Top 10 Premier League partnerships

It seems two's company in the Premier League as promising partnerships have proven a key feature in the teams at the top end of the table. They're not all strikers, either...

6. Wanyama & Schneiderlin The importance of Saints' defence has already been emphasised but it would be unforgivably negligent to exclude the excellent Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin from this list. The axis of destruction at the heart of Southampton's midfield has been crucial in Pochettino's relentless pressing game, helping ensure that Lovren and Fonte haven't had too much work to do. While only five players average more tackles per game in the Premier League than Schneiderlin this season, Wanyama's game is based a little more on robust qualities, with the former Celtic man weighing in with 29 fouls, not all of which can be praised for being 'tactical'. 5. Flamini & Ramsey The Gunners duo looked to have formed the best midfield partnership in the top flight on this season's evidence so far. Arsenal cruised to four victories in the four matches Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini have played together in central midfield this year before the combination was disrupted by Mikel Arteta's return and Flamini's injury troubles. While Ramsey also performed well alongside Arteta in victories over Liverpool and Dortmund, Arsenal are arguably more fluent when Flamini anchors the midfield, allowing the Welshman greater freedom to roam. "They can both go as far as they want to," said Cesc Fabregas as he heaped praise on the duo recently. "They have quality on the ball and they have the physical attributes. Ramsey's stamina is spectacular. He and Flamini are the best I've ever seen in terms of covering the ground and being physically strong." 4. Distin & Jagielka If this top ten had been compiled last season then there would have been no doubts about Steven Pienaar and Leighton Baines being the best partnership in the Everton side as they plundered the left wing. However, Everton's fine form under Roberto Martinez hinges more on the Toffees' solid centre-back combination of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin, which is a rather surprising development given the manager's spell at Wigan. "They have been the solid rocks of this squad for a long time and this season they've really embraced changing the way we start the play and been incredible ambassadors for this project," said Martinez of the duo in October. With only two teams conceding fewer goals than Everton in the first 11 matches and Spurs the only side to keep more clean sheets than the Toffees' total of six - which includes three in their last three matches - the old resolve has afforded time to Martinez as he looks to impress his attacking ideals at Goodison. 3. Van Persie & Rooney The best partnership in the Premier League last season have been crucial in Manchester United's steady recovery from their blip at the start of the campaign, notching 12 goals between them. Despite Wayne Rooney's delight at being returned to his previous centre-forward role - if, indeed, that is even true, with the striker picking up his usual position behind Robin van Persie in a 4-2-3-1 formation - there is a feeling that the duo can still offer a lot more as David Moyes adjusts to the attacking demands at Old Trafford. Van Persie has created just a single chance from open play this season, while Rooney's record of two goals in the last seven matches leaves much to be desired. The former will need to be more involved and the latter more consistent if United are truly to flourish. 2. Suarez & Sturridge Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge may have been pipped to the post by their rivals at Manchester City, but their stunning form has given Liverpool genuine optimism in their bid to return to the top four. The two strikers have scored 12 goals in the six games they have started together, with Suarez leaping to the top of the scorers' chart with eight strikes in his first six games back from his biting ban. Suaridge were perhaps at their most potent as a duo in the 3-1 win at Sunderland, when Sturridge laid on two goals for his partner, while Suarez returned the favour by setting up the England striker in the 2-2 draw at Newcastle. If the pair can continue to gel, then Liverpool will have enough firepower to test the other teams in the battle for a Champions League place, with Suarez's future surely dependent on the outcome. 1. Aguero & Negredo The signing of Alvaro Negredo was met with snorts of derision in the summer as Manchester City were again criticised for over-spending on a player, but the Spaniard's burgeoning partnership with Sergio Aguero suggests that it's money well spent. In seven starts together, Aguedo have notched 15 goals and seven assists, with City scoring 24 strikes in that period. The 1-0 defeat to Sunderland was a disappointing anomaly, but aside from that slip-up the duo have proved themselves to be the deadliest attacking combination in the league, offering hope to Pellegrini as he attempts to mastermind a climb from eighth. "From the first moment we did well together," said Negredo of his link up with Aguero. "It's been very good from the first day, and especially with both us speaking Spanish, we understand each other well. He's a great player, and with great players it's easy to get along." This article first appeared on Football365