Who are the top five Premier League centre backs of all time? Ian Ladyman reveals his picks on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast as one club legend pips another to first place – but which Arsenal great misses out?

Ian Ladyman has revealed his top five centre-backs of all time in the Premier League Mailsport‘s podcast It’s All Kicking Off – with John Terry in first place.

Virgil van Dijk’s mistake during Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal looks set to spark a fierce debate over the rankings of several defensive superstars, with Manchester United supporters rooting for Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand’s corner.

Both giants did indeed make Ladyman’s cut, albeit at opposite ends of the group, as did one Manchester City Premier League winner and a true Chelsea legend.

During the latest edition of the podcast, Ladyman presented his selections in ascending order, starting fifth and working his way up to the winner.

‘I’m going Vincent KompanyNemanja Vidic, Virgil van Dijk, Rio Ferdinand and no. 1, John Terry,” Ladyman told Chris Sutton. ‘They’re my five.’

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When asked why Terry was placed at the top, Ladyman replied: ‘Simply because: what do I want from a center half? I want reliability. I want leadership.

‘And thirdly, I also want someone who can pass the ball in a straight line.

‘He couldn’t pass the ball as well as Rio Ferdinand, but if I wanted someone to defend my life in the last five minutes of a cup final I would want John Terry there.

‘Just because he would do the core work. He did it, he had a long life and he was a winner. He was a winner.

“I didn’t look up exactly how many trophies he has, but he won, okay? We know he’s had bad moments, we’re not going to remind him of Moscow and the penalty and all that, although I have now. But I’m just thinking because of the reliability it was him.’

Intriguingly, Van Dijk would have topped the Ladyman rankings two seasons ago.

“In terms of ability, I would have put Van Dijk number 1 two seasons ago,” he added. ‘But I think you have to look at longevity in these polls.

“That season Van Dijk had when Liverpool won the Champions League, that statistic that no one dribbled a ball past him all season, that season was probably the best central defense I’ve ever seen in the Premier League.

‘But due to the injury he subsequently sustained in a match at Everton (damage to the anterior cruciate ligament), his level is not yet quite at that level.’

Sutton, meanwhile, stated that he would have included Arsenal great Tony Adams.

“Well, it’s not my list, it’s not my concern, but I would have had Tony Adams in there, somewhere from the earlier period,” Sutton revealed.