How an all-time Premier League XI would look without any Manchester United legends!
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With Manchester United so resoundingly dominating the Premier League era, they could almost fill a best XI of the last 23 years all by themselves. With the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and arguably more all very worthy of a place in the side, we’ve made it a little fairer on the other teams – here’s a best Premier League XI without any players to ever feature for the Red Devils at any point in their career!
GK: Petr Cech
It’s a close call, but Chelsea legend Petr Cech is quite possibly the next best goalkeeper in Premier League history after Schmeichel, having won four titles with the Blues and long established himself as consistently world class throughout his great career.
DR: Lee Dixon
Harshly overlooked for England so many times, Lee Dixon is an underrated great of the Premier League era, and easily makes it in without United legend Gary Neville to contend with here.
DL: Ashley Cole
A world class left-back for Arsenal and Chelsea, Ashley Cole is easily into this side and is one of few who would probably make an all-time best XI anyway.
DC: Sol Campbell
A rock of a defender, Sol Campbell starred for both Tottenham and Arsenal (in two spells) and even won the FA Cup with Portsmouth later in his career, confirming his status as one of the best defenders in the country in recent times.
DC: John Terry
An easy choice and one who would also probably make the all-time XI anyway, Chelsea legend John Terry has now won his fourth title and still looks one of the best centre-backs in the world.
DM: Patrick Vieira
Many would have Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira over Roy Keane anyway, but there’s no doubt the Frenchman gets into this best XI after a great career with the Gunners, including captaining the 2003/04 Invincible side.
MC: Steven Gerrard
A Liverpool and England legend departing the Premier League this summer, Steven Gerrard would probably just miss out to players like Keane and Scholes, but fully deserves his place in this team.
MC: Frank Lampard
Another departing star of the English game for the last decade and more, Frank Lampard is perhaps under-appreciated by some though he comfortably gets into this team without any United legends.
AMC: Dennis Bergkamp
Yet another Arsenal great, Dennis Bergkamp takes this role just behind the main striker, having played it better than perhaps any player in Europe in the last twenty years.
FC: Thierry Henry
Probably the most naturally talented striker the Premier League has seen, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry would get into most all-time Premier League XIs anyway.
FC: Alan Shearer
The top scorer in Premier League history, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer turned down the chance to play for Manchester United, but is still probably better than a lot of the amazing strikers they’ve had up front down the years.
