Liverpool and Manchester United go head-to-head for the 193rd time on Saturday evening, with the pressure building on both managers at the start of the season.

Reports this week suggested United boss Louis van Gaal was confronted by players over his rigid training regime, per the Times (h/t the Telegraph), while Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers saw his side suffer their first 3-0 home defeat since 1965 last time out.

Despite neither of the two north-west sides impressing in their opening four Premier League games, they each have seven points.

Goalscoring has been the issue though, with Rodgers' Reds only finding the net twice, and Van Gaal's side with only one more.

United lost to Swansea City in their last game, so the pressure is on both managers to get a result after the international break.

Ahead of the fixture, we've compiled a combined XI from the two sides, forming a 4-3-3 formation—as ever, it's theoretical and purely subjective.

GK David De Gea

Simon Mignolet's form in 2015 has been mightily impressive, showing a huge turnaround from last time these two sides met in December and the Belgian was dropped in favour of Brad Jones.

But despite Mignolet's improvements, it's David De Gea who gets the nod in goal for this XI.

The Spaniard somehow remained at Old Trafford this summer and remains the best 'keeper in the Premier League.

RB: Nathaniel Clyne

Arguably the toughest direct comparison arrives at right-back, where United's Matteo Darmian has impressed in his first four league games, winning the club's Player of the Month award in the process.

Nathaniel Clyne has been equally well received on Merseyside, though, providing a huge upgrade on Glen Johnson at right-back. Clyne has added defensive acumen as well as attacking capabilities from full-back.

Clyne gets the nod in this XI purely for being the more proven Premier League player, having enjoyed three solid seasons with Southampton before making the move to Anfield this summer.

A contentious one that United fans will no doubt disagree with, but in truth, there's little between these two.

LB: Luke Shaw

Left-back is an easier selection, with Liverpool lacking in that department—a perennially problematic position for the Reds over the last two decades.

Rodgers signed Alberto Moreno for £12 million last summer, but the Spaniard is out of favour, and youngster Joe Gomez has started the season well.

But Luke Shaw is without a doubt the better and more proven option at the moment—a natural left-back who offers good width. 

CB: Martin Skrtel

Martin Skrtel divides opinion among Liverpool supporters. There are those who see him as the all-action, shot-blocking hardman in the Reds' defence, and there are those who see him as the only constant in Liverpool's constantly fragile defence.

Non-Liverpool fans seem to rate the Slovakian, and given United's own defensive issues in recent times, Skrtel gets the nod here.

CB: Chris Smalling

With Liverpool struggling to find a partner for Skrtel, and Rodgers bizarrely persisting with Dejan Lovren, it's United's man-in-form Chris Smalling who we're selecting as the other centre-back.

Smalling has impressed at the start of the season, earning praise for his much-improved displays, and many pundits are tipping him to become an England regular.

DM: Morgan Schneiderlin

Ah, defensive midfield. It's a position of huge contention among Liverpool supporters, and one that Rodgers has consistently failed to address in his three years in charge.

Lucas Leiva remains the club's only really established defensive midfielder, while Emre Can could end up being the man to fill the role in future. Jordan Henderson started the season in that position, but it was clear it completely negated his game and nullified his best attributes.

It's an easy choice to put Morgan Schneiderlin in the role. The France international is a superb purchase for United and a player who, somehow, Liverpool didn't sign from Southampton in the past 12 months.

The Reds have signed four players from the south-coast club in the last two summer transfer windows, but they still didn't acquire the Saints' best player.

CM: Jordan Henderson

Slightly ahead of Schneiderlin in midfield is new Liverpool captain Henderson.

The England man provided an impressive 15 assists in all competitions last summer, showing the need for him to be further forward in midfield—which also gets the best from his work rate and eye for goal.

CM: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Alongside Henderson is the experience and European pedigree of German Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The 31-year-old may be a declining force and suffered with injuries in his last season at Bayern Munich, but he's still a classy player who has shown in his early days at Old Trafford that he can certainly dictate play and run the tempo of the game.

A midfield trio of Schneiderlin, Henderson and Schweinsteiger would certainly be capable of controlling the game and providing both a robust shield in front of the defence and also suitable ammunition for the attack.

AM: Philippe Coutinho

In attack, the first name is Liverpool's Player of the Season last year, Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian has continued to develop in the Premier League, and aged 23, he still has a lot more improvements to come.

Liverpool's most creative player, he'll be a huge miss for them on Saturday after being sent off for two yellow cards in the Reds' last outing.

AM: Memphis Depay

Alongside Coutinho and assisting the centre-forward is United new boy Memphis Depay.

The 21-year-old Dutchman provides dribbling attributes that are lacking in the Premier League in general and has an eye for goal.

Like Coutinho, he has plenty of room for development and will be a star name in the years to come. 

FWD: Daniel Sturridge

Completing the lineup is arguably the most controversial selection, with Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge getting the nod over Man United's Wayne Rooney up front.

Sturridge has missed most of the last 12 months of football, meaning it's easy to forget just how good the now-26-year-old was prior to his injury lay off.

Forty goals in 67 games for Liverpool is an impressive record, and if he can get anywhere near that sort of form again, he'll become the main man again at Anfield—despite the club having signed Christian Benteke for £32 million this summer.