In the illustrious history of Manchester United, the club has witnessed the presence of extraordinary midfielders who have left an indelible mark.
Icons like Bryan Robson, Paul Scholes, Sir Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, and Roy Keane have graced the Old Trafford turf, becoming legendary figures in the process.
Yet, what surpasses the brilliance of an individual midfielder? A formidable partnership of two, of course.
The Match Of The Day Top 10 recently featured a discussion where Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, and Gary Lineker unanimously declared the Manchester United pairing of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes as the best midfield partnership in Premier League history.
Micah Richards emphatically supported the choice by highlighting their incredible 12 seasons together, accumulating six titles and three FA Cups.
Shearer echoed the sentiment, emphasizing their perfect synergy and the undeniable success they achieved together.
The MOTD panel faced tough decisions as they ranked the top ten midfield partnerships in Premier League history. The final list, where Richards and Shearer found rare agreement, unfolded as follows:
- Paul Scholes and Roy Keane – Manchester United
- Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho – Manchester City
- Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City
- Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick – Manchester United
- Frank Lampard and Michael Essien – Chelsea
- Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva – Arsenal
- Yaya Toure and Fernandinho – Manchester City
- Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
- Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit – Arsenal
- Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante – Leicester City
The rare inclusion of Scholes twice underscores the exceptional nature of his contributions.
While acknowledging the brilliance of other partnerships, the MOTD panel unanimously crowned Keane and Scholes as the pinnacle of midfield excellence in the Premier League.