Each Big 6 Team’s All-Time Premier League XI

I watched a video the other day comparing Arsenal’s current team to their 2004 invincible team and debated how many players would get in. So this got me thinking, what if all the big 6’s all time teams went head-to-head. Which team would come out on top? 

The Concept 

The concept is simple, Build an XI including substitutes from all big 6 teams dating back to the inception of the Premier League in 1992.  

For context, I am 30 years old and have seen my fair share of Premier League football, even as a kid, so while there may be a bit or recency bias in terms of team composition, that’s not to say that any tax will be placed on players from the 1990s. Although I do think the standard of football, particularly when compared to the other top leagues in Europe, has improved since then. 

A quick caveat. This is not players one season peaks. This is an all-time XI. In other words, sustained or consistent greatness for more than one season is a key part of making the all-time XI. 

Anyway, without further ado let’s get started. 

 

Manchester United 

Let’s start with the team who have won the Premier League far more than the rest, Manchester United. Now this is one team with little to no gaps anywhere on the pitch. They were truly loaded in every position, and their historic dominance is reflected throughout their all-time XI. 

I’m sure people will have plenty to disagree with but this, in my opinion, is the only correct United all-time XI. 

 

Goalkeeper: 

• Peter Schmeichel – was a close call between him and Van Der Sar. Both multiple league winners and UCL winners with United. Schmeichel was arguably the best keeper in the world and was far clearer of his competition. He also won goalkeeper of the tournament when Denmark won the Euros in 1992. 

 

Defence: 

• Gary Neville – This one was easy. Arguably the best right-back of all time in the Premier League. Competent going both forward and defending and a great captain. 

• Rio Ferdinand – No surprises here. Arguably United’s greatest centre-back of all time. Absolutely elite for such a long period of time. 

• Nemanja Vidic – Argument can be made for Stam for sure, but Vidic was simply unbelievable on his day. Winning Premier League player of the season twice reflects that. Him and Rio formed one of the fiercest CB partnerships in Prem history. 

• Patrice Evra – CONTROVERSY ALERT. Now I know some old heads will be crying for Irwin over Evra. However, Evra embodies everything that is required in the modern game. Immense energy, solid defender, speed and ability to get forward.  

Midfield: 

• Roy Keane (C) – Perhaps the man who embodied United’s dominance more than any other player in this line-up.  

• Paul Scholes – Where else could we go than the legend himself. One of the best talents English football’s ever produced. Simply magic with the ball at his feet. Picks himself. 

• Ryan Giggs – It wouldn’t be an all-time Man United XI without the legend himself Ryan Giggs in it. Whether he was on the wing or in the middle, this man produced nothing but magic his entire career. He is also United’s most capped player, featuring in a whopping 963 matches over a 23-year career from 1990 to 2014. 

• Bruno Fernandes – Listen, I don’t care if you loved Cantona, if you know and understand football you will know just how good this man is. Bruno is not just one of the greatest creators and artists the Prem has ever seen, he is also one of the hardest working and most loyal club servants United have ever had. Consistently taken for granted by United fans despite being arguably the best player in the prem at the moment.  

• Cristiano Ronaldo – Of course this man was going to feature. Despite cementing his all-time legacy at Real Madrid, anyone who watched this man in the prem knows how utterly dominant he was. Before Rodri’s recent win, Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or was the last time a prem player had won the award. 

Striker: 

• Wayne Rooney – Even just writing all these legends down, it is going to be very hard to top this United XI. The Premier League’s all time 3rd leading scorer, England legend and all round superstar. Nothing more needs to be said about Rooney to be fair. 

Substitutes: 

• Van Der Sar 

• Irwin 

• Stam 

• Michael Carrick 

• Beckham 

• Eric Cantona 

• Van Nistelrooy 

 

Tottenham Hotspur 

No doubt this will not be as loaded as Manchester United’s XI. But to say that Tottenham have not had their fair share of legends at the club would simply be false. They have had sustained periods of greatness, particularly under Pochettino.  

 

Goalkeeper 

• Hugo Lloris – A club servant and top-quality keeper for many years. Lloris was also a fantastic captain for what was probably the best Spurs team in recent memory.  

Defence 

• Kyle Walker – It was at Spurs Walker became one of the best right backs in not just the Prem but potentially the world. 6 time Premier League winner, 4 time PFA team player of the year and honestly to my eyes at least, the best right-back in Prem history. 

• Ledley King – An absolute cult hero, and particularly amongst Spurs fans. Often spoken of by peers as one of the best centre-backs they’d ever faced. What could’ve been. 

• Sol Campbell – Unbeknown to most, Campbell had far more appearances for Spurs than rivals Arsenal. He was an absolute stalwart for Spurs before the storied switch and would’ve gone down as a club legend. 

• Danny Rose – In my opinion one of the most disrespected full-backs in Prem history. Rose was a key part of Spurs’ prime years and put in some great shifts for England from 2016-2019. He also featured in 2 Premier League team of the years during this period. 

Midfield 

• Mousa Dembele – Another cult hero. If we judged players based solely of what their peers had to say, then Dembele would be an all-time generational player. Nonetheless, when fit he was at minimum an absolute beast in the middle of the park and was the linchpin for Pochettino’s success. 

• Luka Modric – What more needs to be said about the Croatian magician? Despite being best known for his years at Real, Modric was iconic for Spurs and helped build their top 6 legacy for years to come. 

• Christian Eriksen – Another absolute demon, in THAT Spurs team. There honestly wasn’t much Eriksen couldn’t do going forward. Link up play, finishing, passing, dribbling. He had it all. 

• Gareth Bale – We do not need to elaborate much more about this man’s inclusion. One of the best players on the planet, particularly in his later years at Spurs and the best British footballer of all time. Argue with yourself about that. 

• Son Heung-Min – An absolute legend, fan favourite and serious baller. Along with Kane, he holds the record for the most goal combinations in Premier League history. Unstoppable on his day and a true Spurs icon. 

Forward 

• Harry Kane (C) – The Premier League’s all-time 2nd top scorer and one of the best footballers on the planet for the last decade. We do not need to elaborate on Kane any further. Absolute baller. 

Substitutes: 

• Paul Robinson 

• Jan Vertonghen 

• Toby Alderweireld 

• Michael Carrick 

• Rafael Van der Vaart 

• David Ginola 

• Dimitar Berbatov 

 

Chelsea 

Another Premier League team stooped from top to bottom in absolute icons. Unlike a few other Premier League teams, Chelsea seems to have had a golden era or elite team in almost every period since 2005/06.  

 

Goalkeeper 

• Petr Cech – No surprises here. The Premier League’s all-time clean sheet holder, record holder for least goals conceded in a season and in terms of my eyes, the best keeper in Prem history. 

Defence 

• Cesar Azpilicueta – This was mighty close between him and Ivanovic, with the Spaniard just edging it. He won everything there was to win during his 11 years at the club and was also a fantastic captain and leader. As well as a top-quality defender. 

• John Terry (C) – the 2nd best centre-back in Premier League history. Don’t worry you’ll find out soon who the best is. There are not enough superlatives to throw at Terry. One of the greatest centre-backs of all time who led by example and dedication.  

• Ricardo Carvalho – It wouldn’t be the all-time best Chelsea defence without uniting the two defenders who conceded only 15 goals in 1 season. Shattering all Prem records. The perfect complement to Terry’s more no-nonsense style.  

• Ashley Cole – The best left-back of all time rounds out this defence. The only full back in history I can say was truly great both going forward and defending. With Cristiano Ronaldo listing him as his toughest opponent he’d faced. 

Midfield 

• N’golo Kante – At this rate the Chelsea team is going to give the United team a run for it’s money. Anyone who knows football knows just how unbelievable this man was. Carrying Leicester and Chelsea to Premier League titles and proving pivotal in France’s World Cup success a year later. He truly was on top of the world during his prime years. 

• Claude Makelele – whenever you revolutionise a position and role it is impossible to leave you out of any all-time XI. One of the OG deep lying playmakers, Makelele really revolutionised the position. A perfect complement to Kante which would provide this next man full license to do what he does best. 

• Frank Lampard – Jesus Christ this team is unbelievable. I didn’t realise just how good it was until I started researching. Not much needs to be said about Frank Lampard. A true 1 of 1 midfielder and goalscorer. As well as elite leader and consummate professional. 

• Eden Hazard – A true modern day Prem great. This man could do things with a ball I have not seen any other player in the Prem come close to. He is 2nd amongst all Prem players in history for man of the match awards with 62. A true 1 of 1 footballer. 

• Gianfranco Zola – the man who started Chelsea’s renaissance back in the 1990s and another absolute magician. What made Zola’s performances even more impressive is that he was doing it without a star-studded team around him.  

Forward 

• Didier Drogba – Who else was this going to be? Potentially the best big game striker in the history of the Prem. When Chelsea needed a goal this man was always there. 

Substitutes 

• Thibaut Courtois 

• Branislav Ivanovic 

• Thiago Silva 

• Michael Essien 

• Arjen Robben 

• Ruud Gullit 

• Joe Cole 

 

Arsenal  

Now we answer the question of how many of Arsenal’s current crop make it into their all-time Premier League XI. Now there’s no doubt the Invincibles team was loaded with quality, but we’ll see how they stack up. 

 

Goalkeeper 

• David Seaman – Goalkeeper has long been a problem spot for Arsenal since David Seaman. England’s number 1 was a brick wall on his day and he was one of the best keepers to play in the Prem during his time. 

Defence 

• Bacary Sagna – If you don’t rate Sagna I’m afraid you don’t know ball. This man was the archetypal prem right-back. Quick, solid defensively, good going forward and a solid temperament. For me, he’s better than Lauren, Timber etc. 

• Sol Campbell – The first repeat from an XI comes in the form of Arsenal stalwart Sol Campbell. Even though he played longer for Spurs, it was for Arsenal, he really cemented himself as an all-time great. 

• Tony Adams (C) – Honestly, I would be lying if I said it was easy leaving out Gabriel and Saliba, but I just can’t find a way to put them ahead of either of these 2 yet. Adams was an absolute rock and one of the finest leaders of men the Prem has ever seen. 

• Ashley Cole – Cole’s prime years are pretty evenly split between Arsenal and Cheslea so his inclusion should come as no surprise. The best left-back of all time. 

Midfield 

• Patrick Vieira – there is nowhere else we could start really than Arsenal’s greatest central midfielder of all-time. An absolute force of nature in his playing days and an even better leader of men. An absolute legend. 

• Cesc Fabregas – A true Arsenal legend who absolutely burst onto the scene. One of the most technically gifted footballers of all time and the perfect complement to Vieira in the middle of the park. 

• Declan Rice – I know it’s still early days in his Arsenal tenure but my god this man is good. It is hard not to think about how perfectly balanced and unbelievable this midfield trio would be in todays 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 oriented game. Good lord. 

• Dennis Bergkamp – Playing at the top of the diamond and in the CAM role is the dutch master himself. Aesthetically one of the best players to ever grace the Premier League and the perfect support act to one of the deadliest attacking duos the Prem could imagine. 

Forwards 

• Robin Van Persie – One of the most technically gifted players to ever play in the Premier League. SAF was once quoted as saying anyone who doesn’t pass him the ball will be dropped. His talent was that clear. An absolutely generational gunman with one of the best left feet to ever grace the league. 

• Thierry Henry – good lord the firepower in this attack is something special. The greatest player in the history of the Premier League spearheads an already filthy attack. What a line-up this is. 

Substitutes 

• Jens Lehman 

• Lee Dixon 

• William Saliba 

• Gilberto Silva 

• Robert Pires 

• Alexis Sanchez 

• Ian Wright 

 

Liverpool 

Next up is Liverpool. One of the biggest clubs in England and another one absolutely stooped in legends and history. Also, one of the modern-day great teams. 

 

Goalkeeper 

• Alisson Becker – Not much debate to be had here either. Alisson is one of the greatest goalkeepers in Premier League history and over the last decade has argubaly been the best keeper in the Premier League. A modern day great. 

Defence 

• Trent Alexander-Arnold – Whether you like it or not Liverpool fans, this man was an absolute wizard. A true once in a generation distributor of a football. Even though his defending was often critisicesd, the things he could do going the other way were simply magic. He’s right up there in the Neville, Walker and Azpi convo for best RB in Prem history. 

• Virgil Van Dijk – The best centre-back in the history of football. That’s right, I said it. If you are not a nostalgia merchant this sentiment will resonate with you. There is not a single thing required of a centre back that Van Dijk doesn’t do to an exceptional level, be it on the ball, off the ball, in the air. He had pace, power, size, vision etc. His signing catapulted Liverpool from a top 4 chasing team to perennial league challengers. 

• Sami Hyppia – Call me a hater but I think player for player he was better than Carragher. His unflappable nature and game-reading ability cemented his place as one of the best centre-backs in the league at the time. 

• Andy Robertson – With a strong case as the 2nd best left-back in Prem history it is no surprise to find Robertson net on the list. Another absolute Duracell bunny of a full back. Not only did he have energy for days, but he was also great technically at either end. A true Prem great. 

Midfield 

• Xabi Alonso – A true icon of the game and one of the best holding midfielders of his generation. Alonso could dictate play for days, but a seriously underrated part of his game was his off the ball energy and ball-winning ability. Which will be essential for a team loaded with this much attacking talent. 

• Steven Gerrard (C) – The best central midfielder in Premier League history and Liverpool’s greatest player of all time is up next. Again, go argue with yourselves, If you know you know. There is literally nothing this man couldn’t do with the ball at his feet. A true leader who also inspired the best UCL comeback of all time. With a terrible team around him against one of the best teams ever assembled. 

• Sadio Mane – Making up the first wing of this janky 4-2-2-2 is the legend himself Sadio Mane. During his time in the Prem, he was without doubt one of the best players on the planet. God how Liverpool could use him now. 

• Mo Salah – I mean this attacking line is an absolute joke at this point. The fact these two were on the same team was a sick joke. A generationally disrespected player and Premier league icon. To produce the numbers he has in the hardest league in the world to do so is nothing short of mind-blowing and generational. 

Forwards 

• Luis Suarez – There is not much more we need to say about Suarez. One of if not the best striker of all time. Who certainly left his mark in the Prem. Were it not for a Gerrard slip he would probably have a winner’s medal to go with it. 

• Fernando Torres – Jesus this is one scary attack. For a few years Torres was unquestionably the best striker in the Premier League, and him and Gerrard formed one of the deadliest partnerships in Prem history. 

Substitutes 

• Pepe Reina 

• Jamie Carragher 

• Daniel Agger 

• Jordan Henderson 

• Philippe Coutinho 

• Michael Owen 

• Robbie Fowler 

 

Man City 

A more recent addition to the Big 6 but my god they are not short of talent. Even if all are post 2010. 

 

Goalkeeper 

• Joe Hart – It was a very close race between Hart and Ederson, but Hart is just so synonymous with City’s ressurection that it had to be him. 

Defence 

• Kyle Walker – Another player shared between a few clubs. It was at City however where Walker really cemented himself as one fo the best right-backs in the world and in my opinion, the best in Prem history. 

• Vincent Kompany (C) – Another man who is synonymous with Manchester City. On his day Kompany was right up there with Rio, Vidic and Terry. An even better captain and leader. 

• Ruben Dias – Another man who essentially picks himself. Since joining in 2020, Dias has consistently been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. He also won FWA player of the year in 2020-21. A true stalwart. 

• Gael Clichy – this was not easy. There are 3 good contenders for this spot. Personally, I lean toward Clichy over Kolarov for the same reasons I went Evra over Irwin, and Gvardiol simply hasn’t had long enough yet. On his day Clichy was as good as Prem left backs come. 

 

Midfield 

• Rodri – Pre injury, this man was arguably the best playr on the planet. He was a vital part of City’s system, as evidenced by their dip in form following his injury. The way this man controls the game on the ball and wins possession off it is something to behold. 

• Yaya Toure – One of my favourite players of all time and an absolute machine in simple terms. Had a few seasons where he put the entire City team on his back. He is what happens when you combine superior physical traits with unbelievable technical ability. 

• Kevin De Bruyne – One of the best midfielders to every grace the Premier League and an absolute magician. This man could do things with a football that no other player could do. He has also won everything there is to win at both club and individual level.  

• David Silva – A man synonymous with City. An absolute magician who understood space like no other. One of City’s greatest ever talents and servants. 

Forwards 

• Erling Haaland – Since his move to the Etihad he has done nothing but break records. One of the best and purest goalscorers of our generation and a Ballon d’Or level talent for at least the next decade. 

• Sergio Aguero – One of the finest strikers to ever grace the Premier League and the man responsible for perhaps the most famous moment in Premier League history. Untouchable on his day and right up there with the best striekrs to ever grace the Prem. 

Substitutes 

• Ederson 

• Zabaleta 

• Stones 

• Fernandinho 

• Gundogan 

• Sterling 

• Mahrez 

 

The Final Rankings

1. Man United
2. Man City
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Spurs

 

Who do you think has the greatest all-time Prem XI? 

Check out our Feature Articles section for more Interesting Hypotheticals.