This weekend’s Premier League action kicks off with a corker from Old Trafford, as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon (12:30).

Both title contenders are locked on 20 points from their opening nine league fixtures in 2017-18, in second and third place respectively in the standings, five points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

The Red Devils are looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season following last weekend’s surprise 2-1 loss at newly promoted Huddersfield Town.

Meanwhile Spurs have won four league games on the bounce after thrashing Liverpool 4-1 at Wembley Stadium last Sunday.

The last meeting between these two sides at The Theatre of Dreams saw the hosts run out slender 1-0 winners thanks to a first-half strike from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

With a golden opportunity to put pressure on leaders Manchester City this weekend due to the early kick-off, Shoot! has put together our very own Manchester United-Tottenham combined XI from the Premier League campaign so far…

*The following XI follows a traditional 4-4-2 formation and includes ALL players from either squad, regardless of whether they are injured or suspended in reality*

Goalkeeper: David De Gea

Regarded as one of the best shot stoppers in world football, Spaniard De Gea gets the nod ahead of Spurs’ Frenchman Hugo Lloris between the sticks.

He has impressively kept seven clean sheets in nine league outings so far this season – two more than Lloris.

Right-back: Kieran Trippier

Trippier is named as our right-sided full-back ahead of Antonio Valencia, given the latter’s primary position as a winger.

The 27-year-old has impressed for Tottenham since the summer sale of fellow England international Kyle Walker to Manchester City, providing four assists in eight league games this term, and is undoubtedly a more defensively sound option than the attack-minded Valencia.

Centre-back: Toby Alderweireld

Our first central defender is Belgium international Alderweireld, who gets the nod ahead of the likes of Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones from Manchester United’s ranks.

The 28-year-old has featured in every minute of Tottenham’s Premier League campaign so far, forming a solid partnership with fellow countryman Jan Vertonghen.

Centre-back: Jan Vertonghen

Therefore, it was a no-brainer to partner Alderweireld with his formidable team mate Vertonghen.

The 28-year-old has similarly not missed a single minute of Spurs’ league season so far.

The Belgian pairing were a key factor in Tottenham having the best defensive record in the Premier League last term, conceding 26 goals in 38 matches.

Left-back: Danny Rose

With Manchester United’s left-back miseries continuing, with full-back Luke Shaw unable to cement a first-team spot, this position is left up to either Spurs’ Danny Rose or Ben Davies.

Having made his first start of the 2017-18 season on Wednesday night in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup loss to West Ham United, England international Rose edges it ahead of Welshman Davies.

Rose had been sidelined with a serious knee injury since January, but returned to first-team action against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League earlier this month.

The 27-year-old has pace to burn and adds another dimension to the squad given his attacking capability over team mate Davies.

Right midfielder: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Moving into the midfield, United’s assist king Mkhitaryan is deployed on the right-hand side, having scored one goal and set up five strikes in his nine league outings so far this campaign.

Central midfielder: Paul Pogba

Despite being sidelined with a hamstring injury, United’s club-record signing Pogba is named in our combined starting XI, following his impressive start to the season.

The 24-year-old Frenchman scored two goals and provided two assists in his opening four Premier League appearances, before limping off against FC Basel in the UEFA Champions League last month.

Central midfielder: Dele Alli

Alongside Pogba is England international ace Alli.

Despite team mate Harry Kane taking much of the plaudits this season with his prolific form in front of goal, the 21-year-old midfielder still has five goals in all competitions this campaign – three in the Premier League.

Left midfielder: Marcus Rashford

Operating more as a left winger is Three Lions gem Rashford.

The Manchester United forward, 19, has scored seven goals and provided five assists in all competitions for United this term, despite being frequently deployed on the left flank by Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho.

Striker: Romelu Lukaku

Having splashed out a whopping £75m on his services from Everton in the summer, it was critical that Lukaku hit the ground running at Old Trafford.

And, that he has! The United hitman has scored seven goals in his nine league appearances this season, including a brace against West Ham United on the opening day.

Striker: Harry Kane

The perfect partner for Lukaku – the only man to have scored more Premier League goals this season than the Belgian – Kane.

The 24-year-old has brushed off a goalless August to net four braces in his last six league outings, helping Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs climb up the table after a slippery start to the season.

Kane has 13 goals in 12 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham this term.