Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Football, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United
Nasir Jabbar
Duncan Ferguson had zero doubts when naming the five defenders he found it hardest to go up against during his career.
Ferguson enjoyed a distinguished career in the Premier League, notably playing for Everton and Newcastle United.
He scored over 50 Premier League goals, but he will be remembered for being one of the hardest footballers England's top flight has ever seen.
The Scot had an infamous bust-up with Wigan's Paul Scharner during a league fixture, striking fear into Jimmy Bullard, who revealed the towering forward's incredible act after he was sent off.
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Ferguson had his fair share of battles during his professional career as he named the defenders who were the toughest to come up against.
He began with ex-Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia following their intense Merseyside derby clashes.
Finland's Hyypia earned a reputation as a commanding centre-back and gave Ferguson all he could handle during their on-field duels.
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The 53-year-old also name-dropped Manchester United's Gary Pallister and Arsenal duo Tony Adams and Martin Keown.
Not to mention former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly.
Recalling his toughest battles, he told The Guardian: "Big Sami Hyypia for Liverpool, definitely. Tall, big as me, not the quickest but he could read the game. I was a leaper and if you were much smaller than me I would destroy you in the air; you had no chance. But Sami was a big lad
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"There were other old-school ones like Gary Pallister, Tony Adams and Martin Keown. They were all tough. [Marcel] Desailly at Chelsea as well."
Pallister won four Premier League titles with Man United and forged a formidable partnership with fellow bruiser Steve Bruce.
Adams and Keown also played with each other at Arsenal as well as for England.
As for Desailly, the Frenchman was at the heart of Chelsea's defence and skippered the side during his spell at Stamford Bridge.