Who are the World Class Players in the Premier League?

Something I've been thinking a bit about for a few days. 

With Suarez leaving it had me asking myself and a few friends.  Who are the truly World Class players that will ply their
trade in the Prem this coming season?  I came up with two.  Kompany and Yaya Toure.  Hazard maybe?

I also then began to ask what is actually fair to use the term World Class.  I may be shifting goal posts, but I'd consider it to be a two deep
at each position.  So lets start out by anyone who wants to, to list two players at each position.  Or just list two players for one position.

Hugo Lloris

Possibly Petr Cech

Hugo Lloris

Possibly Petr Cech

Would you put them ahead of Neuer and Buffon?

Hazard
Aguero
Yaya Toure
Kompany
Silva
Sanchez
Fabregas
Aspas

Sturridge will be in there if he has another season of performances like last season. Sterling and Coutinho will be in that category sooner or later. I did consider Van Persie but I couldn't include him after his loss of form last season.

If you include goalkeepers I'd also add

Courtois
Cech

The definition of a World Class differs too. I think someone who's world class means somebody who can regularly win games for his team single on their own. Whether through defending to save his life, creating that vital goal scoring chance or by scoring.

The definition of a World Class differs too. I think someone who's world class means somebody who can regularly win games for his team single on their own. Whether through defending to save his life, creating that vital goal scoring chance or by scoring.

This is the part that it gets dicey doesn't it?  I mean I was thinking World Class as being either the best or second best in a position in the world.  I know others look at
it differently.

By the way, Aspas is a great shout.  Can't believe I forgot to add him to my list.

Would you put them ahead of Neuer and Buffon?

Those two don't play in the Premier League.

You were asking for World Class players playing in England were you not?

That's just it though isn't it - how do you define 'World Class'? Isn't it just personal perception? We're forever told that Rooney is World Class....like f**k he is. By the same token, I suspect many Mancs will think the same about StevieG.

Anyhow, I'll front these two:-

David Silva
Cesc Fabregas

Lloris, Courtois, Kompany, Filipe Luis, Yaya Toure, Fabregas, Hazard, Silva, Aguero.

Would put Chelsea Mata in there but he hasn't done enough at United yet for me.

By the way, Aspas is a great shout.  Can't believe I forgot to add him to my list.

His corners alone make him in a class of his own...

Lloris, Courtois, Kompany, Filipe Luis, Yaya Toure, Fabregas, Hazard, Silva, Aguero.

Would put Chelsea Mata in there but he hasn't done enough at United yet for me.

Surely Mata has done more for Chelsea than Filipe Luis has though? If that is the argument you make for not including Mata then Filipe Luis should be nowhere near that list.

Surely Mata has done more for Chelsea than Filipe Luis has though? If that is the argument you make for not including Mata then Filipe Luis should be nowhere near that list.

Well Luis was sensational last year but Mata struggled a bit after his move so I didn't put him in. If we're going for players that have done it in the PL already then I agree with you but I was just going for the world class players currently at a PL team.

Y'all should be ashamed of yourself for not having Steven Gerrard listed in this thread. Don't care how old he is...like Pirilo he would walk into almost any team in the world.

And that's how I define World Class....a player that could walk into any team in any league in the world.

Sturridge probably qualifies as well on skill, maybe not on notoriety.

Y'all should be ashamed of yourself for not having Steven Gerrard listed in this thread. Don't care how old he is...like Pirilo he would walk into almost any team in the world.

And that's how I define World Class....a player that could walk into any team in any league in the world.

Sturridge probably qualifies as well on skill, maybe not on notoriety.

I thought Stevie was a given FL.

Zabaleta is one for me.

Those two don't play in the Premier League.

You were asking for World Class players playing in England were you not?

Eh, I was and I wasn't.  I was asking who are world class players.  I was going by a premise of a two deep.  Not players playing in England (unless you think they are among the top two at their position in the world).

Eh, I was and I wasn't.  I was asking who are world class players.  I was going by a premise of a two deep.  Not players playing in England (unless you think they are among the top two at their position in the world).

Actually from the thread title you were asking who where world class in the EPL

Last season aside (long may it continue), RVP. As much as I hate to admit it.

Actually from the thread title you were asking who where world class in the EPL

Exactly.

That's why I said I could only think of two (Kompany and Toure), possibly a third (Hazard).  I don't doubt the quality in the league.  It is the deepest league in the world.  But as far as true world class players (World Class being debatable in how it is perceived ) how many are in the league?

 Toure, Kompany, Fabregas, Aguero, Silva, Gerrard (was, no sure he is quite that now)

Sterling, Coutinho, Hazard next gen.

Toure, Kompany, Fabregas, Aguero, Silva, Gerrard (was, no sure he is quite that now)

Sterling, Coutinho, Hazard next gen.

I'd give Aguero a "maybe".  Sure on his day his is unstoppable.  Those days seem a but further apart now though.  Silva, close, not quite though.  Fabregas?  Not sure.  He was close to world class a couple of years ago.  May end up there.  See how he gets on at the Chavs.

I wouldn't say Silva is, he was fantastic at first but he has become very inconsistent IMO.

The only "World Class" players now that Suarez has left, IMO are Kompany and Yaya Toure. Obviously the likes of Sterling, Coutinho, Hazard and such like have the potential to be but they certainly aren't yet.

The Premier League is certainly falling behind in terms of "World Class" players now. Spain, Germany and PSG is where they heading now.

Fabregas?  Not sure.  He was close to world class a couple of years ago.

Fabregas imo wasn't well used at Barca, at Arsenal in his last few seasons he was the best midfield player in the country, yes even better than Stevie. (Of course I will deny this if asked ) 

I think Mourinho will again bring the best out of Fab .... still believe we missed out not signing him.

Fabregas imo wasn't well used at Barca, at Arsenal in his last few seasons he was the best midfield player in the country, yes even better than Stevie. (Of course I will deny this if asked ) 

I think Mourinho will again bring the best out of Fab .... still believe we missed out not signing him.

I agree with you.  The point during the Euros when Fab played as a false 9 for Spain was a true WTF moment.  Did he even get a look into the Spain side for this past World Cup?  I'm pretty sure he was on the bench but I don't remember him getting any significant time on the pitch (Not that they had much of it). KK brings up a point that had come to my my mind (hence starting this thread), even though I said earlier that I believe the league is the deepest in quality in the world.  I do think it is really lacking in true world class talent playing in it. 

The mere fact that there are no current England players that could be called World Class may go a long way in this discussion.

Love Stevie to bits and 3 or 4 years ago he'd absolutely be in the discussion.  Don't get me wrong.  I want him to carry on as long as he is able.  No longer World Class though IMO.

"World Class" & "Legends". Two of the most overused terms in football today.

IMO the 2 best players from the EPL's top six:

Arses - Sanchez & Ramsey
Chavs - Hazard & Fabregas
Citeh - Kompany & Silva
LFC - Gerrard & Sterling
Mancs -Rooney & van Persie
Spuds - Eriksen & Lloris

Setting aside sentimentality for Gerrard, Kompany is the only player that I would truly deem World Class.

"World Class" & "Legends". Two of the most overused terms in football today.

IMO the 2 best players from the EPL's top six:

Arses - Sanchez & Ramsey
Chavs - Hazard & Fabregas
Citeh - Kompany & Silva
LFC - Gerrard & Sterling
Mancs -Rooney & van Persie
Spuds - Eriksen & Lloris

Setting aside sentimentality for Gerrard, Kompany is the only player that I would truly deem World Class.

Would you put Silva ahead of Toure? 

I would add Begovic into the mix too, if he played for a top club I think a lot would take notice about how good he is.

I'll go for Cech, Begovic, Hazard, Kompany, Sanchez, Fabregas, Diego Costa, Rooney, Van Persie, Yaya Toure.

Top Class - David Silva, Mata, Sterling, Gerrard (at his age), Eriksen, Coutinho, Lloris, Joe Hart, Ramsey, Wilshere, Kosceilny

I would add Begovic into the mix too, if he played for a top club I think a lot would take notice about how good he is.

I'll go for Cech, Begovic, Hazard, Kompany, Sanchez, Fabregas, Diego Costa, Rooney, Van Persie, Yaya Toure.

Top Class - David Silva, Mata, Sterling, Gerrard (at his age), Eriksen, Coutinho, Lloris, Joe Hart, Ramsey, Wilshere, Kosceilny

You're putting players like Wilshere, Eriksen and Kosceilny in the top class bracket and you don't even mention Sturridge?

I think he's better than all three, and I think he's better then Rooney who you said was world class.

You're putting players like Wilshere, Eriksen and Kosceilny in the top class bracket and you don't even mention Sturridge?

I think he's better than all three, and I think he's better then Rooney who you said was world class.

I don't see Sturridge walk into any side, he never made it at Chelsea why is that? He feels right at home with us because of the system we play and it gets the best out of him. I think he is a very good player but sometimes his decision making lets him down, plus the fact he played with a genius (Luis Suarez) who made him a better player.


Rooney is a world class player, he would walk into any team if he is up to it. He has great ability, strength and work rate. The only problem is that he is inconsistent, but his ability is there for all of us to see.

Why do people keep calling Fabregas world class..... just because he played for Barca foes not make you a auto world class player. Now that Suarez has pissed off kompany and Yaya are the only two who stand out for a world 11.

Maybe Aspas makes the subs bench.

I don't see Sturridge walk into any side, he never made it at Chelsea why is that? He feels right at home with us because of the system we play and it gets the best out of him. I think he is a very good player but sometimes his decision making lets him down, plus the fact he played with a genius (Luis Suarez) who made him a better player.


Rooney is a world class player, he would walk into any team if he is up to it. He has great ability, strength and work rate. The only problem is that he is inconsistent, but his ability is there for all of us to see.

Rooney is world class, I will have a pint of what you are on!

Rooney is a world class player, he would walk into any team if he is up to it.

No chance.

He wouldn't get into our side for a start.

I don't see Sturridge walk into any side, he never made it at Chelsea why is that?

Maybe it's because Chelsea never even gave him a chance in his favourite position.

And his goal scoring rate at Chelsea is very impressive when you consider he's playing out wide.

Rooney hasn't had a season like Sturridge's for many years to still be considered world class.

No chance.

He wouldn't get into our side for a start.

Maybe he would now, we do have a space in the team that Fabregas should have filled.

Maybe he would now, we do have a space in the team that Fabregas should have filled.

I'm confused Saint.

You think Rooney would get into our team?

I'm confused Saint.

You think Rooney would get into our team?

Seriously..... yes. Obviously never happen, but I do mate.  He's not world class, but I don't think you need to be to get in our team at the moment.     

Seriously..... yes. Obviously never happen, but I do mate.  He's not world class, but I don't think you need to be to get in our team at the moment.     

I think a Rooney from the time when he, Tevez and  Ronaldo were in the mancs side would get into our side but not now mate.

Rooney had all the potential to be one of England's great players but I don't think he truly fulfilled that.

I think a Rooney from the time when he, Tevez and  Ronaldo were in the mancs side would get into our side but not now mate.

Rooney had all the potential to be one of England's great players but I don't think he truly fulfilled that.

We are not England though mate. For his club he has always scored goals (averages 20 per season for the mancs) and make plenty assists too.

I think he has always been overrated by the English media, but he is a good player.... just not the World class wonder boy they try to make out he is. 

We are not England though mate. For his club he has always scored goals (averages 20 per season for the mancs) and make plenty assists too.

I think he has always been overrated by the English media, but he is a good player.... just not the World class wonder boy they try to make out he is. 

I actually meant one of the great English players rather than England players and agree Saint he has been a very good player but for me he wouldn't get into our side at this time.

I actually meant one of the great English players rather than England players and agree Saint he has been a very good player but for me he wouldn't get into our side at this time.

Fair enough mate. One things certain we will never find out

Rooney is good, but he wouldn't get into our team, certainly not while we have Borini in the squad.

Fair enough mate. One things certain we will never find out

True.