Greatest all-time Premier League XI

The Premier League has been inundated with some of the greatest players to have graced the game.

Assembling an all-time XI is a thankless task and there are compelling arguments for an abundance of individuals, but we've attempted to crack the code with a team that lines up in a 4-3-3 formation.

GK - Petr Cech

Peter Schmeichel was certainly knocking on the door but we've opted for the man who's recorded the most clean sheets in Premier League history, Petr Cech.

The Czech Republic's most-capped player was pivotal to success at Stamford Bridge, helping to capture the league title on four occasions.

He played 35 times in Chelsea's record-breaking 2004-05 season, conceding just 13 goals as the Blues waltzed to their first league title under José Mourinho.

RB - Kyle Walker

At the conclusion of the 2011-12 Premier League season the likes of Sergio Agüero, Daniel Sturridge, Gareth Bale and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all nominated for the PFA Premier League Young Player of the Year. It took Kyle Walker to beat them all.

Quite the achievement for a defender, Walker displayed incredible pace, lighting up the Tottenham right side across the next five seasons.

His 2016 move to Manchester City proved to be a huge success, winning the Premier League title six times.

CB - John Terry

The first pick in the centre of defence, John Terry won everything there is to win in a near 20-year spell at Chelsea.

Terry was a natural leader. First given the armband in 2004, he would go on to captain the club for the rest of his time at Stamford Bridge.

Physically dominant, fantastic in the tackle & great in the air - Terry also scored 41 Premier League goals, a record total for a defender.

CB - Virgil van Dijk

Brilliant for Southampton but outstanding for Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk has been the cornerstone for a lot of the success at Anfield over recent seasons.

The Dutchman often makes playing at the highest level look effortless, stepping out of defence to pinch the ball before launching a Liverpool attack.

LB - Ashley Cole

Widely considered England's greatest left-back, you'd also be hard pushed to find a more complete defensive talent in Premier League history.

Cole was a key part of Arsenal's 2003-04 Invincible season before he went onto enjoy further success at Chelsea.

Across eight seasons at Stamford Bridge he formed remarkable partnerships with the likes of John Terry, Gary Cahill & Petr Cech.

CDM - Patrick Vieira

A second inclusion from the aforementioned Invincible team, Patrick Vieira was a dominant force in Arsenal's midfield for years.

Vieira was always a leader but the retirement of Tony Adams in 2002 saw him named as captain. His blend of power, defensive ability, awareness and control made him virtually unplayable on his day.

CM - Frank Lampard

Fans of Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, look away now. It's an old age old debate between the three, but the highest scoring Premier League midfielder of all-time is hard to leave out.

Lampard showed an eye for goal in his West Ham days but he took it to an entirely different level when he joined Chelsea in the summer of 2001.

He hit 22 goals in the 2009-10 season, a total most strikers would be happy with, but when you pair that with 16 assists the all-round impact that Lampard had on games becomes very apparent.

CM - Kevin De Bruyne

Maybe the most crucial player across Manchester City's domestic dominance, Kevin De Bruyne completes our midfield trio.

Registering 16 or more assists in four separate seasons, the Belgian has been producing at a frightening rate throughout his Premier League career.

With six league titles to go along with his outstanding individual numbers, he also has the winning pedigree to earn a spot here.

RW - Cristiano Ronaldo

In what is perceived by many to be a straight shoot-out between Mo Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo for a right wing spot, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner just gets the nod.

Because of the ruthless goalscorer he became, it is easy to forget how he dazzled defenders with his blistering pace and incredible dribbling ability in his early years as a Manchester United player.

The Portuguese superstar was virtually untouchable heading into the late 2000s, becoming the first Man United player to win the Ballon d'Or since George Best.

In an endless list of Premier League greats, he may be the best we've seen.

ST - Wayne Rooney

If you're omitting Alan Shearer, the all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, it has to be for a player of immense talent and Wayne Rooney truly had it all.

A deadly blend of aggression, speed, power and incredible technical ability made Rooney a frightening proposition for any defence.

The Evertonian burst onto the scene, at the time becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history with a stunning strike against Arsenal.

However, his career is defined by his time at Manchester United, where he remains the club's leading scorer with 253 goals.

LW - Thierry Henry

Where there is great debate over many of these inclusions, Thierry Henry is a name that would make most lists.

He remains the only player to hit both 20+ goals & assists in a single Premier League season, amassing 45 goal contributions in 2002-03.

Henry was a truly era-defining talent with a style of play that was both entertaining and extremely effective.

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