The List | Dynamic Duos
The List | Dynamic Duos
Players that go together like Salt and Pepper, like Spaghetti and Bolognese, like Ant and Dec.
Things are happening on Merseyside. Both Liverpool and Everton have gotten off to flyers this season and it's their forwards who have gotten the footballing world talking. Everton may have Lukaku but Liverpool have a deadly duo spearheading their attack.
Suarez and Sturridge have to be the best partnership around at the minute in the English game - and that got us to thinking about the dynamic duo s of the past. From the best defensive pairings to the most clinical strike partnerships, here are our best duo s of recent times.
Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge - The duo who inspired the list. They may not be in the same breath as the ones below, but the potential is there. Already we have seen the forwards link up and combine to produce the best form Liverpool have shown in a very long time indeed. If they manage to stay together and develop an even better understanding than they already have - scary thought we know - then the SAS will go down in history, and not just in Merseyside.
Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro - The Italian national side could boast one of the best defensive duo s around with these two giants. Partners at the heart of their national side, the two were at the top of their game and were so good a whole generation of younger defenders did not even get a look in. The duo formed one of the most renowned partnerships, both in terms of technical ability and defensive solidity. Simply world class.
Andres Iniesta and Xavi - What to say about these two? Most people s pick for the best duo of all time, not only have they been at the heart of the Barcelona midfield for the last decade but they have also been ever presents in the La Roja side - and won literally everything there is to win the game - multiple times. When these two finally call it a day, the football world will mourn. Well everywhere except for Madrid. There will probably be a party in the Spanish Capital.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen - The Chelsea duo formed quite the partnership and were certainly fan favourites both with Chelsea fans and the rest of the Premier League. This was of course in the days before Roman and his Russian Roubles, so Chelsea weren t that hated then. A combined 42 goals in a single season sees them make this list. What Jose Mourinho would give for the duo these days!
Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp - The most impressive thing in the trophy cabinet at the Emirates these days may well be the amount of dust, yet that was not always the case. Two of the greatest players the Premier League has ever seen has to be Henry and Bergkamp who spent six years playing side by side and amassed more than 200 goals between them. The vision and skill from the Dutchman was the perfect companion for the pace and finishing ability of Henry.
Fernando Morientes and Raul - A haul of two league titles and three Champions Leagues, the double act were the perfect pair for Los Blancos in a period of their history that is yet to be repeated. Between 1997 and 2002 the pair managed to combine perfectly - Morientes ability as a number nine and Raul s preference for playing as a second striker worked like magic and produced 224 goals in five seasons. Florentino Perez will be hoping that Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo produce half of that trophy haul!
Cafu and Roberto Carlos - The best pair of full backs in the history of football. The duo terrorised the opposition flying forward and getting crosses into the box. Brazil were considered one of, if not the best team in the word during the late 90 s and early 2000 s and this duo were in no small party responsible for the side reaching the World Cup finals in 1998 and 2002 - winning the one in 2002.
Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand - ne of the best and most consistent duos the Premier League has ever seen. The likes of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were sensational and title winning- yet lost out to these two, showing how good they actually were. The duo have been a key part of the success at Old Trafford and have lead the team to multiple titles. One of the major problems with the duo of late has been injury - and the decline in United s form when they are absent is telling.
Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira - Not only did the midfield duo shine for the Gunners on a domestic level, they were also the crÈme of the crop of France Internationally to boot. The 2000 European Championship may be the best example of the pair s top class link up play but Arsenal fans will point to a League title as their highlight when it comes to the much missed pair.
Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole - The best partnership the Premier League has ever seen? If it doesn t make the top spot, it certainly comes close. 39 goals between them in the Premier League in the 1999/2000 season may have been their highest scoring one, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. The duo were in no small part responsible for the success of Fergie s men and could always be relied upon for vital goals.
Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton - One more.. Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton - It would be unfair to compile this list without acknowledging the original SAS. Combining Alan Shearer's league-record 34 goals with Sutton's 15 helped the Blackburn win their only ever Premier League title in 1995.
What do you think? Should the likes of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes have made the top ten? Or Pippo Inzaghi and Del Piero?