David Silva Named His 7 Toughest Premier League Opponents Ever

When you think of some of the most naturally gifted technicians in Premier League history, one name that will inevitably spring to mind is Manchester City legend, David Silva. Immortalised with a statue outside the Etihad, the Spaniard is one of the Sky Blues’ greatest-ever players and helped lead the club to unparalleled domestic success during his time there.

Between 2010 and 2020, the diminutive World Cup winner was among the best England had to offer. However, the man himself once revealed who his seven toughest opponents were during that time, including four Manchester United stalwarts.

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Frank Lampard

611 Premier League appearances

An ex-teammate as well as an opponent, the first name Silva pointed out was Chelsea icon Frank Lampard. Regarding the Englishman, the Spaniard stated that “his stats were amazing, and he was a great man too.” The famous number eight was one of the biggest goalscoring threats ever seen from the middle of the park, and he had a knack for making the perfect late runs into the penalty area to get himself into shooting positions.

As a result, he ended his career as Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals, while also adding a further eight for City and 37 during his time at West Ham.

Fernando Torres

212 Premier League appearances

Silva also showed some love for a couple of international teammates, the first of which being Fernando Torres. The former Liverpool number nine was absolutely electric when he first arrived on English soil, and the partnership he struck up with Steven Gerrard looked like it could fire the Reds to a league title.

Interestingly, Silva made his Premier League move in 2010, at a time when Torres was already perceived as being on the decline ahead of his ill-fated move to Chelsea. Nevertheless, he still had enough about him for the midfielder to consider him a major threat when they faced off with one another.

Cesc Fabregas

350 Premier League appearances

While there may be some question marks about the legitimacy of Torres’ inclusion given his form when Silva was in the league, there can be no denying Cesc Fabregas’ place. When his compatriot first arrived in England, Fabregas was the leading light for Arsenal, putting in world-class performances even with a broken leg.

He would depart for Barcelona but, years later, return – this time for Chelsea – where he was as influential as ever. To this day, long after his retirement, he remains one of the highest-ranked players in terms of assists, having notched up 111 across his two stints in London.

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Paul Scholes

499 Premier League appearances

The first of the United quartet to be mentioned by Silva is none other than Paul Scholes. Arguably the greatest dictator of a game of his generation, the one-club icon developed from an impressive second striker to one of the best playmakers as he got older, aging like a fine wine.

Scholes’ style of play is particularly popular in Spain, with the likes of Xavi earmarking him as one of his idols growing up. Therefore, it should be no surprise to see Silva waxing lyrical about the former England international in the exact same way.

Ryan Giggs

632 Premier League appearances

While his pace and direct nature may have diminished by the time Silva showed up, Ryan Giggs was still able to transform himself into a tricky centre-midfielder when he was no longer physically able to be the speed demon he once was on the left wing.

The Premier League’s most successful player, having won the title 13 times, the Welshman’s longevity at the highest level proved he was more than just pace and dribbling. He was an expert in ball manipulation, whose style towards the end of his career closely mimicked what Silva became famous for.

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Gary Neville

397 Premier League appearances

Before it was in fashion to be an English right-back thanks to the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker, Gary Neville was setting the standard based on sheer willpower, desire, and determination.

Again, the former Manchester United defender is another example of a star who was fading by the time Silva was able to come up against him. That didn’t stop the attacking midfielder from giving him the respect he deserved, saying that he was a “fantastic player and very passionate about his club and the national team too.”

Phil Neville

505 Premier League appearances

While Gary often receives his flowers for his work during his prime, his brother Phil is usually overlooked. That is despite the fact that the jack of all trades made more than a century of extra appearances in the top flight than his older sibling and managed to be more consistent with his fitness levels throughout his career.

Most known for being a left-back, Neville could slot into midfield when necessary, as well as take up a role across the back four. While not the flashiest of players, his solidness was enough for Silva to recognise him as one of the toughest competitors during his time in England.

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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – accurate as of 24/02/2025.