The Premier League has been the home to many great defences and forward lines over the years, but one area of the pitch which is arguably more important than the rest is the midfield and there have been some truly elite partnerships in the middle of the park in the Premier League era.
The ten best midfields in Premier League history will be named and ranked by GIVEMESPORT today. Legendary Premier League duos like Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, as well as Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard, are on the list, but there are also spots for a few other players who developed strong midfield partnerships but who likely don’t receive as much recognition and appreciation as they merit. This list features a wide variety of midfield combinations, as well as individuals of all skill levels, including dominant physical players, midfield engines that never stop playing, and some exceptional midfield technicians.
Ranking criteria: success in the Premier League
Success both at home and throughout Europe
Duration of the collaboration
How effectively the midfield played
The Premier League’s Top 10 Midfielders
Rank
Club Involved
The midfield
One
United Manchester
Paul Scholes and Roy Keane
2.
City of Manchester
David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Fernandinho
3.
Chelsea
Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele
4.
The Arsenal
Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira
5.
United Manchester
Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes
6.
Liverpool
Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard
7.
The Arsenal
Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit
8.
Liverpool
Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum
9.
City of Manchester
Fernandinho, Yaya Toure and David Silva
10.
City of Leicester
Danny Drinkwater and N’golo Kante
10Danny Drinkwater and N’golo Kante
Club represented: Leicester City
Leicester City’s unexpected Premier League victory in the 2015–16 campaign is still regarded as one of the greatest underdog sporting triumphs in history. Leicester’s midfield tandem of Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante, who were essentially unknown before the championship-winning season, played a significant role in that incredible victory.
Although they were not well-known, Drinkwater and Kante worked together to create a strong and well-rounded alliance. Leicester was not only difficult to defeat but also capable of creating some fantastic football thanks to Drinkwater’s underappreciated technical skill and the Frenchman’s unrelenting pushing and energy in the heart of the park. Their underdog title win demonstrates how successfully they worked, even though this collaboration may not have the highest name value among those on this list.
N’golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater’s Premier League stats
Drinkwater, Danny
Kante N’golo
Looks
104
227
Objectives
5.
Twelve
Helps
8.
17
Won Premier League Titles
2.
2.
9Fernandinho, Yaya Toure and David Silva
Club represented: Manchester City
Throughout their years of Premier League domination, Manchester City has had many outstanding players and stars, but during their finest seasons, they haven’t always needed individual guidance because they always seemed to work well together as a team. That was demonstrated by their former midfield trio of David Silva, Yaya Toure, and Fernandinho.
Perhaps the reason the three men performed so well was because they were all extremely talented in very different ways. Fernandinho performed admirably as the defense’s virtual protector, enabling Toure’s strong and commanding runs and Silva’s amazing passing and dribbling skills to execute their magic. Fernandinho was the secret to this midfield’s genius, even though he was the least glamorous of the three.
The Premier League stats for David Silva, Yaya Toure, and Fernandinho
Fernandinho
Toure Yaya
Silva, David
Looks
264
230
309
Objectives
20
60
60
Helps
20
31
95
Won Premier League Titles
5.
3.
4.
8Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum
Club represented: Liverpool
The performance levels of the 2019–2020 Liverpool team are commonly overlooked, especially considering that their championship season was the one in which the COVID-19 pandemic prevented half of the season from being watched by fans. Their midfield trio’s work ethic and enthusiasm were what kept them going even with standout players like Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk in the lineup.
Despite not having inherent skill or being the best technical players, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Georginio Wijnaldum’s enthusiasm and unwavering drive to succeed led Liverpool to their first Premier League championship in 2020. You could ask yourself, “How could that possibly work?” when you look at each player’s profile and style, but it worked, and that is a major testament to not only Fabinho, Henderson, and Wijnaldum, but also to Jurgen Klopp, who believed in the three of them.
Premier League stats for Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho
Fabinho
Henderson, Jordan
Wijnaldum Georginio
Looks
151
431
217
Objectives
8.
33
27
Helps
8.
53
16
Won Premier League Titles
One
One
One
7Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit
Club represented: Arsenal
Patrick Vieira played on many great teams and with many great players during his nine years at Arsenal. However, he formed a dangerous midfield partnership with fellow Frenchman Emmanuel Petit during the 1997–1998 season. Vieira and Petit enjoyed a near-perfect balance in the centre of the park when playing together for both club and country.
The fact that both players’ shortcomings were the other’s strengths and that they complemented each other so well is what made this relationship so wonderful. Vieira was given greater freedom as a box-to-box player, where he would make the fearsome, forceful rushes into the box he established his career out of, thanks to Petit’s extraordinary footballing IQ. Both players were extremely domineering and physically strong.
Premier League Statistics for Emmanuel Petits and Patrick Vieira
Vieira, Patrick
Emmanuel Petit
Looks
307
140
Objectives
31
11.
Helps
36
23
Won Premier League Titles
3.
One
6Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard
Club represented: Liverpool
Even though Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard never won the Premier League with Liverpool, their midfield connection was incredibly strong for the duration of it. As two of the world’s most talented midfielders, the two midfield technicians were a pleasure to witness every time they took the pitch together during their five seasons together.
Although both players are mostly renowned for their superb passing and midfield management, Alonso and Gerrard were a great match because of the Spaniard’s deep-lying position, which freed Gerrard to do what he did best—make those late dashes into the box and score lots of goals. Despite never winning the English Premier League, it is important to remember that this combination undoubtedly won European glory in 2005 after they both had incredible performances in the final, known as “The Miracle of Istanbul.”
Premier League stats for Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso
Alonso Xabi
Gerrard, Steven
Looks
143
504
Objectives
14
121
Helps
17
97
Won Premier League Titles
0
0
5Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes
Club represented: Manchester United
Roy Keane and Paul Scholes are the primary midfield duo that comes to mind when discussing Manchester United’s supremacy, but Scholes also established a fantastic combination with Michael Carrick that was equally successful and productive. During one of United’s most successful periods, the Englishmen’s collaboration helped the team win five Premier League championships and a UEFA Champions League.
There aren’t many weaknesses in Carrick and Scholes’ connection, even though they are both renowned for their technical prowess and commanding presence. The reason the partnership worked so well was that, despite Carrick’s lack of defensive prowess, his composure and extraordinary intellect simply allowed Scholes to display his technical skill and accomplish his goals.
Premier League Statistics for Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick
Carrick, Michael
Scholes, Paul
Looks
481
499
Objectives
24
107
Helps
33
61
Won Premier League Titles
5.
11.
4Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva
Club represented: Arsenal
Regarding Patrick Vieira’s midfield partnership with Emmanuel Petit, as was previously said, Vieira had a number of excellent midfield partners during his nine years with “The Gunners,” but none of them could compare to the quality of his partnership with Gilberto Silva. Vieira and Silva played together in midfield for Arsenal during their historic undefeated Premier League season in 2003–2004.
That Arsenal team had amazing talent. Although they possessed players like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, and Robert Pires who could suddenly burst into action, they won most of their games in the midfield. Silva and Vieira were virtually impenetrable. They had amazing individual physicality, but combining it into a midfield tandem was like laying a brick wall. Although Silva and Vieira were excellent technical players, their perseverance and fortitude were what really stood out.
Premier League Statistics for Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira
Vieira, Patrick
Silva Gilberto
Looks
307
170
Objectives
31
17
Helps
36
13.
Won Premier League Titles
3.
One
3Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard
Club represented: Chelsea
Although Claude Makelele was the definition of a midfield engine, the word is now widely used to describe midfielders who never stop running and have extremely high work rates. During Chelsea’s dominating era, especially under Jose Mourinho, the Frenchman and Frank Lampard established a deadly midfield partnership.
A major factor in Chelsea’s back-to-back Premier League championships in the 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 seasons was Makelele and Lampard’s collaboration. Makelele and Lampard were a great combination because the Frenchman’s style of play made it easy for the Englishman to do what he did best, which was advance the ball and score goals. While Lampard would make his signature late runs into the box to score goals, Makelele would remain back and defend the Chelsea back line with his incredible tackling abilities and work rate. As you can see by what they accomplished while playing together, they brought out the best in one another.
Premier League Statistics for Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele
Claude Makelele
Lampard, Frank
Looks
144
611.
Objectives
2.
177
Helps
4.
113
Won Premier League Titles
2.
3.
2Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva
Club represented: Manchester City
Although many people consider Arsenal’s 2003–2004 Premier League undefeated season to be the greatest accomplishment in English top flight history, Manchester City’s 2017–2018 season as the first team to reach 100 points is not far behind, if not more, impressive than Arsenal’s undefeated season.
David Silva and Fernandinho have already appeared on this list, but they were joined in midfield by Yaya Toure. This time, however, they are joined by Kevin De Bruyne’s inventiveness. Although Fernandinho’s defensive prowess was previously discussed, it was at an all-time high during City’s centennial season. Although the Brazilian’s task was difficult, he occasionally made it appear so because he was playing in a midfield trio with two extremely creative, offensive midfield players. Fernandinho was able to limit the quantity of goals, allowing only 27, while Silva and De Bruyne scored an absurd amount of goals, allowing City to score 106 goals in 38 league games.
The Premier League stats for David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Fernandinho
Fernandinho
De Bruyne, Kevin
Silva, David
Looks
264
272
309
Objectives
20
70
60
Helps
20
116
95
Won Premier League Titles
5.
6.
4.
1Roy Keane and Paul Scholes
Club represented: Manchester United
The most decorated midfield team in Premier League history is without a doubt Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. Six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and a UEFA Champions League were all won by them collectively. Both Keane and Scholes were elite midfield players, but when they were paired together, their styles of play just clicked, and they were sometimes invincible.
Scholes was able to get on the ball and do his magic thanks to Keane’s tenacity and defensive prowess in midfield. He was the midfield technician he was throughout his remarkable career, spraying passes left, right, and centre. As they grew older, Keane and Scholes continued to be a mainstay in the best Manchester United teams Sir Alex Ferguson had. Their talent was not only far above average, but they also worked incredibly well together, which is why they were so successful.
The Premier League Stats of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane
Keane, Roy
Scholes, Paul
Looks
366
499
Objectives
39
107
Helps
34
61
Won Premier League Titles
7.
11.
