The best Premier League XI of all time is one of those things that’ll be debated by pundits and drunken armchair experts (ourselves included) sat around pub tables forever but, nevertheless, it’s something we always love to toy with every season.
However, when you take out opinion and the blatant fan bias we all wear proudly on our sleeves week in and week out, it can be tough to sit back and objectively sift through all the countless superstars the English top flight has seen down the years.
That’s why when we heard someone had decided to ask the question not of themselves but the super smart artificial intelligence (AI) system known as ChatGPT, we were obviously very curious.
While it seems to be everywhere now, we’re still pretty new to AI and when Bettingapps.org tasked ChatGPT with coming up with the greatest Premier League starting 11 of all time, it didn’t disappoint. Here’s what it came up with.
ChatGPT’s best Premier League XI of all time
Basing its decision on players that “demonstrated exceptional skill, impact, and longevity in the Premier League”, the AI sifted through numerous top talents that ever graced the English game.
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Setting up in a 4-3-3 formation, the team is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel – Man United
Defenders: Gary Neville – Man United, John Terry – Chelsea, Vincent Kompany – Man City, Ashley Cole – Arsenal/Chelsea
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard – Liverpool, Paul Scholes – Man United, Frank Lampard – Chelsea
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo – Man United, Thierry Henry – Arsenal, Alan Shearer – Blackburn Rovers / Newcastle
In case you need to better visualise it, here’s an idea of how it might look:
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Damn, that’s a team and a half that…
You’ve got to admit, that’s not just up there with the likes of Barcelona’s 2008/09 squad, City or United‘s treble-winning seasons or any of the other great teams football’s ever seen, it would most likely wipe the floor with pretty much anyone.
That being said, when it initially pumped out the results, the AI-generated dream team manager did concede that there were a lot of other players who didn’t quite make the cut but would more than happily sit on the subs bench.
These players included Petr Čech, Rio Ferdinand, Patrick Viera, Erling Haaland and so, so, SO many others absolute world-beaters.
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Even just a handful of them would probably make the greatest second team ever conceived.
What do you make of ChatGPT’s assembly of the greatest-ever Premier League players? Would it work as a team or would that midfield literally just be a repeat of England’s ‘Golden Generation‘ where Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes simply never worked in the same squad?
More importantly, are there glaring errors and players you think simply have to be in that team?
Either way, you can’t pretend the world of AI isn’t fascinating and it’s quite incredible to see how much information it can pull together with just the click of a button. We even asked it to write an article on how to spend the perfect day out in Manchester.
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Shot (via SCFC)
Sport
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Danny Jones -
27th August 2023 
