It is an indisputable fact that the English Premier League is and has always been the greatest football league in the world, being the most competitive top league in Europe.
Since being founded in 1992, the EPL has been littered with world-class players, and even as we look away from the top teams, we see players that are up there with the best in the world.
With such a rich history and depth of players to choose from, narrowing it down to just 11 was no small task. Here are our picks for the best starting 11 of the Premier League of all time.
GK – Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United)
As long as personal talent and the number of league titles is concerned, the answer is obviously Manchester United’s Peter Schmeichel. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech and now Manchester United’s David De Gea are close contenders, both lacking the silverware to back up their claims to the spot.
RB – Gary Neville (Manchester United)
Gary Neville was a standout in a position that not many in the English top flight excelled at. The former United right-back was an absolute defensive beast, and was really not given credit due when it came to building up the offence. Liverpool fans may argue for Trent Alexander-Arnold, but come on, he’s not even close, yet.
LB – Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Literally every other list has Ashley Cole as the best left-back to grace the Premier League, and it is hard to argue against. Cole was the best left-back in the world during his peak years. Patrice Evra and Andy Roberton are names in the running, but we will have to go with the former Arsenal and Chelsea man.
CB – Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Both a brick wall and a player of the ball, Ferdinand’s ability to do it all was rare at a time when centre-backs were not as comfortable on the ball as they are today. His all-rounded ability helped United to 6 trophies during his stay. And who could forget his fearsome partnership with Nemanja Vidic? Oh, how terrified opposing strikers were.
CB – Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
A more recent entry into our picks. While there have been plenty of great centre-backs in Premier League history, van Dijk simply had to be on our team. Just like Ferdinand, he is simply not a man to mess with, both defensively and on the ball, and has been a key figure in Liverpool’s recent dominance under Jurgen Klopp.
LM – Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
The GOAT just has to be on this list. Pushing 37 years old right now, CR7 may not be what he was in his prime, but he sure has some left in the tank for elite football. He has been arguably the best player in the world since 2006, and only Lionel Messi able to hold a match to him. Being the current top scorer of all time for Real Madrid with a whopping 450 goals, his ability to put it in the back of the net and his longevity has more than earned him a spot in this list.
CM – Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
One of the key players during the peak of Manchester United’s dominance, Scholsey’s flawless passing and shooting skills was simply unmatched in the Premier League, contributing immensely to United’s success in the years he played. He also won 25 trophies under Alex Ferguson, including 11 Premier League titles.
CM – Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Another active player, Kevin De Bruyne’s incredible vision and ability to create opportunities for this team lands him a spot on this team. There are countless highlight reels showcasing his exceptional eye for a pass, creating countless goals in the process. An undisputed king of assists, it would be hard to imagine where Manchester City would be on the table without him.
RM – Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Steven Gerrard is arguably the greatest Liverpool player ever. His footballing prowess is matched only by his ability to lead and inspire teammates. He commands not only the respect of fans, but that of rivals as well. Perhaps his defining moment as a player was the goal he scored on that legendary night in Istanbul, which sparked Liverpool’s comeback against AC Milan.
ST – Sergio Aguero
Aguero is Manchester City’s all-time top scorer, scoring 184 goals for them. The player with the second most goals scored only 85 goals. Such was the impact of Aguero’s time at Manchester City. His most memorable moment at Manchester City was: AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
ST – Thierry Henry
Perhaps the greatest player to ever set foot in the Premier League, winning a record Golden Boot and inspiring Arsenal into their only “invincible” season in the Premier League. Although Henry left Arsenal in 2007, he is still their team’s all-time top scorer with 254 goals in 8 years!
Controversial stuff
Yeah, it is always risky to do these lists, but through these, do we come to truly appreciate the talent seen in the top football league in the world.
And yes, we have also noticed Manchester United players appearing quite frequently, which only really highlights just how dominant they were in their era.
Agree of disagree with our picks, it is pretty safe to say that this team would absolutely win the Premier League had they played together. If only.