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Yes folks, it’s that time of the year where this column puts its head about the parapet to announce our Mersey XI for the season.

It was a campaign where disappointment was ultimately the overriding emotion.

Both our sides dumped their manager during the course of the season and finished way below where expected in the Premier League.

Everton were beaten in two cup semi-finals while Liverpool at least went a step further only to lose two finals.

There were a smattering of fine individual performances over the course of the season – honestly – and here is an attempt – in the favoured 4-2-3-1 formation of both sides – to mould a team that represents the best of the city for 2015-16.

It was, to put it mildly, not exactly easy.

Goalkeeper

It wasn't a vintage year for those between the sticks. Tim Howard was berated, dumped and then waved goodbye, while replacement Joel Robles, although steady, was far from spectacular.

Over at Liverpool, Adam Bogdan played just enough to prove he should be elsewhere, Danny Ward showed promise but, despite some unconvincing displays, Simon Mignolet retains his place.

Right-back

(Image: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Seamus Coleman has been a regular in this team for a few years now.

But injury and loss of form saw his stock fall this season, while Liverpool's summer arrival Nathaniel Clyne was consistent in a backline that wasn't always thus.

Centre-backs

It has been a period of change at the heart of the defences on both sides of Stanley Park. At Liverpool, Martin Skrtel is on the way out, Kolo Toure became an unexpected regular while Mamadou Sakho won't be seen for some time.

John Stones, Everton's great hope, struggled for periods of the season and Ramiro Funes Mori can be happy with his first season in English football.

But Phil Jagielka is a cert given his strong second half of the campaign while Dejan Lovren's incredible transformation sees him included – and who'd have thought that 12 months ago?

Left-back

The problem position. Liverpool's Alberto Moreno may have created more chances than any other defender in Europe's top leagues during the season, but defensively he remains seriously suspect.

Understudy Brad Smith is still raw while the less said about Jose Enrique the better. Leighton Baines didn't hit the heights and Bryan Oviedo is better at wing-back, and as such Brendan Galloway's impressive form before Christmas proves decisive.

Defensive midfield

Easy, this. Gareth Barry was arguably Everton's consistently best player over the campaign, belying his advancing years with energetic, economic performances.

James McCarthy was up and down, and Tom Cleverley, Mo Besic, Leon Osman and Darron Gibson were all tried in the position with negligible impact.

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson's season was hampered by injury, and although revitalised duo Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva have their claims, the second midfield slot goes to the improving Emre Can. Such lovely hair, too.

Right midfield

A lot of options but, once again, a pretty simple selection. Gerard Deulofeu started brightly for Everton but soon faded, while Kevin Mirallas and, with much greater success, Aaron Lennon were utilised.

Liverpool rotated several of their attacking players on the right, not least the effervescent Adam Lallana, but by far the most effective was James Milner, whose contribution in terms of goals and assists since the turn of the year has been immense.

Attacking midfield

Realistically, this is a straight battle between two players on either side of the divide. Ross Barkley will rightly go to the Euro 2016 finals with England on the back of a solid, maturing campaign.

But when it comes to end product, he has to cede to Liverpool's Roberto Firmino who, after a slow start in England, has now found his feet.

Left midfield

Just about everyone seemingly featured on the left flank for Everton during the season, from Oumar Niasse and Arouna Kone through Steven Pienaar and Mirallas.

Matters were a little more steady at Anfield. And while Lallana is unlucky to miss out on our XI, Philippe Coutinho was named Liverpool's player of the season for a reason.

Striker

In terms of goals per game, the Liverpool quartet of Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Christian Benteke and, early on, Danny Ings could be happy with their output.

But there could only be one choice here, with Romelu Lukaku's 25 goals earning him a starting role – and, most probably, the opportunity to never feature in this line-up again.

Subs: Robles, Baines, Stones, Barkley, Lallana, Sturridge, Origi.

Bigwigs showing Cup sweet FA

Just what are the Football Association playing at?

Here is a governing body that rightly boasts with great pride that their baby – the FA Cup – is the most historic, domestic knockout tournament in the world.

But they can't quite understand why the competition doesn't quite possess the same lustre of yesteryear, the “magic of the Cup” slowly disappearing like Lee Dixon's hairline.

They should take a long, hard look in the mirror.

Because the FA are doing more than most to destroy their own crown jewel.

It's bad enough there are no longer any FA Cup final replays. No longer any semi-final replays.

And don't even get us started on the abomination that is playing both last-four ties at Wembley.

But the decision last week to do away with quarter-final replays is simply laughable, so too the justification that it will “help ease English football's congested fixture schedule”.

How?

To win the Coppa Italia, Serie A teams play seven games. In Spain, the La Liga sides must play nine games to win the Copa del Rey. Bundesliga teams play six to win the DFB-Pokal. None of these competitions have replays.

Premier League teams can also clinch the FA Cup by winning six games. If they require a replay, then it's their own fault for not winning the tie initially in the first place.

Let's face it, it's not like their squads aren't big enough to cope.

Replays are what make the FA Cup what it is. Some of the most famous, most memorable ties have been replays.

Removing them from after the last 16 stage is taking away the very magic that makes the FA Cup such a cherished competition.

Or at least used to be.

Capital gains, Blues pain...

These London teams, eh.

First off it was West Ham United basically being handed a lovely new 60,000-capacity stadium for minimal outlay.

Now it's the turn of Tottenham Hotspur to broker a deal that allows them to use the enormity of Wembley for Champions League games next season and most probably all matches the following campaign.

At least Spurs will eventually move into a self-financed stadium.

But as Everton continue to assess possibilities, departing their current home temporarily is simply not an option.

Redeveloping Goodison would be the dream for most if not all Blues fans.

Logistically, though, it's a non-starter unless Everton can find another base for a year or two.

Now, if only they were a bit nearer to the capital...