Gary Neville has responded to Jamie Carragher's list of the greatest Premier League central midfielders by naming his own top five, with former Manchester United captain Roy Keane taking the top spot. Neville accused Carragher of bias after the Liverpool legend placed his former teammate Steven Gerrard first.
Neville, speaking on his podcast, ranked Keane ahead of Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, describing his former colleague as the most influential player in Premier League history. “I don't think there's ever been a more influential football player in the Premier League. Full stop,” he said.
Paul Scholes came third in Neville's list, with Gerrard dropped to fourth. Neville acknowledged Gerrard's quality but noted his versatility meant he played in various positions. Carragher had placed Gerrard at number one, prompting Neville to claim he was “not as biased” as his Sky Sports colleague.
Neville deliberately excluded players like David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, stating he wanted to focus on traditional box-to-box midfielders rather than those who operated primarily as number tens. Manchester City's Rodri rounded out the top five, with Neville praising his growth into a world-class player despite initial doubts.
The debate highlights the enduring rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool, with Neville and Carragher often clashing over footballing opinions. Neville's list notably omitted any active players except Rodri, emphasising his preference for established legends of the game.
