Today The Independent begins counting down through the 100 greatest players ever to grace the Premier League , beginning with the twenty who place 100th -81st .
We asked all of our sportswriters to rank their greatest players in the history of the league, with each player assigned points before an overall list was then worked out.
In voting for the greatest ever Premier League player, we generally considered a few broad factors: a player’s ability and the actual application of that ability; the consistency of that application; the level they reached; their influence on the competition and – of course – their level of achievement.
Here’s our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney explaining exactly what we were looking for, and how the process works .
Each day this week at 10am we will be revealing twenty players, with the winner finally crowned on Friday.
All four of these legends feature in today's countdown
(Independent)
Will it be Ryan Giggs or Cristiano Ronaldo ? Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp ? Frank Lampard or John Terry ? They are all in the running.
Before we reach those players however, we have our first group of Premier League legends to work through. The below players may rank from 100-81, but nevertheless have 27 titles between them – evidencing the strength in depth of the players who appear in our countdown.
PL100 countdown: 100-81: Join us for the first part of our countdown through the 100 greatest players in Premier League history.
Getty
A title winner with Blackburn, sandwiched between two spells at Chelsea, the latter of which saw him pick up plenty more silverware. Le Saux oozed quality on the ball when getting forward from left-back and quietly added 37 caps for England. JR.
Getty Images
Always reliable and diligent when defending, his versatility has also seen him establish himself as one of the great defenders of the last decade in the Premier League. Rarely injured, the Spaniard has proven to be a genuine bargain since his £7m move from Marseille. He played every minute of the 2016/17 title-winning campaign in the second of his two titles, one of just four players to accomplish that feat (joining John Terry, Wes Morgan and Gary Pallister). JR.
Getty
The Brazilian has been at Manchester City since 2013 but it’s only in the past two seasons, under Pep Guardiola, that his qualities and value as a player have come to light – notably his disruptive influence and controlled poise. Indeed, his absence from notable City defeats this season have demonstrated his importance at the base of the side’s midfield unit. At 33, he will be sorely missed when he moves on. SL.
Getty Images
One of the most versatile players in Premier League history, with successful spells at Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool. A two-time title winner who seems to get better with age. MC.
Getty Images
Outrageous talent and skill some may argue was never fulfilled. But Jose Mourinho nurtured him with tough love at Chelsea, where he picked up three Premier League titles. He peaked in 2006, playing an integral part to that title-winning side, winning himself a place in the PFA Team of the Year and starring for England at the World Cup. His best moments arguably both came against Man United: the solo goal at Stamford Bridge to clinch the title in 2006 and the clever flick to break the deadlock at Old Trafford in 2010 - which would prove to be pivotal as the Blues won the title again that season. JR.
Getty Images
What a surprise when a 22-year-old Juninho snubbed some of the leading sides in Europe to sign for Middlesbrough. A long-lasting love affair ensued with the Brazilian enjoying three separate spells at the club. LO.
Getty Images
The Frenchman was already a two-time Champions League winner and world champion with France when he signed for Chelsea. Formed a formidable partnership with Frank Leboeuf and captained the side. LO.
Getty Images
A mercurial talent who never truly settled in the league due to injuries, but for a short spell was arguably the best on display. The flying Dutchman could turn passive possession into danger in a flash with his exceptional control when running at speed. Injuries plagued his time in England with spells at Real Madrid and Bayern establishing himself as one of the greats of his generation. JR.
Getty Images
The 14th-most successful goalscorer in the history of the Premier League. Played for numerous clubs but enjoyed the most success at Spurs, scoring just shy of 100 league goals. LB.
Getty Images
A gifted goalscorer and Premier League title-winner at Blackburn, Sutton was your quintessential out and out No 9. Never as big a hit on the international stage as he might’ve been but his domestic achievements more than justify his place here. BB.
Getty Images
His contribution and importance to the Liverpool defence is often overlooked due to Jamie Carragher’s constant presence, but Hyypia was a mainstay of the Reds for a decade and a key part of their Champions league triumph in 2005, not to mention a much-loved captain. JDM
Getty Images
His arrival at Manchester City, along with the likes of Robinho and Co, marked a new era for the club as it looked to refashion itself into a Premier League giant. The Bosnian helped play a role in this transformation, scoring 50 goals during his time at the club. SL.
Getty Images
A stalwart of the Arsenal team that won the 1997/98 and 2001/02 Premier League titles. Not bad for a £765k signing from Stoke which also saw Steve Bould join the Gunners. TK.
Getty Images
Emerged from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo to become a crucial part of the Alex Ferguson’s side and can look back proudly on his five Premier League titles. When he was on his game he was one of the most naturally-gifted players in the league. JDM
Getty Images
A No 10 with a gifted football brain, Beardsley was a star of the early years of the Premier League even if his best came before 1992 in fan-favourite spells with both Newcastle and Liverpool. BB.
Getty Images
Won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, scoring in two finals. A key part of the legendary team which won the title without tasting defeat in 2003/04. TK.
Getty Images
A converted defensive midfielder who formed a crucial partnership with Patrick Vieira. Only spent three years in north London but helped Arsenal to win the double in 1997/98. TK.
Getty Images
A former Manchester United captain who won an astonishing five league titles during his nine years at Old Trafford. LO.
Getty Images
How on earth did Okocha – Ronaldinho’s mentor at Paris Saint-Germain – ever end up at Bolton? The Nigerian had magic in his boots and became a cult hero in Lancashire, forming a brilliant partnership with French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff. LB.
Getty Images
Ignore the acrimonious exit. McManaman was one of Liverpool's best players throughout the nineties, before becoming the most decorated Englishman to have played abroad. MC.
Getty Images
Keep an eye on our social media as we have plenty of Premier League 100 features running in tandem with our countdown across the week.
Join our new commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies