because while the local clash between Manchester United and Manchester City at the top of the table may be the biggest game in terms of prestige at the moment, few can trump the sheer history that this battle provides.

With that in mind and the derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield drawing ever-close at the start of May, both clubs are still to be found on the outskirts of a top four chase and by the time this fixture rolls around, they could have only local pride still to play for. The only rules are that they have to be available for the fixture itself, which at the moment Tony Hibbert (calf) and Joe Allen (shoulder), Fabio Borini (shoulder) and Martin Kelly (knee) are certain to be missing from duty. Lining up in a 4-3-3 system, here is the combined starting eleven that would give most top flight clubs a run for their money...

Click on Leighton Baines for the full combined XI