By Mike Parrott
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish has named his top 10 list of midfielders in Premier League history to BT Sport. He has included wingers, while also missing out a few notable players.
Grealish has been one of the Premier League's best players this season. With seven league goals and six assists to his name, as well as breaking the most successful dribbles record, Grealish has attracted the attention of many top clubs in England.
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However, Grealish has taken time out to rank his top 10 midfielders in Premier League history. His list also confusingly included wingers, skewing it and causing a few greats to drop off. Grealish told BT Sport:
10. David Silva - Manchester City
"I think he's probably one of the best Spaniards to play in the Premier League. Out of all the shirts I've got at home, he's probably one of the best. He's so technically good, so technically gifted and his record of the number of trophies he's won speaks for itself."
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9. Patrick Vieira - Arsenal, Manchester City
"So successful in the Premier League and was in that Invincible side at Arsenal and he played a major part in that. He's one that I wouldn't like to be going up against when he's at his best."
8. Gareth Bale - Tottenham
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"I know he's classed as a forward but when he was in the Premier League he was more of a left-back and then left-midfielder."
7. Cesc Fabregas - Arsenal, Chelsea
"He's one of a few players who have got over 100 assists in the Premier League. When he first came through at Arsenal he was one of the most talked-about youngsters on the planet. When he was at Chelsea, he was more of a holder and his passing range was unbelievable."
6. Yaya Toure - Manchester City
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"I played against Yaya on my debut for Villa. We were 2-0 down at the time and we ended up losing 4-0. I've got a photo of him running past me and he ran past the whole team and ended up scoring. That season he was unbelievable."
5. Frank Lampard - Chelsea, Manchester City
"The all-time top goalscoring midfielder in the Premier League. I always ask JT [John Terry] at Villa about him to get little ideas that can improve my game that Lampard had. JT said he used to just be on the training ground every day practising his shooting which is why he probably scored so many goals."
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4. Ryan Giggs - Manchester United
"I think he's got the most assists in the Premier League so that's why he's at No 4."
3. Kevin De Bruyne - Chelsea, Manchester City
"My favourite player in the world at the moment. Until you play against him, you don't realise how good he is. He just has so many talents. One thing I can say is that everything he does is different. Sometimes he'll get it and take a few touches, sometimes he'll get it and cross it straight away, other times he'll just pass it off first time. People don't give him credit for how fit and how fast he is."
2. Steven Gerrard - Liverpool
"Him and JT are the two best captains in the Premier League. He scored so many banging goals and I think in the prime of his career, he had everything."
1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United
"I know he's gone on to be a striker but when he was in the Premier League, he was a midfielder. It's a toss-up between him and Messi to be the best player in the world. His goal record in the Premier League was just scary."
Grealish surprisingly left off a few Premier League legends including Paul Scholes, and his idol, David Beckham. The man once nicknamed 'Goldenballs' came second in the 1999 Ballon d'Or, and arguably should've won being the main catalyst behind Manchester United's treble season.
Only two other players on his top 10 can match that Ballon d'Or feat, with Ronaldo and Lampard making the top two during their time in the Premier League.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Aston Villa, Football, David Beckham, Jack Grealish, Premier League, Cristiano Ronaldo
