Who'd you say tops the best Premier League midfielders ever? It's a tough call. The Premier League has had its fair share of world-class midfielders over the course of its 32-year history. Some have been goal-scorers, others have been playmakers and a few have been ball-winners, but all have left an indelible mark on England’s top flight.
Our FourFourTwo experts have looked at the best goalkeepers in the history of the Premier League , the best defenders , of course, the best midfielders, the best wingers and the best strikers . We analysed impact and legacy, naturally – but we also looked at technically how well they performed their specific role. And this is what we came up with.
Here are the top 20 midfielders ever to play in the Premier League. VIDEO Why Matthijs De Ligt Is A Game Changer For Ten Hag's Man United The 20 best Premier League midfielders ever: 20. Jordan Henderson (Sunderland, Liverpool) He may have declined by the end of his Liverpool career but there is no question that Jordan Henderson was the driving force behind the most successful years of Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield tenure.
The Sunderland native took a while to get going at Liverpool but by the end he had established himself as one of the greats, a midfielder with boundless energy and underappreciated technical qualities. 19. Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton, West Brom) For longevity alone, Gareth Barry is a Premier League legend.
The former Aston Villa and Manchester City midfield.