Who do you guys think has a better starting 11 on paper? Us or them?
Based on the starts from their most recent teams:
Mignolet < De Gea
Johnson < Rafael (on current form, but at his best, Johnson is better)
Flanagan < Evra
Sakho/Agger > Evans
Skyrtel > Smalling
Gerrard > Carrick
Coutinho <Mata
Henderson > Cleverly/Fellaini
Suarez > Rooney
Sturridge > RVP (on current form)
I'd say it's pretty close, but our 11 edges it for me.
On current form we are definitely better than them as we are 11 pts ahead, however, the big difference is that we are playing away. Is Vidic not playing anymore, I would say that with him in their team, their back five is better than ours, anyway they have conceded less than us.
Our central midfield is Gerrard, Allen and Hendo while they are playing Carrick, Fletcher(or Cleverley) and Fellaini. We are close there, I would say we are better attacking while they are better defending.
Their attacking players are Rooney, Van Persie and Mata, we have Suarez, Sturridge and probably Coutinho or Sterling. On paper they are slightly better but we are way ahead on form.
All in all, if their forwards show up and because it is OT, I would say that they are slightly the favourites, but anything can happen. I would be satisfied with a draw and over the moon with a win.
