Carragher hails Silva as one of the greats

JAMIE Carragher has backed David Silva to go down as one of the Premier League’s all-time great players.

Silva made his first appearance of the season in City’s 6-1 win over Huddersfield at the weekend, capping a supreme display with a wonderful 25-yard free-kick just after half-time.

Carragher played with John Barnes for a brief period during his time at Anfield and he sees similarities between Silva and the former England midfielder.

“I used to play with one in John Barnes, who, towards the end of his career, was not dissimilar to Silva when he played as a central midfielder,” Carragher added.

“He was the only player in all my time at Liverpool, and I think it is the same with Silva at City, who, when you gave him the ball, you would not worry one iota that he would lose it or something stupid would happen.

“You couldn’t take the ball off him and there are not that many players who are happy to take possession when they are so tightly marked.

“There are probably more now but back then people would say, ‘I’ve got a man on, don’t give me it’. John Barnes would always receive the ball.

“Yes, we see more of it now but Silva has been doing that since he came in 2010 and that’s what he can do. No matter what situation he is in, you can give him the ball and he will find a way to get out of it.”