What is the best midfield partnership in Premier League history? Micah Richards and Alan Shearer pick their top 10s, with player tipped to become ‘the best EVER’ only good enough for second!
- Both Micah Richards and Alan Shearer chose the same midfield duo as No 1
- Leicester City heroes N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater were picked as No 10
- It’s a three-team title race… Toney could lead Arsenal to glory: It’s All Kicking Off
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have had their say on the best ever Premier League central midfield partnerships is on the latest installment of the Match of the Day Top 10 podcast.
The show’s format sees both Richards and Shearer offer their top 10 of football players or teams on a range of topics, with this week’s edition perhaps the most similar lists between them.
The English top flight has been graced by some of the finest midfield talents in the history of the game, from domestic stars Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, to the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Luka Modric.
As such, there were a wide range of elite duos to sift through, although surprisingly, there was complete unanimity between the top fives of both Richards and Shearer.
It likely comes as little shock that the duo that ultimately came out on top are considered to be one of the most successful pairings in the middle of the park, in terms of titles own in England.
Frank Lampard (right) and Michael Essien were a key part of Chelsea’s emergence in the mid 2000s as a powerhouse in the Premier League
Steven Gerrard (right) and Xabi Alonso lifted the Champions League together in 2005 but never won a Premier League title
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Both Shearer and Richards ranked Manchester United’s iconic duo Paul Scholes and Roy Keane as the best ever partnership – which perhaps comes as little surprise given their role in the most successful side in league history.
‘Well, 12 seasons together, six Premier League titles and three FA Cups together – what more do you need?’ claimed Richards.
And Shearer concurred, adding: ‘It’s the perfect partnership!’
There has long been a debate over who the best ever midfielder in the Premier League is, with Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes the three most common tips.
Yet Richards believes that Man City star Kevin de Bruyne has more than what it takes to snatch that title from under the former Liverpool captain’s nose.
De Bruyne has played 243 times in the league, scoring 64 goals and assisted a stunning 105 more – just 57 behind all-time leader Ryan Giggs in almost 400 games fewer.
‘If he has a couple more seasons in the Premier League, he will become the best ever, just ousting Steven Gerrard,’ claimed Richards.
Again, Shearer could only agree with his colleague, stating: ‘As much as I want to disagree, I can’t. He can play out wide, he can play anywhere in that midfield.
Paul Scholes (left) and Roy Keane (centre) won six Premier League crowns and three FA Cups together
Alan Shearer described Scholes and Keane as the ‘perfect partnership’ in the middle of the park
Micah Richards claimed that Kevin de Bruyne will become the best ever in the league if he stays for another two seasons
The Manchester City star is only 57 assists behind Ryan Giggs’ all-time record having played almost 400 games fewer
‘He’s the one player I look back and think “I wouldn’t mind playing in the same team as you” the chances and the balls he puts in. He’s a forward’s dream.’
N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwayer – who starred in that season of seasons that saw Leicester defy all the odds to win the title in 2015-16 – were named as No 10 by both, but Foxes fanatic Gary Lineker was still full of praise for the French star.
‘I think Kante wins it on his own because he is a midfield pairing. Everybody always says he’s two players, so it should have just been “Kante and Kante” and then he would probably win it.
‘When he came to Leicester, it was his first season in the team. Robert Huth was asked: “How do you win a Premier League title with a back four of Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs?” and he just replied: “N’Golo Kante!”‘
N’Golo Kante (centre) played a crucial role in winning the league with Leicester before doing the same at Chelsea the following year
RICHARDS’ TOP 10
10 Kante and Drinkwater
9 Vieira and Petit
8 Alonso and Gerrard
7 Toure and Fernandinho
6 Vieira and Gilberto
5 Lampard and Essien
4 Scholes and Carrick
3 Rodri and Gundogan
2 De Bruyne and Fernandinho
1 Keane and Scholes
SHEARER’S TOP 10
10 Kante and Drinkwater
9 Alonso and Gerrard
8 Vieira and Gilberto
7 Toure and Fernandinho
6 Vieira and Petit
5 Lampard and Essien
4 Scholes and Carrick
3 Rodri and Gundogan
2 De Bruyne and Fernandinho
1 Keane and Scholes
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.
It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.
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