Jamie Carragher does not shy away from Rio Ferdinand feud with 'best ever' dig
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Jamie Carragher questioned Rio Ferdinand's career achievements as the best Premier League center-back ever after footage of Dean Ashton getting the better of the Manchester United defender was shown on Sky SportsJamie Carragher made a cheeky dig at Rio Ferdinand(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher cast doubt on whether Rio Ferdinand truly deserves the title of the greatest Premier League central defender of all time, after Dean Ashton once got the better of him.Ashton, the former England striker, appeared as a guest on Sky Sports for Monday Night Football, as his old club, West Ham, faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.During the pre-match coverage, Sky broadcast footage of the striker's overhead kick against Manchester United. Ashton netted that goal at Old Trafford after positioning himself goalside of Ferdinand, shrugging off the defender's physical challenge.READ MORE: Oliver Glasner issues Adam Wharton injury update amid Liverpool 'expectation' for Crystal PalaceREAD MORE: 'I managed in the Premier League - this is why Arne Slot firing talk is frankly ridiculous'"Get off, Rio," he remarked in the studio while watching back the footageCarragher swiftly responded with a cheeky, sarcastic dig: "I thought he was the best center-back in the Premier League ever?"The former Liverpool defender has consistently maintained that Virgil van Dijk is the finest central defender in Premier League history.
Carragher notably declared last year, following a Liverpool fixture at Anfield: "He's too good for the highest level of football.Ferdinand is one of the Premier League's greatest defenders(Image: Getty Images)"It's almost like it's still too easy for him; it almost feels like there should be another level above that for Van Dijk because he plays the game with such ease."Fellow former defender Michael Dawson also bestowed the accolade of the Premier League's greatest upon Van Dijk at the time.Carragher further remarked: "You said before that he's the best [center-back] in the Premier League."He is the best, but it's not even a debate, this nonsense about all the other defenders who are great defenders, and I've played with a lot of them, he's so far above it, it's a joke."Football is that easy for him; I've never seen a player at that ease, probably in any position, not just at center-back, it's a walk in the park for him."Ferdinand, while still employed by BT Sport, placed himself at the top of his list of the five greatest center-backs in Premier League history.While making his selections during an episode of 'Between The Lines' alongside Van Dijk, he remarked: "I believe I'm No. That's how I thought, that's how I approach everything."Van Dijk also placed Ferdinand at the top of his own five.
He said: "You could also play in the modern-day era. All the English center-backs, in general, looked up to you; you were an icon as a defender."