Vote for the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League.
Here are our picks for the best ten central midfielders (including holding and defensive options) in the English top tier, on the final page you will find our poll, vote for your favourite as we look to put together a ‘Premier League Best XI’
Gareth Barry (Everton)
A surprise contender for this list, but Gareth Barry’s improvement in form since moving on loan from Manchester City to Everton has been terrific, and sees him back among the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League again. The 32-year-old put in a heroic display on his debut to help the Toffees to a surprise 1-0 win over Chelsea, and his experience alongside youngsters James McCarthy and Ross Barkley in Everton’s midfield has been a great influence around the club. Everton will be hoping to keep him permanently, but will City be thinking he deserves another chance to get into their team?
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
A player who has climbed the leagues with Southampton, young Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin now looks a highly accomplished Premier League midfielder, and has been excellent once again this season as the Saints have enjoyed a terrific start to the new campaign. With the best defence in the league so far, Schneiderlin’s work in front of his back four has been a crucial part of that, with the 23-year-old never one to shy away from strong tackles. He also reads the game well to make crucial interceptions and break down opponents’ moves, and as he goes on he looks more and more like he wouldn’t be out of place in a top team, with the likes of Arsenal and Inter Milan linked with him in recent times.
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
A £30 summer signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho certainly looks the part so far for Manchester City. The 28-year-old has been a top performer in the Ukranian league for most of his career, and will now hope to gain a place in the Brazil squad for next summer’s World Cup by moving to the Premier League. Forming a fine partnership alongside Yaya Toure, Fernandinho does the simple things well and allows his team-mates to shine, and he already looks worthy of a place among the best in this position in the country at the moment.
Lucas Leiva (Liverpool)
Liverpool battler Lucas Leiva currently leads the Premier League in terms of tackles per game, with 38 made so far this season. The Brazilian has had his injury problems down the years, but his importance to the Liverpool team cannot be understated, as he has developed into a fine holding midfield player. In a side with plenty of skillful attackers, a player like Lucas is crucial to do the dirty work and ensure the defence is protected. If the 26-year-old can stay fit this season, he could play a big part in Liverpool’s improved title challenge.
Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
A vastly under-rated player, Michael Carrick rightly earned great plaudits for his performances for Manchester United as they won the Premier League title last season, emerging among the candidates for PFA Player of the Year. Understated as always, Carrick has continued to go about his business this season despite the club being linked with a host of new midfield signings. The 32-year-old current leads the league in terms of interceptions, making on average 4.3 crucial interventions per game for the champions, and also attempts the most passes per game of any player in the country, with 80.6 per match. More than just a defensive player, Carrick’s ability on the ball keeps United ticking along nicely.
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United)
One of the stand-out players in the Premier League last season for Everton, his former manager David Moyes then moved to spend £27.5m to bring Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United in the summer. The powerful Belgian has had a slightly slow start to life at Old Trafford, but remains a force to be reckoned with on his day, as he looks perfectly capable of playing as an unorthodox attacking player as well as a defensive shield. In a more advanced role last season, Fellaini scored 12 goals, but he seems likely to play a more defensive role at his new club.
Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal)
One of the signings of the summer, Arsene Wenger made an astute move to re-sign Mathieu Flamini for Arsenal on a free transfer. The Frenchman was a key performer for the Gunners in his first spell with the club, which led to AC Milan snapping him up in 2008. Although he never truly found his best form with the Serie A giants, he has looked very much at home again with Arsenal, and adds some much-needed bite to their midfield, with the likes of Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey often fulfilling that role last season with mixed success. A no-nonsense player who is fully committed to his role in the team, Flamini certainly looks like one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League at the moment.
Ramires (Chelsea)
A player who has continued to grow in stature for Chelsea since joining the club from Benfica as a youngster back in 2010, Ramires is now a vitally important member of the squad for the work he does in their midfield. Although the 26-year-old is arguably more of a box-to-box player than an out-and-out defensive player, his tough tackling and high work rate make him ideally suited to the role just behind the team’s main playmakers. Ramires has the great added bonus of scoring important goals, and has a good return of 26 strikes in his 163 appearances for the club. Real Madrid have recently been linked with a £15m move for him, though there seems little chance that the Blues would sell him for that kind of price now.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s inspirational captain, Steven Gerrard is certainly one of the finest midfield players the Premier League has seen, and although he has often been played in a variety of positions, including out wide or behind the striker at various points in his career, the 32-year-old now often operates in a deeper role and looks well suited to this positional change. Gerrard has always been a player with tremendous work rate and commitment, and is always someone Liverpool can rely on to help out the team at the back. His long-range passing from deep also makes him a good midfield anchor man, as he can continue to provide something to the attack even in a more withdrawn role.
Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Perhaps another player who could not exactly be categorised as an out-and-out defensive midfielder, Yaya Toure certainly fits the bill as a superb all-rounder, using his physique and defensive ability to good effect in the middle of the park, but also using his terrific technique and skill to join in the attack. Toure is quite simply one of the best box-to-box players in the world at the moment, and has a bit of everything to his game. He often starts alongside Fernandinho as one of Manchester City’s more deep-lying players, and certainly seems a contender for best defensive midfielder in the Premier League at the moment, even if he’d also fare well as the best attacking midfielder.