Jamie Carragher has unveiled his greatest-ever centre back pairing in Premier League history.
The former Liverpool defender also added that Arsenal duo William Saliba and Gabriel were on the cusp of also being regarded as one of the top-flight’s best partnerships.
But Carragher added that there was one thing the defensive duo needed to achieve before they could join that exclusive group of players.
The Premier League has been blessed with a plethora of top defenders over the years. Some of those names have included the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Vincent Kompany and John Terry, who won 15 Premier League titles between them.
Carragher, who made 737 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions during his career, played with and against many of those illustrious names.
Jamie Carragher has named the greatest-ever centre back pairing in Premier League history
Carragher insisted Arsenal duo Gabriel (left) and William Saliba (right) are on the cusp of joining an elite group of the Premier League’s best centre back pairings
But writing in his column in The Telegraph, Carragher insisted that ex-Chelsea captain, Terry, and his old team-mate Ricardo Carvalho were the league’s greatest ever centre back partnership.
The ex-Liverpool and England star said: ‘They were the foundation of Jose Mourinho’s brilliant Chelsea side, rewriting the records and redefining what was possible at the highest level by conceding just 15 goals in a Premier League season in 2004-05.’
The pair played together 158 times together across all competitions, staggeringly winning 106 of those games and losing only 24.
Second on his list came Man United stars Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Carragher insisted that the duo suited Man United’s attacking teams under Sir Alex Ferguson over the years, winning five Premier League titles together between 2007 and 2013.
‘What set them apart is they were equals, as opposed to one superior defender carrying the other which is often the case, even in the most celebrated defensive collaborations,’ he wrote.
‘Perfect partners complement each other so we do not think of one without the other.’
Carragher’s comments come as Gabriel’s header on Sunday helped Arsenal clinch a 1-0 victory against north Lonon rivals Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – his 16th goal for the Gunners since he joined in 2020.
Carragher believes Ricardo Carvalho (left) and John Terry (right) are the Premier League’s greatest centre back pairing
The ex-Liverpool defender stated that Nemanja Vidic (left) and Rio Ferdinand (right) were the second best partnership
Saliba would join in 2022, with the pair subsequently linking up to become Mikel Arteta’s first-choice centre back pairing.
The duo have gone on to play 84 games across all competitions and have impressed both with their goal-scoring abilities but with their resolute defending.
Carragher insisted that the pair ‘bring out the best in each other’ but also outlined in his column what he thinks they must do to be considered as one of the league’s greatest centre back pairings.
‘Arsenal must win the Premier League or Champions League for the duo to establish themselves in that hall of fame, but they are making giant strides and are the biggest reason why Mikel Arteta’s side can travel to Manchester City with confidence this weekend,’ he wrote.
