Manchester City's pulsating victory against Liverpool has reignited the big question amongst football fans in Manchester: Can the Blues finish higher than Manchester United in the Premier League? 

City  have of course spent big while United's  transfer dealings have been more much more modest.

The argument is that the Reds have already moulded a team while City's superstar signings need time to gel... although on Monday against Liverpool that process was seen to be well on the way. 

M.E.N. Sport's Paul Hince, who as some of you know played the odd game for City, has put away his blue-tinted specs to compare the line-ups put out by United and City in their last two matches.

Here, he picks a combined team of the best on show, though he acknowledges the teams played different systems and that Wayne Rooney would have been in but for a stomach bug.

VAN DER SAR/HART

Watching Van der Sar pulling off those two amazing reflex saves from Fulham's Dixon Etuhu on Saturday it was almost impossible to believe that the Reds trusty custodian is now approaching his 40th birthday. Watching Joe Hart pulling off those two amazing reflex saves from David Engod and Fernando Torres against Liverpool on Monday night it was almost impossible to believe that City's last line of defence is still on 23 - nowt but a baby in goalkeeping terms. So which of the two Manchester rivals have the best keeper?  In truth there is nothing between either of them in terms of ability. Hart has youth on his side and a magnificent career for club and country stretching out ahead of him. Van der Sar has the one thing money can't buy - a bottomless well of experience.

VERDICT: VAN DER SAR

O'SHEA/RICHARDS

O'Shea United's Irish Peter Kay look-a-like has been plagued by injuries over the past year or so and looks like he was still finding his Premier League feet at Craven Cottage by comparison Richards looked more like his old buccaneering self against Liverpool with a performance which evoked memories of the time he was considered to be an England star of the future. The versatile O'Shea will improve with every senior match he gets under his belt for the Reds. Richards will soon be on Fabio Capello's radar if he can maintain the form he showed at Eastlands on Monday night.

VERDICT: RICHARDS

EVRA/LESCOTT

If there's a better left back in England than Evra then I've yet to spot him - and I include Ashley Cole in that statement. Speed, strength and bravery. Tricky in attack and tough in defence. And what a leap he's got for a little fella. He doesn't wear studs - he wears jumping beans. Lescott was switched by Roberto Mancini to the left back role he dislikes against Liverpool and hardly put a foot wrong from start to finish. And that spoke volumes for both his versatility and his professionalism. But perhaps it is unfair to compare a willing volunteer playing out of position to a master craftsman performing in his natural habitat.

VERDICT: EVRA

EVANS/KOMPANY

Evans has proved to be more than a capable deputy for Rio Ferdinand during the too frequent absences of the England captain over the past 12 months. But the gritty youngster found new England star Bobby Zamora a real handful at Craven Cottage in a game he will look back on with few pleasant memories. Kompany, as always, was rock solid at the heart of City's defence against Liverpool and any centre back who can restrict Torres to one shot at goal in 90 minutes must know what defending is all about.

VERDICT: KOMPANY

VIDIC/ K TOURE
Vidic, United's skipper in the absence of Ferdinand was publicly critical of his side's display against Fulham on Saturday and in doing so he emphasised his importance to the Reds.
The big Old Trafford defender is a warrior and a winner. Even an away point at Craven Cottage wasn't good enough for him and it is those fighting qualities United are going to need to wrestle the title back from Chelsea this season. Toure must have been hurt when manager Mancini took away his captain's armband and handed it to Carlos Tevez but he didn't let his wounded pride affect his performance against Liverpool. No dummy out of the pram. No sulking. Just a calm assured display from a player's player.

VERDICT: VIDIC

VALENCIA/JOHNSON

Eyebrows were raised when Alex Ferguson snapped up Valencia from Wigan Athletic but it's my firm belief that the quicksilver winger will prove to be one of Fergie's best pound for pound acquisitions. Valencia, in truth, didn't have one of his best games against Fulham but full marks to the Londoners in keeping quiet a player who can be a match winner on his day. Johnson against Liverpool did what he does best - frightening the life out of opposing defenders with his dazzling touchline runs. The surprise signing from unfashionable Middlesbrough had better brace himself because he's set for super star status in the very near future.

VERDICT: JOHNSON

FLETCHER/DE JONG

Fletcher proved again at Craven Cottage on Saturday that when the going gets tough the tough get going. Because United's Scottish midfielder is tough - as old boots. He doesn't generate many headlines but he is the willing workhorse who will chase lost causes until he drops. With Mancini spending money this summer like it was going out of fashion many believed that De Jong's days at Eastlands were numbered. But clearly the tough tackling Dutchman wasn't one of the many. And he proved once again against Liverpool that he is in the current City side purely on merit. There is little to choose between Fletcher and De Jong. Both never give up. Both would happily tackle their granny if asked. Rivals hate playing against them but would love to have them in their team. Two Red and Blue unsung heroes.

VERDICT: FLETCHER

SCHOLES/BARRY

What can be said or written about Scholes which hasn't been said or written before? Once again we saw a genius at work against Fulham. A goal which lesser players would die for. Passes long, short or in between which were made to look simple. How will the Reds replace Scholes when he retires? The answer is simple. They won't because they can't.
Meanwhile over at Eastlands a little over 48 hours later Barry was reminding the City fans and the rest of the country that, at £12million from Aston Villa, he's one of the bargains of the decade. Two great midfielders earning a living in the same City. Both undemonstrative off the pitch but dynamic on it. And one thing is certain, both will have a huge part to play in their respective clubs search for honours this season.

VERDICT: SCHOLES

PARK/MILNER

We saw the best and the worst of chirpy Korean Park at Craven Cottage. The best is that he's like Action Man on speed. He's an irritant. A nuisance. An itch you can't scratch or a wasp you can't swat. The worst is that against Fulham he chased around in ever decreasing circles until disappearing up you know where. Milner, on the other hand, was exactly the opposite against Liverpool. What a magnificent debut in the wake of all the controversy over his big money transfer from Aston Villa. Possibly the last piece in City's much heralded "project" Milner looked worth every penny of that massive fee with an imperious performance in midfield which will give every Eastlands fan the belief that the glory days have finally arrived after 34 trophyless years.

VERDICT: MILNER

BERBATOV/Y TOURE

Am I imagining this or does Berbatov look like he really means business this season?  Because in my book he was United's second best player behind Scholes at Craven Cottage.
In the three games I've seen him in over the past month he has looked fitter, faster, leaner and more determined than at any time in his Old Trafford career. All he needs now is goals an he'll no longer be regarded as a ?30million misfit.  The younger of the Toure brothers played like a deep lying striker against Liverpool and the role fitted him like a hand inside a glove. He's big, he's powerful and he's comfortable on the ball. If Adam Johnson is destined for super stardom I've got a feeling that the City faithful will be going Gaga over Yaya before this season is much older.

VERDICT: TOURE

HERNANDEZ/TEVEZ

Do you know what happens to little peas?  If you nurture them in the right environment they grow into big peas and I predict that "Little Pea Hernandez" will become "Big Pea Hernandez" after watching him start his first Premier League match against Fulham. Nothing spectacular, nothing to write home about. But sometimes you look at a young player and you just know you're witnessing a star in the making. I saw all that in Hernandez at Craven Cottage. For Tevez against Liverpool it was just another day at the office. Run a few hundred miles. Pester the life out of opponents. Claim - and get credited - with a goal scored by a team mate. Score a penalty as if you're in a training session. Take out one of your pads and show it to the crowd and then come off to a rapturous reception with that strange grimacy smile on your face that looks like it hurts. Pure showbiz gold. Pure Carlos Tevez.

VERDICT: TEVEZ

So what do you think? Do you agree with the player-turned journo? What would be your combined Manchester team? Have your say.